Added light UVB pic for 100 gallon..

[jenneelk]

We found a 100 gallon tank and stand we are picking up tomorrow hopefully. I have an approx 5 month old beardie who is 10-11 in. and we are planning to get another smaller beardie after the tank is set up. We do realize that if they both end up the same sex we have to separate when they are adults which is fine.

If cost isn't an option.. we want what's best for the dragons.. what would you buy for setup in regards to lighting and substrate (keeping in mind my husband is not real 'handy' with tools so we do need something that's not too much building but a little is ok)? We are thinking tile is best and plan to have our handyman friend cut some, but the lighting is still unclear with a tank this size. It's 60 long x18wide x24 high.
I plan to research if dragons like waterfalls, my iguana did, but if someone wants to tell me here that would be great.
TIA

 

[diamc]

Hi, it's hard to say for sure what wattage(s) heat bulbs you will need because it depends on room temps, height of basking area, etc. I think I would start with a 100 watt basking bulb and perhaps a 60 watt household bulb for the cool side and go from there. You many find out that you need to use a flood or spot light bulb to get the basking temp you want. Since a 5 month old beardie will be housed in it, I would aim for a basking temp of about 105 and cool side (for all ages) of 78 to 82.

You have to make sure that you are using either an infrared temperature gun or a digital thermometer with a long wire & probe end as those are the only 2 ways to get accurate temp readings.

What were you going to use for UVB lighting?

It's really taking a chance housing 2 beardies together especially when they are 2 different sizes. Very rarely can you keep 2 females together, it depends on their personalities. Beardies do much better in their own individual tanks otherwise there more than likely will be dominance issues which can occur at a very young age & in an instant. Stress of 2 being housed together is a health risk in itself. So, it really isn't worth the risk as in the beginning, one will do well and the other won't. I tried housing 2 together many yrs ago before I didn't know any better and it was obvious that the smaller one was not happy & very stressed even though there were no conflicts at all. He was much brighter & obviously happy when he was out of his tank but would darken right up and had unhappy eyes when put back in the tank. Once they were separated, I couldn't believe the change in him concerning his appetite, activity level, coloring and his eyes were sparkling.

 

[jenneelk]

Thanks Diamc for the reply!

We have a 30 gallon right now and use a 100w basking which was fine until it went out already after 8 weeks and I got a new kind which seems 10 degrees hotter. Likely will work good though since the new tank is 24 in high. I have several logs and high climbing areas from my frogs I'm cleaning so thinking the dragon can adjust how high he goes to the heat by moving higher or lower.
I do have a laser thermometer.. it was over $100 and I use it for my soap making but also for his tank, figure it's reliable at that price and hasn't messed my soaping up yet.
The heat lamp is double so also has his red bulb for night which we really haven't needed much here in california. i might just leave that spot blank. there is another dome lamp we have that can house the lightbulb on the cool side.. but what watt do you use do you think.. to start with? I haven't read much on regular light bulbs.

UVB.. we have a 5.0 repti right now and so far I'm leaning towards a 10 in the longest size they carry at petsmart. From what I've read those are the best right? And as much as I'd like to get it in the tank.. I don't understand the directions on how to secure it in there properly.

 

[jenneelk]

Tanks here and out getting some sun after an initial clean down.
I have a hood for the UVB.. If I don't make a screen for the hole up top on one side, do you think the dragon can actually get out of the open area?
Do they ever jump? Mine hasn't so far but is don't want him to jump out later.
I like this idea of no screen so max air and UVB so would love thoughts.
Also not sure if air flow would be too low and need to hang the hood above. there is another large hole on the other side, 2 small rectangle holes on the back and then two small circles for cords.



Not sure if you can see the space around the hood left open. It 75 here and sun is bright.

 

[diamc]

Hi, that's good that you're using a temperature gun. The best way to get accurate reading in a beardie tank is to hold it 2" from the area you're checking.

For the cool side, it's hard to say what wattage you will need for a household bulb, perhaps 60 or 75 as you will want a cool side temp of about 80, actually within the 78 to 82 range.

That is a good sized tank. With those dimensions, it figures out to be 112 gallons. If your beardie seems overwhelmed by the size when you first put him in there, you could put some type of divider down the middle and then slowly increase the actual part that he is in, that should help relieve some of the stress hopefully.

Beardies can jump, actually quite high, even a foot or more. If the hood is covering the one area, I would definitely put a screen over the other side that is open otherwise you may find that he escaped one day, that would not be good. Looks like the hood fits very well over the one side. I can't tell exactly how much of the top it covers though so hard to know how much air flow there would be. I would definitely get the Repti-Sun 10.0, what length is the hood? You will want the UVB distance to be 6 to 8" to your beardie while in the basking spot.

Are you going to put slate tiles on the bottom? Those are great, so many colors & patterns to choose from.