My cool side is too warm. Proper heat gradient help needed.

[Linpai]

Hi all, have a new addition in the form of a 6week baby Bearded Dragon. Having issues with my heat gradient. I had tested it all out and it was perfect but I think I checked too soon after switching everything on and I am now noticing that my cooler end is sitting at 31-32deg. Warmer end variates between an ambient temp of 32-34 in some spots, basking spot is at 38-42 at different parts of the rock.

I dont know how to get the cooler end down a bit. We live in sunny QLD, the aircon is on to the main part of the house and my daughter's room where he lives would sit roughly around 26-28 deg. Obviously with summer nearly over it shouldnt be an issue for much longer but I don't know if I should be concerned about the temps or of he will be fine. Help please?

 

[kingofnobbys]

I have similar thermal gradients , especially in summer despite the house being aircon'ed 24/7 in summer. Northern coastal NSW.

We try to keep the temperature in the house in summer between 24 degC (overnight) and 27 degC during the day (which is nice when the humidity has been reduced by the aircon) ==> cool zone can get to about 32 degC in the tubs and tanks for my skinks and dragons.
Which really is quite nice and close to the preferred body temperatures for my eastern BTs , water skinks and dragons.
I start my little ones off in 100L tubs and they hold the heat in nicely.

Think you're new little hatchling will be fine and will enjoy the warmth so long as your maximums never go above 42 degC (basking spot).
This will be helpful to you - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=233516

 

[Linpai]

Thank you! His favourite spot is on the hammock where it gets 34 deg and is directly under the UVB tube (at a safe distance).

I am a nervous new mumma (technically grandmama as he is my daughter's but I am too young for that term!). We managed to get him to eat 5 roaches today. He is a stubborn turd. Has to run them down or he doesn't want a bar of them. Have ordered some BSFL and small supers. Hoping they won't be too big for him and might entice him into eating a bit more.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thank you! His favourite spot is on the hammock where it gets 34 deg and is directly under the UVB tube (at a safe distance).

I am a nervous new mumma (technically grandmama as he is my daughter's but I am too young for that term!). We managed to get him to eat 5 roaches today. He is a stubborn turd. Has to run them down or he doesn't want a bar of them. Have ordered some BSFL and small supers. Hoping they won't be too big for him and might entice him into eating a bit more.

When the supers arrive , set them aside , the little hatchling will be too young to cope with small supers (or mealworms as well) til it reaches about 12 months old and the GIT straightens out a bit.
Only a few as bribes or treats OCCASIONALLY == beardie McDonalds.

I raised two lots of hatchlings from about the same age on crickets and silkworms. BSFL were not available 2 years ago here in Australia for the herp hobby.
I started off my 5 - 6 week olds on small crickets (Piscus) then discovered Frog Arcade and was buying 700 - 800 x 25 day old - 1/3 size crickets every few weeks (to feed 2 hatchlings 3x per day, two meals of crickets + one meal of silkworms + greens and grated veg + softened mix of VetaFarm and Repcal (Juvenile bearded dragon) pellets. And they thrived in their individual 100L tubs under 26W UVB200s.


BSFL are excellent , but you might need to snip the heads off them to get the hatchling to eat them , this is what I do for my water skink ....wont touch them otherwise. Fluffy (my water skink who's about 30g polishes of 20 - 30 BSFL per day , but she's a challenge ( super lively ).

Aussie Fauna have silkworms , small and medium size will be fine for your little hatchling. Check Gumtree you might get a few hundred small (mealworm sized) silkworms from hobbyist for $20 , and a shopping bag full of fresh mulberry leaves for $5 , I buy my mulberry leaves from a guy in Penrith via GumTree, I believe he raids an avenue of big mulberry trees in a park there abouts. Worth it for me to buy 200 leaves express post them and then rebag and put the leaves in the crisper.
The leaves can be blanched . snap chilled and frozen are used out of season to feed silkworms (that you've hatched from eggs (I harvest my own eggs and keep them til needed in the fridge).

 

[Linpai]

Ok. Thank you. I had no idea the supers would not be appropriate.

Will grab some silk worms instead and hope the BSFL is a hit.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Ok. Thank you. I had no idea the supers would not be appropriate.

Will grab some silk worms instead and hope the BSFL is a hit.

viewtopic.php?f=76&t=234999&p=1807834#p1807834 will help you decide on feeder insects.

BSFLs are little escape artists .... even managed to escape a "worm escape proof feeder dish", so save yourself some $ and visit the AusPost and buy a 4in mailer tube , the caps are handy to make an DIYS escape proof feeder dish for the BSFL like this : viewtopic.php?f=75&t=239661&p=1837017#p1837017
... could just order 700x 25day old crickets from Frog Arcade and keep the caps that come on the tube the crickets arrive in , which is what I've done.
BTW the flies are great food for a hatchling , my gang had ball catching the blue blowflies when I tried them (pupated way too fast so never ordered again).

Silkworms will stay on the leaves or the nuked chow mix (if you use chow) and wont travel far.

This is how I raise my silkworms : viewtopic.php?f=76&t=222193

Some tips for you -
> no sand (not even Bunnings PlaySand) for the hatchling - it's an impaction risk. Best substrate for hatchlings is paper toweling - is dead eat to keep the tank clean.
> at least 15 hr photoperiod (I have my lights on a domestic timer , on 6am , off 10pm).
> only give a few crickets or roaches at a time (keep the length of these about the same as the distance between the hatchling's eyes) , let it eat them, then drop a few more in , and repeat til it looses interest (is full).
> ROUTINE IS EVERYTHING.

 

[Linpai]

It is so funny that you mention them loving flies.Barely showed an interest in the roaches but was hunting a fly on the otherside of the glass today.

Love the feeder dish you made. I have a postal tube here from the UVB tube so will give it a shot.