always in hide? update 12/16 *PICS*

[diamc]

Awww, Nubs is adorable, love his awesome coloring. I'm glad that he ate some and swam around for you though. It still sounds to me that the temps are too high since he is only basking for about 15 to 20 min. That isn't good because it's not allowing enough time for him to digest. Would it be possible to post pics of his tank so we can see how it's set up?

Walmart has the Acurite brand digital thermometer with probe for about $12.00. Since it has dual readings, it will give you both basking & cool side temps at the same time and also has a humidity readout so it is well worth the money. Do you have a Walmart near you?

 

[Judah'sHuman]

aww he's a cute lil guy! nubs and all! :lol:

 

[s1393]

yeah ill go by walmart and get one of those saturday.
yeah was trying to get a pic of the viv but i couldnt get it to send off my phone gonna try to get it again.
isnt basking spot suppose to be 100-105?
yeah i dont like feeding him really since he isnt even basking to digest. but even if temps in the basking spot were a little high wouldnt he still atleast be out to get some heat and uvb instead of in hide away from it all??

 

[s1393]

where else could i find the thermometer you were talking about. went to walmart but the only ones they had in that brand(or any brand actually) were just big bulky indoor/outdoor with no probes.
but yeah im starting to think this thermometer is off some and that the basking is to high - temp is reading 105. cause he is out right now as im typing this and sitting off of his basking spot a little as if it were to hot. and as i said before my basking bulb is 75watt(and it is one of the reptile basking bulbs from pet store and i know i have read multi times that i dont need to waste my money) but i orig. tried to use normal household bulb but the temp was always low, but it may not have been since apparently this thermometer is off i think it was about 93-94 when i used reg household 100watt so i got the "reptile" one since it focuses the light more with that mirror coating. gonna put in reg bulb now though.

and here is the pic of his viv.

 

[s1393]

i think he starting to come out more. but when i get home he runs into his hide
now that i have changed bulb the basking spot is reading 98-100

 

[Judah'sHuman]

i orig. tried to use normal household bulb but the temp was always low, but it may not have been since apparently this thermometer is off i think it was about 93-94 when i used reg household 100watt so i got the "reptile" one since it focuses the light more with that mirror coating.quote]

As far as the basking bulb, when people say household bulb for basking it is a household hallogen bulb. example (sylviana tight beam spot 45deg etc. So thats prolly why you has such low temps. The reptile basking bulb is just fine though! I see you changed it out for a bit to get your temps down, it will be good bulb to have for winter to help keep him warm. I use the Household Hallogen durring the winter next to my Merc bulb and a regular 60 watt bulb in the summer otherwise its too hot.

 

[s1393]

ok im getting frustrated with him staying in hide. should i just take hide out??

 

[diamc]

It does indeed sound like your temps are off. Here's a picture of the AcuRite that I was referring to.

Did he stay out any longer after you changed the bulb? Did he actually sit in the basking spot? If not right under the light, then perhaps your thermometer is giving you low readings, you could try a 75 watt bulb and see how he is. I only use standard household light bulbs.

Your setup is beautiful. I wonder if it's actually too hot right on top of the basking spot. If it's made out of stone, perhaps try putting a hand towel or something similar over that direct spot and try placing him there then.

Let us know how things go.

 

[s1393]

ok ill go to another walmart to see if i cant find one, think home depot or lowes would have one?
no he sat on basking for about the same time (15min or so) but he did stay on top
and it is a fake rock that i found how to make on another site, it is grout covering it. ill try a 75watt when i get home.
should i block off the entrance into his hide for a while, or would that just cause more stress?

 

[Judah'sHuman]

I wouldnt block it off because then he may over heat. Untill you can check the temps properly and figure out what the deal is. He is going in there for a reason and it is because it is the most comfortable to him. If he cant get in there he may over heat and stress out.

Over a year ago my guy was going in to his hid all the time, i found out it was because the ambient temps were too high. His basking spot was great but the air temps were in the 90's or something. They should only be around 80-85, so he was getting too hot and didnt want to sit in the basking area. So check that too, by just hanging the prob in the air around the middle of the tank. Make sure you leave it in the area you want a reading from for at least 45 min to get a good reading.

I tried blocking off his hid because I thought it would get him to bask...this is what i came back to:

Persistant lil booger

Once I figured out what the deal was he is now all over that tank!

hope ya dont mind me sharring! But yeah this is what should happen when you have the temps right.

 

[s1393]

i didnt have a 75watt household so i put a 60watt in and im sure it will prob be to little on heat. so ill grab a 75 when i go check another walmart for the thermometer tomorrow.
nope dont mind you sharing at all. haha yeah he doesnt look to comfy cramming himself up there. and i have a acurite indoor/outdoor that the outdoor is done remotely and from what you said about yours hiding because of the ambient being off, my cool side is actually a little high it was 87-88 when i got home and inside his little cave where he keeps staying is reading 80-81

 

[diamc]

Judah'sHuman is right, if the ambient temp is too high, the only way he can thermoregulate is to go to the hide. The cool side (as you know) is too high and should be 78 to 82 but no higher. I agree with not blocking it off. Those pics were adorable that she posted. Your guy sure looks happy now.

Check in Walmart in the area where the outdoor plastic thermometers are sold. If you can't find it in Walmart, Lowe's or Home Depot should have a dependable one and may even have the AcuRite brand. The main thing to look for is one with a long wire & probe end, if you can find one with a dual reading, that would be easier for you.

The fact that he did move to the top of the basking spot with the other bulb in does show that the temps are better now but you'll know exactly what they are once you get the other thermometer.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

He wedged himself in there several times acctually. I even tried stuffing a washcloth in there and he still got in there..he was desperate! :lol: It was so funny looking to see him wedged in there. Yeah he didnt look very comfortable.

It took me trying several differant blubs to get things tweaked. My problem was I was using a CHE 24-7 because his basking spot wasnt quite high enough with just the Merc bulb. I finally started using a Hallogen I cant remember what wattage it is now (then turned off the CHE durring the day) I also have to use a regular energy efficant at the cool end for added light in the tank. If I try and use a standard household 60 watt that also makes it too hot for him...it is so touch and go with bulbs. I was worried about using that energy bulb because some people that have used them ( NOT the UV coil type) and they still have problems with them. This brand I use seems ok tho, Judah has been around it now for over a year and he actually sits under that sometimes...I guess some of them buzz soem people have complained of headachs? CRAZY :silent: :?

So Believe me I know what your going through right now! Sometimes it takes a while to get everything tweaked to the right place. Especially since each dragon is differant and likes differant levels of heat and such.

 

[s1393]

about to go look for that thermometer - but right now what i have is basking 91(on the zoo med) and then coolside 82 and inside hide is 78(with the other acurite i have). basking bulb is 60watt right now.
girlfriend was home all day and said he was out from about 10:30 till about 2 but was on floor of viv just laying on the tile, and ran back into hide when she started doing dishes.
and i know this is dumb but would the fact that he went from being up high on our counter, where he could see everything, when he was in the small 20gal to down on floor in the new viv where he can only see out the front have anything to do with way he is acting?

 

[s1393]

quick update
found the acurite thermostat at another walmart today. put it in and after abour 45min-1hour basking temp was still 88, 82 at floor under basking, and cool side was 81, and i remembered that i had moved my basking light back some from when i had the "reptile" bulb in so i moved it back closer and another 45min-1hour basking was up to 93, floor under basking still 82 and cool side was down to 80. gonna see what happens tomorrow and see if i need to put in a 75watt bulb or not to get basking up a little more.
but i think im getting closer since he was out of hide for a while.