Basking temp problem

[cavey1892]

Hi, am having a little problem with my temps for my beardie,hes 4 years old. Ave got a 4ft long/1ft wide/1.5ft high viv. Am currently using a 100w basking bulb (exo terra) not a coil. My basking spot is at 99f and my cool end is 78f. A cant seem to get it any higher? The probe for my thermostat is at the cool end against the side of viv. So a cant move it any further away. A was using a 150w zoo med basking bulb but the temps were to high. Example basking was 150f and cool was 80f. If a tried moving probe closer to basking spot, the light would just dim down? So ave switched back to 100w. Wondering if any1 can help? Sorry if description isint good.

 

[Buggsy]

This is why i dont like thermostats for basking bulbs!

You need the probe to be about halfway down the tank and 1-2" from the floor. It wont go up to 105-110f, so you need to do it a different way. Start with it turned all the way up, and leave it for 30 min. Then begin to slowly turn the temp down, leaving it 20 min each time, until up get the temp you want.

99F is fine for a 4yr old dragon, but if you did want it a few degrees higher you could raise the basking spot a little.

 

[cavey1892]

Ok ave tryed putting probe for thermostat in the middle of viv at the back wall,Got it abt 2" high from the floor. Dosent seem to be going up just down? Baskings spot is 94f and cool end is 75f. Would a use the 100w or the 150w basking bulb? Am currently using 100w. Ave never had my temp at 105f with the 100w bulb. Am gawni move the probe a copule inches further away from middle to see if this helps.
A can only play with temps after my work as a leave my house at 6.30am in the morning so only see my beardie at nyte.

Here pic of my viv...if it helps. The probe what is closest to cool end is basking bulb and other is night light.

 

[Buggsy]

i would put the logs etc on the basking spot, as they do like to be high when basking anyway. Raising the basking spot from the floor will more than likely solve your problem.

 

[TimNEPA]

What I did was make a foil cone on my basking light (kinda like a reflector) that came down about 6 inches past the bulb. I then checked the temp and it was a little on the high side so I trimmed the cone. Little closer to the bulb until I got the right temp. Worked very well and didn't have to make any changes to the landscape.

 

[cavey1892]

A can move my log whats under my basking spot up a couple of inches up to see if that helps.. only thing is my cool end is still sitting at 75f? Want to try get it up2 80f sh. A cant move other log whats on top of hut as its screwed in. He usally sleeps under it aswell,so dont want to move it.
A could try and get a 125w basking bulb to see if that helps with my temps. If a move my probe for my thermostat any further away it would be in cool end.

 

[Buggsy]

yeh, again, why i hate them!!

I use mine for my CHE now, and just have a dimmer switch hooked up to the basking bulb, that way i can tweak the temps a little as i want.

 

[cavey1892]

Am using a dimmer thermostat thro the day and an on/off at night temp. When a got home today my temps were basking 107f / cool end was 83f think ave sust it. Gawni take temps down a copule of farinhite so cool end is at 81f and basking at 105f. Would a put the probe closer to basking side? Or put in down a little towards sand?

 

[Buggsy]

No I don't use a thermostat on the basking bulb, just a normal dimmer switch. I would try and keep the probe in the middle if you really wanna keep the thermostats. I would also get rid of the sand as you don't want to be dealing with parasites or impaction any time soon!!

 

[cavey1892]

Ok my temps over the weelend have been roughty the same. A was gawni use carpet for in his viv. Can u use house carpet like what we use? Hes had inpaction before,when he was with last owner. Ave bought him last october. Only had him for a year n a bit. What do u use in your viv?

 

[Buggsy]

i use slate tiles. You cant use normal carpet, the loops are too big and he can get claws etc caught in there, also small loops can become tighter and cut circulation of to toes. reptile carpet has much smaller loops of thread so there is no risk of that happening.

 

[cavey1892]

A get paid on tuesday. Am gawni see abt repti carpet and gawni get some tile slates. The last 2 days my temps have been of again? Says my basking is 100f amd cool end 75f. Ave got my probe just past half way, closer to my cool end. If a move it anymore its gawni be incool end of viv?

 

[Buggsy]

I would just get rid of it and manually control the basking bulb, its much easier!

 

[cavey1892]

Am gawni try not using a thermosrat today when a get home from work. How do you turn temps up/down if ur not using thermostat?

 

[Buggsy]

I went to B&Q and bought a dimmer switch ( the type you use on household lights) I can then gently control the output of the bulb.