Krissy_p

Member
Beardie name(s)
John McClane
Hi all! We just adopted a 12 month old beardie. He was a family turn in, so I don’t know his full history, but he’s soooo sweet and docile. We’re currently in a 40g tank, but currently deciding if we want to build a 4x2x2 enclosure ourselves or buy one from Zen habitat or Dubia (suggestions wanted on this, but beside the point of the post).

I’m having a hard time getting my basking temps above 90°. Sometimes it even drops down to 88°. We have a 100w dome basking bulb, a 24w T5 tube UVB (Arcadia) and humidity is usually between 30 and 40. Sometimes it jumps at night, but not by much.

I also put in a ceramic heat emitter in another dome right next to the basking lamp, but it’s only raising the temp a few degrees.

For my thermometer, I’m using a digital probe (it’s hanging right at the top of the basking platform).

What should I do? Should I get a higher watt basking bulb? Will that be safe for him in a 40g until we upgrade him once new enclosure is ready? He is basking almost the entirety of the time he’s awake, besides the time of day he comes out to hang with us. Should I get another temp probe? The room he’s in stays right around 70°, so it’s not a cold room.

Any tips would be appreciated!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hi all! We just adopted a 12 month old beardie. He was a family turn in, so I don’t know his full history, but he’s soooo sweet and docile. We’re currently in a 40g tank, but currently deciding if we want to build a 4x2x2 enclosure ourselves or buy one from Zen habitat or Dubia (suggestions wanted on this, but beside the point of the post).

I’m having a hard time getting my basking temps above 90°. Sometimes it even drops down to 88°. We have a 100w dome basking bulb, a 24w T5 tube UVB (Arcadia) and humidity is usually between 30 and 40. Sometimes it jumps at night, but not by much.

I also put in a ceramic heat emitter in another dome right next to the basking lamp, but it’s only raising the temp a few degrees.

For my thermometer, I’m using a digital probe (it’s hanging right at the top of the basking platform).

What should I do? Should I get a higher watt basking bulb? Will that be safe for him in a 40g until we upgrade him once new enclosure is ready? He is basking almost the entirety of the time he’s awake, besides the time of day he comes out to hang with us. Should I get another temp probe? The room he’s in stays right around 70°, so it’s not a cold room.

Any tips would be appreciated!
Take the probe and place on the spot where he sits to bask - if its hanging in the air your getting air temps - then see what you get tor a temp- 95-100 for basking surface temps- next what is the screen on the tank? Is it a fine mesh or a wide hole type? And where do you have it placed?
 

Krissy_p

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
John McClane
Take the probe and place on the spot where he sits to bask - if its hanging in the air your getting air temps - then see what you get tor a temp- 95-100 for basking surface temps- next what is the screen on the tank? Is it a fine mesh or a wide hole type? And where do you have it placed?
Okay- I moved it to rest on his physically on basking site and I’m getting a temp reading of 95°. So that’s better! I am also going to attach a pic of the screen
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Okay- I moved it to rest on his physically on basking site and I’m getting a temp reading of 95°. So that’s better! I am also going to attach a pic of the screen
Ok so better temp--- if you can get a piece of decor that offers a gradient heat something like this
Thrive Driftwood Reptile Decor | reptile Habitat Décor | PetSmart would be good for different temps- the screen on the tank is wide hole type- it can stay on top please put a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches -- please change the bulb out in approx 10-11 months
 

Krissy_p

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
John McClane
Ok so better temp--- if you can get a piece of decor that offers a gradient heat something like this
Thrive Driftwood Reptile Decor | reptile Habitat Décor | PetSmart would be good for different temps- the screen on the tank is wide hole type- it can stay on top please put a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches -- please change the bulb out in approx 10-11 months
Thanks!! I actually have that exact decor piece, but it’s on his cool side and an another basking platform with a hide is on his warm side directly under the light. Do you suggest swapping pieces? I really appreciate your help! I’m new to this and learning new things everyday.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Thanks!! I actually have that exact decor piece, but it’s on his cool side and an another basking platform with a hide is on his warm side directly under the light. Do you suggest swapping pieces? I really appreciate your help! I’m new to this and learning new things everyday.
Yes I would swap out the pieces and see what different readings you get --- do you have a digital probe hygrometer? If not I would invest in one -Exo Terra makes them --- they are more accurate than the analog ones - your temp in the tank at night should drop to what the room temp is if not close to it so thats good - you want ambient temps at night 65-75 -
 

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