Lighting/Heating - please help!

[Aliceandgus]

Hi everyone!

I am picking up my bearded dragon at the weekend. I think I have everything I need but am just wondering what lamps should be on when.

I have a main basking light at one end. I am planning to put this on a timer for 12-14 hours a day, but also a thermostat to turn it off if/when the temp gets too hot or cold during this 12-14 hour period.

Then I have the UVB tube light. I was planning on having this on a timer for the same 12-14 hour period that the main basking light is on, not controlled by a thermostat.

Finally I have purchased a ceramic heater as I noticed the temp was dropping to 15 degrees C at night. I was planning on putting this at the opposite end to the basking light (so the cool end), but I am struggling to understand how to control this? I am anticipating this should be switched on all the time but only kick it when the temperature drops – in which case would I need a separate thermostat for this?

Any help or advice is much appreciated! He is a 6/7 week old baby and my first bearded dragon.

For info. my viv and set up is the starter kit from Swell Reptiles https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/swell-bearded-dragon-juvenile-starter-kit-silver/, but in addition to this I have purchased 1 dimming thermostat, ceramic heater, digital thermometer, reptile carpet (to replace the sand) and a 3D background. Once he gets bigger I will invest in a larger viv for him. Again, any help or advice for my setups is appreciated!

 

[CooperDragon]

I am envious of those kits Swell sells. SO much better than what we have access to in the US.

12-14hrs of daylight time is good. The basking light and UVB light should be on the same schedule so they can share a timer. The dimming thermostat should be set up to the basking light. The CHE can go on the far end and I'd pick up a simple on/off or pulse thermostat for that. It just needs to keep (at least part of) the enclosure between about 20-23C overnight and that's all. Since there is no visible light from those you can use an on/off rather than a dimming thermostat. The dimming thermostat is needed for the basking light to keep it from constantly flickering or shutting off.

Which UVB light did that come with? Is it a T5 or a T8? I would get a reflector for it if it doesn't come with one. Swell carries them and they clip on behind the bulb to direct more light downward over the basking area. Very helpful to have.

 

[Aliceandgus]

Thanks so much for your reply! I have it all set up and everything seems to be fine and he has settled in well! Hadn't heard of reflectors before, definitely going to invest in one - thanks again for your help!