I'm not sure if this is a correct setup...

[duanehb]

Hello All...
I have a 6-7 month old Bearded Dragon named Mushu, and I'm not sure if I have his lights setup properly...

Here's The Setup:

I purchased a Starter kit made by ZOO MED at PetSmart, where I got him...
Now after browsing this forum, I'm questioning how good the kit was...

I Have a hot and a cold side, with a ZOO MED 5.0 CFL Bulb on the cool side only... (I know how much you all hate the CFL's, but this was what the PetSmart employee Highly Insisted was fine in the kit, and told me not to get the 10.0 UV Fluorescent bulb...
I only have a Basking bulb and a Heat lamp, both of which are 100W bulbs...
His temps are 100°F on the hot side and around 80°F on the cool side...
I also have a ZOO MED heating pad on the underside of the tank on the cool side, recommended by the PetSmart Employee that helped me...
He gets Lettuce in the Morning, About 7 OZ worth, and around 25-50 3/8" crickets in the evening, around 2 hours before the lights shut off... I have all the lights on a 12 on 12 off configuration, and the heating pad always on...

Could someone please help me? I tried looking at Jess' post, but I couldn't really understand it . I don't want to harm my Beardie in any way, and want to make sure this is all correct before he runs into health problems down the line...

 

[quyllur]

As pet store people do, unfortunately this one led you astray.

First, you should have a bulb that produces bright white light and heat. It should get your basking surface to about 105-110. Right next to that, so that the dragon can get heat and UVB at the same time, should be you your UVB bulb, not in the other side of the tank. Am I reading correctly that you have two heat type bulbs on the right side of the tank. That is overkill unless just one bulb isn't getting you to the right temperatures.

The CFL bulb is not the end of the world any more, they have improved, their shortcoming is that they don't provide a large area of UVB but many people use them successfully. The real problem is that you are using a 5.0 when a sun loving lizard like a dragon NEEDS a 10.0. To top that off, the bulb is sitting on top of a screen which cuts down even further on the UVB the dragon is getting.

Regular lettuce is not going to provide much in the way of nutrients, it is mostly water. Go with collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, if you can get them. There is a lovely site with tons of great information about appropriate foods
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

12/12 is more like winter hours. Give him a 14-15 hour day if at all possible.

Best of luck with your dragon. Don't feel badly about following the pet stores advice, it's a travesty that they are so poorly educated when they are in the positions they are in. Just do your best to correct your set up and your dragon will thank you for it

 

[duanehb]

As pet store people do, unfortunately this one led you astray.

First, you should have a bulb that produces bright white light and heat. It should get your basking surface to about 105-110. Right next to that, so that the dragon can get heat and UVB at the same time, should be you your UVB bulb, not in the other side of the tank. Am I reading correctly that you have two heat type bulbs on the right side of the tank. That is overkill unless just one bulb isn't getting you to the right temperatures.

The CFL bulb is not the end of the world any more, they have improved, their shortcoming is that they don't provide a large area of UVB but many people use them successfully. The real problem is that you are using a 5.0 when a sun loving lizard like a dragon NEEDS a 10.0. To top that off, the bulb is sitting on top of a screen which cuts down even further on the UVB the dragon is getting.

Regular lettuce is not going to provide much in the way of nutrients, it is mostly water. Go with collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, if you can get them. There is a lovely site with tons of great information about appropriate foods
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

12/12 is more like winter hours. Give him a 14-15 hour day if at all possible.

Best of luck with your dragon. Don't feel badly about following the pet stores advice, it's a travesty that they are so poorly educated when they are in the positions they are in. Just do your best to correct your set up and your dragon will thank you for it

Ive changed his setup dramatically... I measured the temps with a RayTek AutoPro IR Temp Gun, and was shocked at how hot his tank was getting... My Stick On Thermometer said it was 100°F, when the IR Temp Gun said it was closer to 135°F! I Immediately shut the heat bulb off, and ran to T.C Reptiles, and purchased a single light housing, and a 30" T8 UVB Bulb holder, and the Zoo Med 10.0 T8 Fluorescent... The UVB Bulb now runs the whole length of his tank... His temps are now back around 100-106°F, and he seems much happier... (you can kinda see him in the front right corner of the photo) His beard is lightening, and he seems to enjoy the collard greens much more than the lettuce (Not to mention his Poo doesn't smell as bad, lol) Thank you Very much for helping a first-time beardie owner!!!

 

[quyllur]

Great job in getting him properly set up so quickly! Your dragon will live a happy, healthy life with such a attentive owner.