concerning behavior

[javier]

My beardie has been climbing its mesh cage,and staying there overnight.I am concerned because when i feel him he is cold,and i barely moving (he usually is alert or squirmy) when i pick him up and move him to the heat lamp.So my question is,will he get himself into a situation that he cant get out of?

 

[fresnowitte]

Is your entire enclosure made of mesh? If so how are your temps?

Yes it is very possible that he get into a situation in which he could hurt himself.
Do you have a pic you could share of his enclosure and where he climbs to?

 

[javier]

yes,i do.I have his basking temps at 100-105,and the humidity is 80 (I mist constantly) say every 2 hrs.give me a second to upload the pics.

 

[javier]

The cool side is at 80 degrees.

here are the pics

Mesh Cage with light attachment. Regular lightbulb.

 

[fresnowitte]

First off let me suggest you stop misting your beardie 80% humidity is way to high. I'm not sure where you read that they should be misted every 2 hours but that information is incorrect for a beardie. Humidity should be somewhere between 30% and highest 50% anything higher than 50% for extended periods of time can and usually does cause a Respiratory Infection. Plus the live plant raises the humidity too.

Okay now to your mesh enclosure...those work great for chameleons but not recommended as a permanent housing for a beardie or basking/sun-dwelling reptiles. It may come in very handy in the Spring and Summer months for taking your beardie outside though. One of the problems with using that mesh enclosure is that it is way to tall for one. Your lighting needs to be coming in from the top in-order to create the proper basking spot for your beardie. They need a bit less height so the lights can be at proper distance and more floor space to get a good variation of temps.

You mentions that regular bulb, but can I ask what brand UVB you are using?
Is the tube light your UVB? If so I can't really tell from the pic but it looks to have a cover on it....if so you want to remove that as it is blocking UVB. BTW the mesh is blocking some of it too most likely. So all in all your beardies behavior of always climbing to the top could be due to him not being satisfied with his house. It's a little tricky getting everything right.

 

[javier]

I am using a zilla uvb,until I can get a reptisun 10.0.it has a plastic covering over the uvb light,I am using a 75 wat bulbe (regular)and tube bulbs for the uvb lamp.

 

[spyder79]

I am using a zilla uvb,until I can get a reptisun 10.0.it has a plastic covering over the uvb light,I am using a 75 wat bulbe (regular)and tube bulbs for the uvb lamp.

if you are using a plastic covering over a UVB light than thats basically just as good as having no uv at all. Not to mention that bulb is crap and not at all what a dragon needs.

The plastic covering does not transmit UV rays only light itself.

and 80% humidity is basically deadly for a dragon.

 

[javier]

My little guy has grown an inch since i got him. here are some pics.
him in his exploror mode

on valentines day

size comparison

 

[javier]

i will town down the humidity,but how do I get rid of the plastic covering?

 

[fresnowitte]

Cute little beardie you got there. :love5:

The cover should snap right off. The cheapest place I've found to get a Reptisun 10.0 is here http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html Even with shipping it's cheaper than you'll find in a store if you can find one.

 

[javier]

doesn't have the size I need, do you know where i could find a 14in?

thanx anyway

 

[javier]

messed up size comparison.......here is the real pic

 

[javier]

what do you mean slave to?LOL

 

[fresnowitte]

doesn't have the size I need, do you know where i could find a 14in?

NO such thing as a 14inch reptisun you will need a new fixture too if that's the case.

what do you mean slave to?LOL

My masters are 9+ beardies. :lol:

 

[javier]

OOOOOOOOOOH!!!