Help with thermometers please!!!

[Jentroy]

I recently inherited Jeremy, my bearded dragon. He is about 3 years old. I’ve been doing a lot of research, mostly on here (this is a great site!), and I’m trying to improve his vivarium. So I bought 2 ZooMed digital thermometers, 1 for the cool side and 1 for the basking spot. The 1 for the basking spot, I intertwined the probe through Jeremy’s hammock (his basking spot) (see pics below but please don’t mind Jeremy, he’s shedding right now).

But the problem is that when Jeremy lays in his basking spot, he lays directly on top of the probe which alters the temperature (I moved him a little for the pics above, he’s usually directly on top of the probe). So my question is, should I just use the suction cup and put the probe up against the glass on the left so that Jeremy doesn’t lay on top of it? I guess I put the probe where it is now because I felt like that would get me the most accurate temperature of his basking spot, and I questioned if it would be as accurate up against the glass. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

FYI, here is my tank setup:

* 50 gallon tank (I will hopefully be getting him a bigger tank)

* Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 T5 HO UVB 24 Watts

* Zoo Med Reptisun T5 High Output 24" Terrarium Hood

* ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Lamp 100 Watts

* Also, I am currently making a hide larger enough for him that he’ll actually go in it to replace the items on the right side of the tank

 

[Claudiusx]

Hi there,

That's perfectly fine if he lies on the probe. You really don't NEED to keep a thermometer in there. I typically don't in my tanks. Once you're all setup, your temperatures really shouldn't be changing much anyways. As long as the temperature in your house isn't fluctuating large amounts.

The important thing is that you know what the temperature is, and you use your thermometer to make sure that you are providing the proper temp. Once you've done that, you really don't need to be monitoring it 24/7, which is why it doesn't matter if he lies on it and drops the reading


-Brandon

 

[Jentroy]

Awesome! Thank you so much Brandon! You’ve been a lot of help! And of course, being a new beardie mom, I’m over there checking the temps every two seconds lol!!!

 

[Claudiusx]

Don't worry, we've all been there haha You can't help it. In fact, thats me right now but with all my vegetables in my new veggie garden lol.

-Brandon

 

[Jentroy]

Lol, maybe I’ll try a garden next myself ?.

So, I’m not too sure I have his temps just right yet tho. Like right now, his basking spot is only reading 91.2 F (with him being in the same spot as above since I turned his lights on 2 hours ago). I did try a 150 watt basking bulb but then the temp was like 115 F.

 

[Claudiusx]

You will want to up your wattage a little bit, or try going back to the 150w bulb and either raising the bulb higher, or lowering the basking spot a bit, as long as it also doesn't make your cool side too hot.

-Brandon

 

[Jentroy]

Okay, great! I’ll definitely try that and let you know how I make out! Thank you so much!

 

[Jentroy]

Okay, so I swapped out his basking bulb for the 150 watt one, and hung it above the tank about 1 inch. He almost immediately ran to the cool side. The temp read about 105 F, so I raised it another inch and the temp read about 100 F. He still wanted nothing to do with his basking spot that hot. So I put the 100 watt back in and raised his basking spot a tiny little bit and the temp read 95 F and again almost immediately he ran back over to his basking spot. So I guess maybe he just likes it at around 95 F. But of course, now I’m worried about his basking spot being too close to the bulb. It’s definitely at least 6 inches from his back but if he has his head up, his head might be closer than 6 inches.

 

[Jentroy]

Maybe I should just get a low watt halogen or incandescent bulb to add a little to the temp and move his basking spot back down?

 

[Jentroy]

Anyone? Help please! Don’t be shy! I welcome any suggestions/thoughts! ?

 

[KarrieRee]

Hammocks dont really offer a gradient heat - so I would suggest a piece of decor that offers a gradient range of temps --- something like this https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/PetSmart/5290971
I have two of them and you can lay them different ways in the tank - my dragons love them and utilize the different ways of sitting and temps---

it is a suggestion
Karrie

 

[Jentroy]

Thank you Karrie! I will definitely try that. I just recently bought the hammock and replaced two of those types of branches with it. So I’ll try putting those branches back in the basking spot, and maybe moving the hammock, getting a smaller hammock or just get rid of the hammock all together. I think I bought the hammock more for myself, I thought it was cute and I thought it would be more comfortable for him than laying on branches lol! But Jeremy doesn’t seem to mind either way, but I do need to get his temps right! Thank you again!