My setup ... Thoughts?

[jenn4turtles]

Hello, everyone!

I finally took a picture of Smaug's home, and I'm posting it here. If anyone has suggestions or thoughts on how I can improve it, let me know!



The right side is his basking/warm, side, and he usually basks on top of his cave (in front of the thermometer).

For his lighting, I'm using the Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood, (24" L) with the Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB T5 HO Lamp, 24w, (22" L), which rests on top of the screen.

For basking, I have a Repti Basking Spot Lamp (100w), which also rests on top of the screen.

The digital thermometer has a probe, and the probe is stretched over to the top of the tree branch, next to the hammock. I do not use the gauges for temp and humidity, but it's stuck to the back of the tank, so I left it in there; plus, I use it to hold up the cord for the probe. One day, Smaug looked like he was trying to walk on the draped cord like a tightrope. :lol:

For substrate, I have tile on the warm side, and the rest is a piece of non-adhesive shelf liner that is cut to fit the entire tank. I have a spare piece, cut to fit, that I alternate when cleaning. One gets cleaned ... Other goes in ... Then I switch at the next cleaning.

I've never seen him drink out of the water bowl, but I leave it in there because he uses it to go to bathroom. It's easy to clean out: I empty it into the toilet, clean it with hot water and a drop or two of liquid Dawn, rinse well, and then refill. This morning, he kept rubbing his tail (which is shedding) against the top of his cave, then hopped into the water bowl to soak it. (If I would've had more time before work, I would've taken him out and given him a regular bath.)

 

[CooperDragon]

It looks quite nice. How far is the hammock from the UVB light? I would consider moving the UVB light to the same side as the basking spot. Where does he spend most of his time?

 

[jenn4turtles]

The hammock is roughly 6 inches from the UVB light, but I would have to measure it. The enclosure is 36 x 18 x 18 (inches).

I don't know how I would fit both lights on that side. The top of the tank isn't wide enough. Basically, the two lights, side-by-side, cover the back half of the screened top. I thought about mounting the UVB inside, maybe by attaching it to the screen somehow, but I would have to mount it on the back half, basically right under where it is now; if I mounted it on the front half of the screen, I couldn't slide it open to get in there. I could move the UVB to the front of the tank and just rest it on top of the screen, but the front part of the screen slides forward to open and take out, so I would have to move the light constantly. We leave the the back half of the screen in place, and slide the front half out to reach inside the enclosure, for feeding, handling Smaug, etc.

He spends most of his time on his cave, but he does like the hammock and tree, too. I find that he spends most days on the cave, and most afternoons/evenings on the tree or hammock.

 

[CooperDragon]

Ah OK so that would be kind of a pain. I was thinking that had the front doors like mine so you could put the UVB on the front part of the top and the basking on the back part. At that distance with the T5 HO I'd leave it on top of the screen because it's pretty powerful. If he moves back and forth a lot he probably gets decent exposure to the UVB and the heat light anyway.

 

[jenn4turtles]

I wish it had doors in the front.

The reason that I was considering mounting the UVB on the inside was because I was concerned that the screen was blocking some of the rays. Could it do that? I want him to have enough UVB.

 

[Wolfeden]

When using the T5 HO 5.0 above a screen mesh you do need to make sure the BD can get very close, about 6". And you also want the warm baking spot in the same area as mentioned.
But at those heights the basking light will project a very narrow beam and won't offer much of a heat gradient.

I would suggest you also check out my thread and conversation with France Baines as she explained this same thing to me very well.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UVB_Meter_Owners/conversations/topics/8479

 

[jenn4turtles]

I put the digital thermometer on top of his cave, where he sits, and the temp registers between 101 and 105 there, so I hope that he's getting enough heat. The top of his cave is definitely more than 6 inches away from the light ... That's how it's made, though, so I would have to put something else there, something higher.

Thanks for the link - gonna check it out!

 

[Wolfeden]

No problem.
Just make sure you open all the responses, especially from Francis, since I don't know all that much.

She says all the important stuff. :wink:

 

[Wolfeden]

BTW, where did you get that desert aquarium background?

 

[jenn4turtles]

PetSmart. It's a 3D one, by National Geographic. I just have it taped to the outside of the tank.

 

[Wolfeden]

Great, thanks.

I also love the name of your BD!
I didn't thing the second movie was nearly as good as the first but still a great name.

 

[jenn4turtles]

We had just seen the 2nd movie right before we bought him, so we kinda had to name him that. And it fits in with the "S"-named theme that we have going with our pets.

 

[Wolfeden]

Makes perfect sense to me...and I didn't catch the "S" thing until you mentioned it.

 

[jarich]

With your dragon being small still, the basking light should be fine for now. When the bulb goes (and it wont likely take that long), replace it with a PAR 38 halogen FLOOD light from your hardware store or online. They spread out the light a lot more, instead of the spot lights which concentrate it on a smaller area. The halogens from the hardware store (or online) also cost about a third of the price.

 

[jenn4turtles]

Good to know! Thanks!