Another red light/temperature question

[Sheranne]

Hello, and thanks for having such a great forum. I am a new Beardie owner and just took my little girl to a reptile vet over the weekend for her first checkup.

The information he gave me about temperature contradicts everything I've read on this forum and the care sheets. He said she must stay above 80 degrees Farenheit at all times in order to digest food, and he recommended using the red bulb all night instead of a ceramic heat emitter.

I have been following his instructions, and the red bulb doesn't seem to bother her, but I do notice sometimes her eyes are open, and I'm wondering if she is really asleep.

I want to do the right thing for her, and reading everyone else's posts that they can see the red light is making me question the vet's instuctions.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of advice from a vet before? I'm so confused!

 

[GoFast]

Well understand that many vets aren't familiar with bearded dragons and many of those who are, are basing there advise from old and outdated sources.

First, 80+ is not needed at all times. 105-110 basking spot with a cool side of about 80 for the day time is all that is needed. For night time, as long as it doesn't fall much below 65 then you do not need any night time heat.

The red light issue is problem because you the poor little guy won't get enough sleep. Imagine leaving the lights in your room at night. How much good sleep would you really get? So, take the red light out and you will have a much happier dragon.

 

[Sheranne]

Thanks for the reply.

The vet I saw was an experienced reptile vet who has kept beardies as well, which is why I am so confused at the difference between his advice and what I'm reading here. I don't have a problem with turning the red light off at night, but the temp will definitely fall below the 80 degrees he says they must stay at to digest food.

If all of you that have experience with beardies say they will be ok with the cooler temps, I will trust your opinions! I just want to do the right thing for my baby girl.

 

[Pravius]

One really important thing to look at that I personally do with all of my animals. Look at and try to recreate their natural environment. I can assure you that in the desert "outback" of Australia where these animals are native to the temps do drop below 80 at night. The key is make sure you feed them 2-3 hours before you put them to sleep so that they can get the digestion done before they sleep.

As far as the red light I mean they sleep in their natural environment with moonlight which I guess is kinda like red light.. without the red... errr.. well I think you can see where I am going with that..

 

[jmain]

I hope you don't mind me asking a question on your topic but with the whole sleeping at night with the red light I don't get that because I have looked at my beardie a few times today (maybe its just how hes basking) but has had his eyes closed and thats even during the day. I know last night when I had the red light on also I saw him with his eyes closed (but I figured the the temps don't get low enough with it on so I'm going to keep lights off at night now but still just curious on to why he has his eyes closed during the day if the light bothers him so much. Also if you don't have a light on in the room then how are you supposed to tell if he is sleeping or not?

 

[Pravius]

I don't think he is not sleeping, he maybe.. I just know in the past it has kept some of my dudes somewhat active.. honestly on these boards you are going to get a ton of different opinions and you will be torn over what is right and wrong.. trick is, just do what you think is best. These animals are not all the same just like us they like different things and while yours may not mind the red light at night I know my old beardie "Shaman" used to.

It's not going to hurt them it's just not a mandatory thing to have.

 

[jmain]

I understand totally and thats what I use these forums for the most is just for others opinions but like you said they are different so I'm going to try things and see what happens. Thats like I also just got done setting up a 75 gallon fresh water fish tank (doing a fish in cycle) and everyone all over the place was telling me to change water every day but I only changed it once in the 3 weeks (the 1 time it got the highest I wanted it) and everything seems to be fine right now but back to bearded dragons I went and checked on him turning on the lights so I could see and he was sleeping on top of his hanging plant (well had his eyes closed the two times I checked on him in the hour that I had the lights off so far.)