Beaded dragon uvb lighting

[Fellowdt23]

Hi

My bearded dragon not been keeping well with respiratory issues ive sorted what caused the problem but he still has some breathing issues.

My vet asked me what uvb i have and it the arcadia uvb12 T8 which he said is good as to help recover he needs good quality uvb light!

My question is im going to upgrade my lighting to arcadia T5 12% now would it be benaficial to put 2 of these T5 lights in at 12% uvb? Or would it harm him?

I just want him to get as much good light as possible to help him over come his problem

 

[ClydesGirl]

Two of the Arcadia 12% bulbs would probably be too much. Is there a specific reason you would want two? If it's just that you want more visible light, you could look at getting a "Daylight" aquarium bulb with a color temp of 6500-6700.

 

[Fellowdt23]

Well basically my vet said the more uvb the better but i wondered if 2 was to much or if it would help? Its just natural sunlight has far more than 12% uvb

 

[bunnyrut]

Two of the Arcadia 12% bulbs would probably be too much. Is there a specific reason you would want two? If it's just that you want more visible light, you could look at getting a "Daylight" aquarium bulb with a color temp of 6500-6700.

^yes.

what are the temps in the viv? and what basking light are you using?

if he has a respiratory infection you need to make sure the humidity is low in the tank. high temps help with that.

is he on medication? you may want to look at getting this http://www.reptaid.com/. i have used it on Mr Dargon when he was sick and he got better real fast.

 

[Fellowdt23]

Basking spot is 80w halogen
Basking spot temp 108-112
Humidity 18-28 on digital gauge

Ive sorted the problem of what caused it, a damp tile but cant seem to sort him after 4 anyibiotics he still has issues no water goes near his tank and he only gets sprayed outside his tank

Now back to lighting can you put 2 uvb 12 lights in or is it to much

 

[ClydesGirl]

I think bunnyrut and I are in agreement that two 12% bulbs is just too much. Is your beardie showing any signs of MBD? If not, I don't think lack of UVB is a problem. Certainly it has nothing to do with the respiratory infection or his ability to recover from it.

 

[Fellowdt23]

I understand it has no direct link to the recovery of RI, its just my vet said good source of lighting and heat are the main factors in recovery from any illness ive got some reptaid but its never helped really or not from what i can see! I am nebulising with F10 vet gave me it helps to a point but doesnt cure him pretty scunnered with the whole issue as its went on for months!
My vets told me RI are really dificult to treat and that hes been invovled incases where its taken a good year and a half to get to the bottom of it which i dont want and thats why im asking if theres such a bad thing as to much uvb? As i want the best of everything for him to help him!

So i wont bother with the 2 uvb lights as you say its probably to much which i do find strange as the levels from natural sunlight are upto 50 times the ammount from those lights but i will play safe

 

[bunnyrut]

the sun is also very far away. i have never heard of 2 uvb bulbs being used or recommended.

i would try to raise the temps just a little to help fight the infection.

 

[ClydesGirl]

I agree that slightly higher temps could help boost your beardie's immune system. What do the night time temps get down to? It's often helpful to keep the nighttime temps slightly higher than usual when a beardie is recovering from an illness.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Fellowdt23]

I have night temps raised as advised by vet also, beardie doesnt have mucus Or anything just not eating and every so often puffs breaths out like forcing his breaths out which i know isnt right

 

[yorkie7480]

I have 2 Arcadia T5's in my 55g tank, the one at the top of the pic is a 12% and the one at the rear is a 6%, this provides a photogradient that matches your thermogradient, I have put a link to a really good site that explains the benefits to this. I hope you find this of use.http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/lighting-guide/

 

[bunnyrut]

I have night temps raised as advised by vet also, beardie doesnt have mucus Or anything just not eating and every so often puffs breaths out like forcing his breaths out which i know isnt right

is he making noises when he puffs out and gasping for air?
or is it more like his beard keeps extending and making a shape of a satellite dish but his mouth is closed?

 

[Fellowdt23]

Hes not displaying his beard when he does it, he has slight stress marks on his beard has his mouth closed and when he breaths he forces his breath out the side of his mouth. The way to describe it is if you close your mouth and force a breath out your lips! Hes only been doing this ever since RI started months ago but he also had mucus months ago but that cleared and now i have a dragon that wont eat unless hes nebulised regular and if i stop that after a couple of days he will hide and start body raising when breathing! Ive got vet again in 10 days i live 100 miles away so its not easy

 

[Fellowdt23]

I have 2 Arcadia T5's in my 55g tank, the one at the top of the pic is a 12% and the one at the rear is a 6%, this provides a photogradient that matches your thermogradient, I have put a link to a really good site that explains the benefits to this. I hope you find this of use.http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/lighting-guide/

Thanks so much to me anything that makes enviroment more natural can only help get them better wheather directly or over time is beneficial to there overall well being which in return keeps a healthy dragon