Hi All,
Just to say, my family and I are new to beardies but for many years I had snakes (hognose, garters, burmese pythons - but not for the last 10 years or so). Our 11 yo daughter wanted a beardie so here we are.....
I wonder if someone would be kind enough to offer guidance/advice.
On 8th December 2019 we got a bearded dragon, Bindi, and she is now almost 12 weeks old, weighs 37 grams, and is 9 inches long. Eats dubia, locusts, calci worms, silk worms and the odd waxworm, plus eats her veggies (sometimes, but gets fresh daily).
After her 2 week settling in period, I got a faecal test done, and due to having coccidia, she was placed in a quarantine viv with minimum decor (hide, plastic plant, log, paper substrate). Bindi finished her meds on Tuesday past, so I will be arranging a second test this Monday when our vet is open. Provided Bindi gets the all clear she will move into a brand new viv (wooden) which is 45 (L) x 22 (H) x 20 (D) inches - I know it's just a tad shorter than the minimum recommended of 48 x 24 x 24, but I do have a 60 x 30 x 30 (inch) on order, won't be ready until March (they are extremely busy).
I built the new viv just a few days ago......so......
NEW VIV
Light: Arcadia ProT5 UVB 12% 24w
Heat: Basking bulb exo terra 100w intense (with +75w intense)
Air temp hot end is 42.6 oC, with 10% humidity (measured 2 inches above substrate/floor, directly beneath basking spot bulb)
Air temp cool end is 29 oC and 28% humidity (measured at half way point between roof/substrate)
Surface temp....unsure, but ridiculously hot.....
Directly below the basking bulb I have a piece of slate. From the lowest point of the bulb to the slate is 13 inches.....the slate is really hot to touch, I can only hold the palm of my hand against the slate for 5 seconds or so! Therefore, I'm going to assume this is way too hot for baby Bindi and she'll burn her belly?
Tried Uncle Google to no avail,...what I'd like to know is:
a) What is the maximum surface (not air) temperature a beardie should have at the basking spot?
b) How is it best to get the surface temperature right without compromising the hot/cool end air temperatures which are fine?
c) Is there a better, less heat conductive material that I should use, other than slate; directly under the basking bulb?
d) If I have to change the basking bulb...what is recommended?
Thank you in advance.
AC70
Just to say, my family and I are new to beardies but for many years I had snakes (hognose, garters, burmese pythons - but not for the last 10 years or so). Our 11 yo daughter wanted a beardie so here we are.....
I wonder if someone would be kind enough to offer guidance/advice.
On 8th December 2019 we got a bearded dragon, Bindi, and she is now almost 12 weeks old, weighs 37 grams, and is 9 inches long. Eats dubia, locusts, calci worms, silk worms and the odd waxworm, plus eats her veggies (sometimes, but gets fresh daily).
After her 2 week settling in period, I got a faecal test done, and due to having coccidia, she was placed in a quarantine viv with minimum decor (hide, plastic plant, log, paper substrate). Bindi finished her meds on Tuesday past, so I will be arranging a second test this Monday when our vet is open. Provided Bindi gets the all clear she will move into a brand new viv (wooden) which is 45 (L) x 22 (H) x 20 (D) inches - I know it's just a tad shorter than the minimum recommended of 48 x 24 x 24, but I do have a 60 x 30 x 30 (inch) on order, won't be ready until March (they are extremely busy).
I built the new viv just a few days ago......so......
NEW VIV
Light: Arcadia ProT5 UVB 12% 24w
Heat: Basking bulb exo terra 100w intense (with +75w intense)
Air temp hot end is 42.6 oC, with 10% humidity (measured 2 inches above substrate/floor, directly beneath basking spot bulb)
Air temp cool end is 29 oC and 28% humidity (measured at half way point between roof/substrate)
Surface temp....unsure, but ridiculously hot.....
Directly below the basking bulb I have a piece of slate. From the lowest point of the bulb to the slate is 13 inches.....the slate is really hot to touch, I can only hold the palm of my hand against the slate for 5 seconds or so! Therefore, I'm going to assume this is way too hot for baby Bindi and she'll burn her belly?
Tried Uncle Google to no avail,...what I'd like to know is:
a) What is the maximum surface (not air) temperature a beardie should have at the basking spot?
b) How is it best to get the surface temperature right without compromising the hot/cool end air temperatures which are fine?
c) Is there a better, less heat conductive material that I should use, other than slate; directly under the basking bulb?
d) If I have to change the basking bulb...what is recommended?
Thank you in advance.
AC70