How many hours of light?

[TWINKLET4]

I was just reading an old post in which someone claimed that 12 hours of heat and light is too short for a beardie, and that it was like their winter? And that 15 was better?
What do people recommend?

 

[Taterbug]

I match local dawn/dusk, works fine for me.

 

[jayce82]

I've had my guy on a schedule of lights on at 5 am and lights off at 830

 

[kingofnobbys]

I interrogated the climatic summer data available on the BoM for a few places inside their natural range .
I've been to all these places and worked at Roxby Downs (SA) near Woomera) for a while and have experienced the climatic conditions there for a few years (on contract as a Princ Engr).

I settled on a 16 hour photoperiod , this is close to the summertime daylight hours at places like Broken Hill (NSW) , Alice Springs (NT) , Coober Pedy and Woomera (SA), Birdville (QLD).

So my lights are set up on a domestic timer to come on at 6am ,and to go off at 10pm (SUMMER TIME).

 

[TWINKLET4]

Thank you so much guys, this is incredibly helpful. Kingofnobbys- you stated ( summertime) do you make changes in the winter?

 

[TWINKLET4]

P.S kingofnobbys - wow! How amazing that you've done all that. I'm delighted to have been able to benefit

 

[Gormagon]

Thank you so much guys, this is incredibly helpful. Kingofnobbys- you stated ( summertime) do you make changes in the winter?

Some keep the hours like summer hours all year to prevent burmation and, health issues.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thank you so much guys, this is incredibly helpful. Kingofnobbys- you stated ( summertime) do you make changes in the winter?

Yep I've been all through that area in 4x4 touring/camping sightseeing photographic safaris over the years (usually in the cooler months - still saw plenty of dragons out and about even in July (dead of winter) on warm days). I've lived here (in Australia) all my life and never been o/seas (no interest) , and toured by car everywhere but Tasmania. If you want reptile paradise , go to the Kimberley Region and visit Litchfield National Park ( Kakadu is no where near as good ).

No, same year round, I don't even bother changing to adjust for daylight saving ,
.... but I know people who want to breed their beardies will slowly ramp down their photoperiod late in April or in May to induce their beardies to brumate. They claim the rest helps their breeders "perform" better.

My pets are strickly companion animals as so I don't adjust the photoperiod (I know many others who don't either, especially those who live closer to the equator where the length of days is much more constant, ie in Cairns, Darwin, Mt Isa, etc). This doesn't mean my skinks and dragons don't become a bit more lazy than they are in summer, but they all bask daily , and eagerly eat their crickets and worms , they are a bit hit or miss with greens though.

 

[Taterbug]

I have found that Pepper responds a lot to the light coming in from outside than in his enclosure.

As for seasonal... I track the seasons for all my reptiles for photoperiod and also heat for pepper and the temperate snakes. It's easier that way since it's a loosing battle for me to fight the sun, barometric pressure, nighttime temperatures and whatever other cues are telling my reptiles what season it is.

There are two schools of thought; as pets they don't "need" the cycles VS they've evolved with the seasons and a period of rest can be healthy for them. Reptiles that are kept at their active temperature but who are not eating as well for example might be better off allowed to cool for a time instead.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I have found that Pepper responds a lot to the light coming in from outside than in his enclosure.

As for seasonal... I track the seasons for all my reptiles for photoperiod and also heat for pepper and the temperate snakes. It's easier that way since it's a loosing battle for me to fight the sun, barometric pressure, nighttime temperatures and whatever other cues are telling my reptiles what season it is. <<<< My house is climate controlled, and so we don't see extremes of temperature inside (aircon is run 24/7 right through summer and winter and a lot of autumn and spring, I set the thermostat to 24oC overnight and 26oC during the day in winter, and 24oC during the summer , and the set the aircon to choose reverse cycle or cool modes by itself depending on the temperature changes inside.

My lizards are in the warmest part of the house too so benefit from the aircon 24/7 .

Only cues my reps get of outside conditions are barometric pressure and light coming in through windows and sunniness or otherwise.
Coldest my house gets even in dead of winter is 21oC on the very coldest nights (never colder than 8oC outside at night in winter here - subtropical coastal climate = I think they call it a Mediterranean climate and yes lots of wine growing locally a little way up the valley).

There are two schools of thought; as pets they don't "need" the cycles VS they've evolved with the seasons and a period of rest can be healthy for them. Reptiles that are kept at their active temperature but who are not eating as well for example might be better off allowed to cool for a time instead. <<< if mine were not interested in the food or basking over winter I would let nature take it's course and let them go into brumation, none of my pet skinks or dragon have done this so I keep the tanks and tubs warm and offer them food.

 

[TWINKLET4]

Thank you so much guys, this is incredibly helpful. Kingofnobbys- you stated ( summertime) do you make changes in the winter?

Yep I've been all through that area in 4x4 touring/camping sightseeing photographic safaris over the years (usually in the cooler months - still saw plenty of dragons out and about even in July (dead of winter) on warm days). I've lived here (in Australia) all my life and never been o/seas (no interest) , and toured by car everywhere but Tasmania. If you want reptile paradise , go to the Kimberley Region and visit Litchfield National Park ( Kakadu is no where near as good ).

No, same year round, I don't even bother changing to adjust for daylight saving ,
.... but I know people who want to breed their beardies will slowly ramp down their photoperiod late in April or in May to induce their beardies to brumate. They claim the rest helps their breeders "perform" better.

My pets are strickly companion animals as so I don't adjust the photoperiod (I know many others who don't either, especially those who live closer to the equator where the length of days is much more constant, ie in Cairns, Darwin, Mt Isa, etc). This doesn't mean my skinks and dragons don't become a bit more lazy than they are in summer, but they all bask daily , and eagerly eat their crickets and worms , they are a bit hit or miss with greens though.

I know this was a while back, but I wanted to write more -
King of nobbys - this all sounds SO amazing!! You're like a kind of 'bearded dragon Dundee '! How fantastic to have had these experiences.
I am over the moon to hear that I can stop brumation through the method you describe, I have absolutely no desire to breed my baby, and the thought of brumation has been scaring the bejesus out of me. Thank you SO, SO much!

 

[TWINKLET4]

And thank you so much also Taterbug, for your help. Really interesting information. How great to have a climate controlled home!
I live in a England, where obviously it gets very cold, so I've been super worried about brumation.... is he dead? Is he sleeping? Nah, can't be dealing with that. I don't need much scope for paranoia to be utterly paranoid.

 

[Taterbug]

Brumation is scarey at first but after one or two it gets easier. keep in mind it's not always easy to keep them from doing it try as we might. Arcadias site seems down right now but they have an interesting article about brumation http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/changing-seasons/

 

[TWINKLET4]

Thanks Taterbug ️

 

[AHBD]

I've raised beardies for over 20 years....they never need more than 14 hrs. of light. Think about the sun " coming up " at 7 a.m., and " setting " at 9 p.m....that's a long day. Most lizards are active somewhere between those hours but not necessarily for all of those hours even during the peak of the summer. During the change of seasons , beardies usually sense it and will usually sleep earlier whether the lights stay on all day [ 14 hrs. ] or not. I think it's good to give them the natural break for at least a couple of months during the winter, it's normal for them to have a short period of slow down or a full on brumation. So 14 hrs. would be the max during part of the year, any more than that is wasted light and possibly disrupting a regular sleep pattern IMO. Beardies do well with a period of less light during the winter in general, giving them a chance to sleep a bit if they want.