New Beardie Mom Needs Some Insight on Viv Config & Behavior

[burntotears]

My beardie (Hermes) is about 2 months old (7 inches) and I got him two days ago. I am still worried his setup isn't the best for him. His viv is 24x12x18

I got him a long tube UVB light yesterday and rearranged his furniture a bit so that he had a designated basking rock. I was shining the basking light onto the corner of his big tree before and he seemed to like it, but I was having issues configuring it so that the basking was on the side rather than toward the middle of the viv.

Here is where he spends most of his time now that I put the new tube UVB bulb in though.

I've placed him on his basking spot a couple of times and he'll sit there for a few minutes but then goes back to the top of his tree again. Should I move the tree from directly underneath the UVB bulb? Is that actually a good place for it to be for him to get his UVB rays? I read that the screen can filter UVB rays, but I can't mount his bulb inside because his tree is so tall he will just be able to climb into the light and hurt himself.

He's still shedding right now (his tail is peeling off still and he was rubbing his head on things yesterday) so he may just be acting different because of that, but I want to be sure. He also doesn't seem to eat a lot, though I've heard that's because of shedding as well. I just want to be sure he stays healthy and happy.

Here is a pic of what I was doing first - the basking bulb was shining down on his tree, mostly on the bottom part here where it's darker. But I didn't have that completely shoved to the side of the tank so I don't think that configuration was correct.

Should I move his tree to the side of the viv so that he can bask on it at any height he prefers rather than having the designated basking rock that is lower? The tree is his favorite, he loves it, so if I need to get that basking working on the tree I will, I just don't want him to get too cold. He acts like he's trying to get warmth from the UVB bulb instead of his basking light.

Also I ordered an infrared thermometer (will be here today) so I can more accurately check temps around the cage. Currently it says about 90-95 on warm side and 80-85 on cool side. Don't know the temp of the basking rock yet. I'm using a 75 watt basking bulb right now and the UVB bulb I bought is the tube reptisun 10.

 

[SpacialCoogs]

If he likes the tree then I'd move that closer to the basking spot, he'll move up and down it to self regulate, or you could try moving the hammock to that corner

 

[CooperDragon]

Welcome to the forum! His enclosure looks quite nice. Normally I'd say move the tree to 6'' away from the UVB bulb but you have such a good height gradient he should be able to move around to get what he needs so I'd leave it as is. Temperatures will be the main thing to dial in. Having a good thermometer will help with that. Look for 100-105 or so in the basking area with 90s around that and the cool side should be around 75-80 or so.

 

[burntotears]

I think my first mistake is that I thought that he needed the heat from the rock for his belly and not just to be under the light. I took your advice and moved his hammock under it and he was hanging out on the hammock when I got home from the store, so it's possible that the rock was too low for him to be able to get enough heat from.

I've read the UVB is good for his digestion, so I have moved his tree to be at the corner of the basking light area and then the other toward the back of the tank under the UVB. He seems to like this new setup as he can walk (or jump) from his tree to his hammock. I think we've got a good setup finally.

Thanks for your help, guys! I was so nervous!

 

[CooperDragon]

The rocks make a nice natural basking platform but you can also use things like branches. The way to think about lighting is that you're trying to imitate natural sunlight which consists of bright white light/UVA, heat/infrared, and UVB. Your basking light will provide the heat and bright white light component so you just need to supplement that with a UVB light. The highest concentrations of heat and UVB should be over the basking area(s) and there should also be areas of lower heat and UVB (shade). Offering those choices will allow him to move around and get what he needs at any given time. The UVB intensity (and the heat intensity for that matter) depends on the distance to the bulb. With the one you have I'd keep a basking area about 6-8'' from the light for best output.

 

[burntotears]

Thanks so much for the help! He definitely seems happier and moving around more between the basking area and his tree so I think the hammock being 6 inches below the basking light did the trick for him.