Need Advice on a HUGE Viv for my beardies

[jodyberry]

Hi all,

Thanks to the help and previous advice on this forum, I was able to build a crossfire enclosure (4x2x1.5) and add some touches of my own.

But I am now in the process of designing a larger enclosure. It will be 4x4x1.5. Basically 2 of my first enclosure. But I have a few concerns about lighting since it will be twice the height..

Here is a pic of my first enclosure:

Since taking the photo I have replaced the UVB light with a reptisun 10.0. And the basking area utilizes 2 bulbs for consistent temps. (And no, it's not as bright or as close to the logs as it looks in the pic!!).

OK, and here's a REALLY rough Photoshop image of basically how the new viv will look. The new logs won't necessarily be where you see them, but most of them WILL be floating - which means most of the bottom floor area will be clear for food, water dishes, etc.

My main question is about lighting; Will a 4 foot reptisun at the very top of the viv provide enough UV for the whole viv all the way to the bottom (remember it's 4 feet tall). Or should I attach an additional reptisun about half way down on the back wall?

Also, should I put basking lamps in more than one spot? Right now (on the top photo) they're on the lefthand side of the viv over a log that they lay on. But with the huge area in the new plan, should I put another lamp over another one of the logs about halfway down?

Lastly, do the hot and cold areas of a regular viv ALWAYS have to be the left and right side of a viv? In other words, since this viv is twice as tall, could I make the basking areas towards the top and the cool area towards the bottom? (As opposed to left and right)?

Any other tips you might have on sufficient UV and basking would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[jodyberry]

Anyone?

 

[changilass]

My main concern would be with him falling from the top branches onto the floor and hurting himself.

Hopefully someone else can help you with the lighting and heating question.

Going by what I have read on here, I think floor space is more important than height.

 

[jeritta]

I have a question

Are you gonna have multiple beardies in this viv?

Beardies need more floor space than vertical space.

 

[ziggy23]

Why so tall? beardies actually need more floor space than height. a viv like that would be more suited to an igunana or something similar animal that spends all day in trees.

If your looking to get uv at the bottom of the tank from the top, a reptisun won't do it, and I'm not sure if MVB would do it either unless you bought zoo quality bulbs or something.

 

[jodyberry]

Why so tall? beardies actually need more floor space than height. a viv like that would be more suited to an igunana or something similar animal that spends all day in trees.

If your looking to get uv at the bottom of the tank from the top, a reptisun won't do it, and I'm not sure if MVB would do it either unless you bought zoo quality bulbs or something.

The tallness because it's going to act as a stand for my other viv.

And I've also read about floor space, but my beardies spend probably 90% of their time on the branches. They sleep on them at night and scurry up and down during the day. They aren't narrow branches like you see in a lot of vivs. They're actually quite wide and can accommodate their big guts!


Thanks for the reptisun info. I think I'll put another unit halfway down since their maximum throw is only about 2 feet.

 

[ziggy23]

but having one midway, you're going to have problems with them getting too close, that could be dangerous.

 

[jodyberry]

I have a question

Are you gonna have multiple beardies in this viv?

Beardies need more floor space than vertical space.

Yes, there will be 3 females in this viv. And YES, I have already gone around and around with people who absolutely never place beardies together. I know the risks, but in the year that I've had them, there have been NO confrontations whatsoever. Possibly because they've grown up together. Plus, we spend a LOT of time with them in AND outside the viv.
And I'm not naive - I know something COULD happen.

 

[jodyberry]

but having one midway, you're going to have problems with them getting too close, that could be dangerous.

Do you mean too close to the reptisun? Are you concerned with them getting too much UV exposure? (If there is such a thing).

Or do you mean them possibly touching the light?

Thanks...

 

[ziggy23]

but having one midway, you're going to have problems with them getting too close, that could be dangerous.

Do you mean too close to the reptisun? Are you concerned with them getting too much UV exposure? (If there is such a thing).

Or do you mean them possibly touching the light?

Thanks...

in this sense, yes there is such a thing as too much uv. there are recommended safe distances to uv bulbs and letting them get closer isn't much different than using a bad bulb.

 

[midmichicer]

It looks like your beardies are young and usually the younger the more prone they are to climb. When they get older and maybe don't want to climb as much, you are going to have 3 beardies all wondering the bottom. I agree with more floor space and less height.

 

[jodyberry]

It looks like your beardies are young and usually the younger the more prone they are to climb. When they get older and maybe don't want to climb as much, you are going to have 3 beardies all wondering the bottom. I agree with more floor space and less height.

Thanks!

Yea, as a beardie newbie, I'm not sure if 8 months is still considered "young". In any case, even though this will be a tall viv, I think I will include a few good size balconies (floor space, if you will) where they can rest or whatever.

 

[ziggy23]

8 months is still young. They live 10-12+ years, a few have lived to 20.

 

[BadCon]

I agree with the above posters. Beardies tend to be arboreal when they are younger to escape predators (and adult beardies), however when they get older (and fatter), they stop climbing. You dragons are going to gain a lot of weight over the next year. They are probably 1/3rd the weight they will be at 18months. This weight gain will make their tree climbing endeavors much harder for them. I'm not saying they won't be able to climb, just that they will probably be much more comfortable on the ground.
Most pet dragons are overweight...making climbing that much harder.
Additionally, fall damage is a real concern with such a tall viv. I don't know what you plan to use for substrate, but with 3 dragons in a tank...all competing for space, its not unreasonable to assume that one of them could fall. A 4ft fall could break bones, or worse. I don't see why its necessary to put your dragons at risk when you said yourself, the extra height is just to raise up another viv. Why don't you just build a separate stand?

As for lighting, keep a side to side temperature gradient. Yo may have lights more towards the middle too...since this is a multi-dragon setup, you'll need several basking areas. You'll also want to make sure they can get within 8" of the reptisun...which is going to be a problem, as the viv is so tall that getting within 8" of the UV light will put the dragons at the top, and at risk for falling.

 

[jodyberry]

Additionally, fall damage is a real concern with such a tall viv. I don't know what you plan to use for substrate, but with 3 dragons in a tank...all competing for space, its not unreasonable to assume that one of them could fall. A 4ft fall could break bones, or worse. I don't see why its necessary to put your dragons at risk when you said yourself, the extra height is just to raise up another viv. Why don't you just build a separate stand?

Thanks for the great info!

I'm not making a stand because I wanted a large viv (tall) without using a lot of floor space (deep). So, in the interest of safety (as was mentioned about falls) I am going to design this viv in 2 sections with a divider between them (basically 2 two-foot tall vivs). BUT there will be a small access area between the two so that they can go from top to bottom viv, or vice versa. Climbing logs will be placed so that there's never an area with more than a 6 or 8 inch fall.
And each section will have its own independent hot/cool areas.
This gives them the versatility of roaming a larger area as well as the safety since each section will have its own floor. And if I DO have to separate them in the future for whatever reason, I can close off that small access hole.

Should be working on it this weekend so hopefully will have some pics on Monday!