New Baby Questions

[BadgerGirl]

Hello Beardie Friends,

Im proud to say or little Gandi has been home for one night. He seems well but I have a few questions:

No Poop yet! - He's been home for about 20 hours and I haven't seen a poop yet, is this normal? Am I not looking for the right poop, Ive not seen one before :roll:

Sleeping on his basking spot - Im concerned this is because its getting too cold at night. Temp was 24c when I went to bed and about 21 before the lights went on this morning.

Temps a few degrees too low? - Im struggling to get his basking temperature to stay above 38c. Its hovering at 37. Is this ok? Ive got a 100 watt bulb in there and though that would be enough.

Any help much appreciated!

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hello Beardie Friends,

Im proud to say or little Gandi has been home for one night. He seems well but I have a few questions:

No Poop yet! - He's been home for about 20 hours and I haven't seen a poop yet, is this normal? Am I not looking for the right poop, Ive not seen one before :roll: <<< the poo will arrive. More he eats the more he'll poo .... essentially what goes in , comes out after a day or 2.

Sleeping on his basking spot - Im concerned this is because its getting too cold at night. Temp was 24c when I went to bed and about 21 before the lights went on this morning. << 21C Is cool but OKish, 24C overnight would be better for little hatchling

Temps a few degrees too low? - Im struggling to get his basking temperature to stay above 38c. Its hovering at 37. <<< 37C is OK , but a little too cool . Is this ok? Ive got a 100 watt bulb in there and though that would be enough. << options are
1) make the basking spot a little higher / closer to the globe.
2) move the globe down closer to the basking spot a wee bit .... really just trial and error.

Any help much appreciated!

 

[BadgerGirl]

Thanks! I know I'm a few degrees off... I've got some different bulbs to try as the basking spot is pretty close to the lamp already. Hope playing with the type of bulb and wattage will get me up to optimal temp for him soon.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thanks! I know I'm a few degrees off... I've got some different bulbs to try as the basking spot is pretty close to the lamp already. Hope playing with the type of bulb and wattage will get me up to optimal temp for him soon.

Don''t want the beardie to reach up and touch a very hot globe .... they are very inquisitive of things.

This is why some reptile keepers enclose their CHEs and MVBs and basking incandescents globes in wire cages - this stops curious reptiles from touching very hot glass and metal reflector surfaces and getting nasty burns.
If 100W means your globe has to be very close , worth going to 120W.

Also - if you have mesh top, replacing this with solid timber will help a lot as you will no longer be loosing all the warm air created by the basking globe immediately to the room , warm air is very buoyant and rises.
A solid timber lid / top will
>>> hold heat in the enclosure ==> lower wattage required to reach the required warm zone and basking temperatures
>>> will insulate the tank (if it's chilly inside the house overnight)
>>> will provide a stable platform from which to hang / attach your lights and light fittings
>>> will force warmed air to circulate inside the tank making it easier to create a stable thermal gradient.

 

[BadgerGirl]

Ive got a wooden viv and I've made a cut out on top, covered it with mesh and placed the lamp on top.

Thankfully today I've got the temp up and he's much more active! Thanks for the input.

To get the temp up I've re-sealed the outside joins of the viv and changed my bulb. Went from a 100watt exo tear glow to a standard clear halogen 150 watt. Noticed the halogens produce much more heat!

Temps are now 26c in cool side and 42c on basking spot. Also got lots of levels from basking lamp with temp variations.

To keep him warm over night I used a che. Temps were between 25c and 33c. I need to cut another hole in the top to keep the heater there and get a thermostat I think.

Lesson for me is there is no "one bulb fits all" answer. I tried 4 before I hit the right temp!

 

[BadgerGirl]

And he pooped! I was proud like only a new mum could be!