New enclosure temp question

[apndi]

Hello everyone,

Today I just moved my beardie into a new big viv, 4'x2'x20" H. His basking spot is 10"-12" away from his basking light, which is a 150W Exo-Terra Intense Basking Bulb. His UVB is a Reptisun T5 10.0 mounted above his tank with a reflector. I'm worried that his basking spot is not getting hot enough. I use the All Living Things infrared temp gun. Since it's Christmas I can't go out and buy a new bulb today, so I figured maybe it just needs extra time to heat up the bigger viv. I left the room for 2 hours, came back and the basking spot is only 90-95 degrees. However, he had his mouth open like they do when they're releasing extra heat. Is it possible that my temp gun is not measuring the temp correctly, or is it possible that he prefers it/likes it at that slightly cooler temp? Or should I just get a new bulb? If I was to get a new bulb, which one should I get?

Here are pics of what he was doing when I came into the room.

 

[Claudiusx]

Since I take it you're pointing the temp gun at that hammock, it won't get an accurate reading. IR guns need a solid surface to read off of (generally speaking) so the mesh material will be hard for it to read. If you want to read that spot accurately, then you will need a thermometer with probe end; or a different basking spot.

For now though, at least the spot seems hot enough for your dragon. But still would be best to get a true reading when you can.

-Brandon

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[EllenD]

I agree, you cannot use a Mesh Hammock as the "Basking Spot/Platform" and measure it with an Infrared Temp Gun, it's not reading correctly at all, I guarantee it's much, much hotter on that Basking Spot than it's telling you if you're using the same wattage of basking bulb that you used in a glass tank, or you went up in wattage.

Typically when people move from a smaller glass tank to a much larger wooden enclosure, they have to actually GO DOWN IN BASKING BULB WATTAGE even though they are going to a much larger enclosure, because the wood enclosures hold the heat SOOOOOO much better than a glass tank with a mesh lid. A 150 watt bright-white Basking Bulb over the Hot Side of the new Wooden Enclosure that is 4'x2'x2 or less should be more than enough to get the basking spot/platform that is within at least 11" of the lights/ceiling of the enclosure between 100-105 degrees F. In fact, I'd bet that you might even have to go down to a 125 watt if you get the basking bulb over the Hot Side of the enclosure set up on a solid-basking surface, let it heat up to temperature for at least 45 minutes to an hour, and then take it with the Temp Gun.

If you want to use the Mesh Hammock as his "Basking Spot", which I don't advise, it should be a solid surface that will absorb both the heat and attract the light/UVB light, but if you want to measure the temp on the Hammock, you need to use a Digital Probe Thermometer and set the Probe right on the Hammock and then let it sit there for at least 30 minutes, you'll get "somewhat" of an accurate "surface" temperature, but figure it's still going to be a bit lower than it actually is.

Their Basking Spot Temperature should be strictly a "Surface Temperature" (on a solid platform that can absorb light/heat), and a mesh hammock is not a solid surface, and as such it is impossible for a mesh hammock to absorb near the light/heat that a rock, wood, etc. will, and you're actually reading mostly an "Ambient or Air" temperature on the mesh hammock instead of the actual Basking Spot Surface Temp, if you are able to get any reading at all. So I really highly suggest making his main Basking Spot within the Hot Side of the enclosure a solid rock, piece of wood, something you buy at a pet shop, etc. that will put him within at least 11" of the T5 UVB tube and will reach a "Surface Temperature" between 100-105 degrees F.

I'm not saying "remove the hammock", that's obviously up to you, and as long as you keep your dragon's toenails clipped so they don't get stuck in the mesh then if he likes it keep it (they are known for fracturing and dislocating their legs, knees, hips, elbows, ankles, shoulders, etc. while trying to yank a stuck toenail out of the mesh of those green hammocks), it's just not a suitable main Basking Spot/Platform because it's not solid and cannot heat up to a proper Basking Temp for your dragon.

And again, keep in mind that even though you moved into a much larger enclosure than he was in before, the wooden enclosure will typically reach higher temps with the same bulbs that you had in the smaller glass enclosure, simply because the wooden enclosures hold in the heat a thousand times better than a glass tank, especially if it had a mesh lid (heat rises, so when there's a mesh lid the heat is constantly and continuously rising right out of the tank).

 

[apndi]

Thank you for the responses! I was using the gun to measure both the air and the hammock itself. So basically, the thing he’s sitting on needs to be 100-105, and not the air? Or are both supposed to be that temp? Do the temp guns not measure air (I thought they could measure anything 2 inches in front of it)?

Also, I struggle to find a rock or piece of driftwood that’s both tall enough to get him close enough to the basking light, and also thick and big enough for him to lay on (he’s 21 inches). Where does everyone find them?

 

[apndi]

My original plan was to use some extra plywood left over from building the cage to build a platform the same shape and size as the hammock, and cover it with felt so he would have something softer to lay on and so that i wouldn’t have to worry about treating and painting it. Is that good enough in terms of holding a good temp?

 

[apndi]

Anyone?

 

[CooperDragon]

That should do. A felt or fleece cover would work. If you make it so it's removable you can pull it off and throw it in the washer if it gets dirty.

 

[apndi]

Thank you, I will try that and see if it improves the temp readings at all!