Heat/light/log placement question

[MartinTenbones]

First of all, this board is fantastic, thanks to those who have already helped Skatter and I out.

2nd I wish I had found it a week ago. I thought I had thoroughly researched the set up, and still I wound up with playsand and a Solar Glo light. These will be changed shortly. Aaarrrrggghhh!

My question. I have a fantastic piece of wood in my 48x24x18 viv and the dragon likes to bask on the highest point mostly, then move to my prefered spot a little lower on the log for a minute or two.

The lower spot is 105 on the nose, and the higher 110. Is the dragon smart enough to move to the ideal basking spot, or should I make the basking spot the high point? Doing this would mean raising the light and therefore probably needing additional heat on the hot side.

Whew! I hope all that makes sense.

 

[diamc]

The age of your beardie depends on the recommended basking temp. What type of thermometer are you using? Once we know these two things, we can help further. :wink:

 

[MartinTenbones]

I was told he is 3 months old. He's about 9 inches long. I say he because my son says he's a boy. Thermometer is a Zoo Med digital thermometer. With a long probe thing.

 

[MartinTenbones]

I have been moving lamp up and around and pivoting the log and I might have found the magic combo. Checking all temps!

 

[MartinTenbones]

So where he is sitting here is not quite in direct light and is around 108. The lower ledge is 105 and the ramp in direct light 112. he just passes through there.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

Wow thats a cool looking log...me likie! :wink: his mouth is open that that would lead me think that he is is prolly a little hot. They are smart enough to move around when they get to hot though. Does he have a cool spot he can retreat to? also you dotn want your ambient temps more than 85 deg. so that means the air in the tank out of any light. Also I dont know if this is still true, but the zoo med thermometers use to be a bit off.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

Oh! I also wanted to add that I have used the Solor glo bulb for many years. You certainly dont want to use it in less than a 40 gallon tank if thats what you have, but it has been hit an miss for me with this bulb. It works but i wouldn't say that it is the best product out there. I have to returned 1 out of 3 bulbs I have purchased from them failing to work properly. This has cost me alot of money because I have to pay out of pocket to ship them back to exoterra for them to send me a new one.

They are really only good for 6 months. However, I have used a couple of them for 8-10 months...10 was streching it. I recently switched to the T rex active. There were problems with this bulb for a while and it was risky tring it. Almost everyone on the forum had given up ont he Merc. bulbs due to these problems. Im just stuborn. :lol: I like the idea of heat and UV in one bulb it gets cold hup here. BUT, so far the T rex lasted for 2 months blew out and they sent me a new one a few weeks ago. In the 3 months Ive been using it, Judah seems very happy with it. He's much more active and wants to be near it and more out in it more so than the solor glo. He always has been kind of a mopy guy, but he has seemed to perk up. It is also much brighter than the solor glo which is a plus since we have a big tank. I dont have to turn on as many other lights now like we had to before.

 

[MartinTenbones]

I have got the top spot between 110 and 111 now. Mouth closed a bit more.

 

[diamc]

I have also heard that the ZooMed thermometer can be off by some degrees. When you test your temps with any probe thermometer, make sure the probe is actually laying flat on the basking log & that you wait at least 45 minutes before getting the final reading. What is the wattage of the Solar Glo and what is the distance to your beardie while in his basking spot?

 

[MartinTenbones]

160 w bulb.

9-10 inches above basking spot.

 

[diamc]

Oh wow, a distance of only 9 to 10 inches is too close then. The 160 watt MVB's should be have a minimum distance of 18" from the beardie itself while in the basking spot with 22" being safer. The reason for that is that the MVB's throw off more heat and the UV index is much stronger on those types of bulbs. I'm glad we discussed this so that you can make some adjustments. Do you have a lamp stand so that you can raise the bulb up?

 

[MartinTenbones]

I can raise it, but any higher and the basking spot wont be 110.

 

[MartinTenbones]

Going to check bulb box for wattage.

 

[diamc]

Well, the Zilla thermometer can read a little lower. But the most important issue is the strength of the MVB so having it at the correct distance is safer as being too close can cause all sorts of symptoms. I would recheck the temps once you get the distance right and see what they are. You may have to use a lower wattage household bulb alongside it to get the temps where they should be.

 

[MartinTenbones]

Well the light is off for the night now, so I will correct all this tomorrow!