Keeping it warm in winter?

[TamiLynne]

Hi guys,

This will be my first winter with my beardie and I'm becoming concerned about keeping him properly heated. I've had snakes for years so the UTH is my best friend, but beardies aren't in contact with the ground all the time so I'm worried about heat loss. We keep our house relatively cool to save on heating costs (~60F) so the ambient temp is nowhere near what it was in spring and summer.

I noticed a decline in Brock's eating habits over the past few days and when I checked the temps via temp gun they had dropped dramatically. So I went out and bought a new basking bulb: a 100watt ZooMed halogen. The other had been a 75watt ZooMed basking bulb (not halogen). The other light source over the cool side is a regular 60watt household bulb. The tank is 55 gallons and the substrate is paper. I have a ReptiSUN UVB tube as well. I just changed it to a new bulb today, just in case the decrease in UVB was bothering him (it has been just a bit less than 6 months). I also added a small UTH to the area where he sleeps. With all that, after a couple hours I can only get my basking rock up to 98F!

Anyone have any suggestions? Do I need to get a ceramic heat emitter and another whole light fixture (groan!) ? Brock is more active today already since adding the new bulb, but I still feel like he needs more. I'd hate to cover part of the top due to excess humidity. Thoughts??

Thanks in advance!
-Tami*

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I would not be using the UTH due to the fact it may burn your beardies belly! Those things don't really keep their temps properly! I would use a ceramic heat element at night to keep him warm from above! Good luck....

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi Tami,

What temps are you getting in the coolside of the enclosure?

If your home is somewhat cool... you might need to go with a bigger watt basking bulb. I have a 55 gallon and keep my home fairly cool with A/C. I have a 125 MVB over the basking spot and a 60w in the coolend.

 

[TamiLynne]

Thanks guys!

Dawn: the cool side temp I got right now with the gun was 81.5

I've been thinking about getting a MVB but have been a bit gunshy since they seem to have such specific instructions. Not that I don't think I can meet their demands, but I am gone for 10-12 hours at a time (the BF does not pay so much attention to detail..) & I fear something would go awry during the changeover.

Today Brock did better, he got up earlier and was basking when I left for work. He was stretched out on the UTH when I got home (only 82F on the bottom) so I took him out to run around then fed him. He didn't eat a huge amount but I coaxed him into 12 butterworms and a few mouthfuls of salad. Which is an improvement.