Newbie Set Up Review for Stewart

[Stewart978]

Hello, Stewart's introduction is here. He's a juvenile rescue. viewtopic.php?f=44&t=241054&p=1845893#p1845868

Here is his current set up at Day 5 , already evolved since Day 1. I am a visual person, so I have added pics plus description below:

tank: 36x18x18 40g breeder ExoTerra with cross-bar screen topside
substrate: mostly newspaper for now mixed in with some tiles that I had.
habitat: inside: from right to left: basking spot with hide underneath on top of tiles; food, water/pool on cool side with another hide. Varies slightly from pics which are prior to my most recent fiddling. I actually just added an old cracked pot for the cooler side hide this morning. He seems to like to sleep not in the open. Playing around with climbing sticks, work in progress
topside: as shown in top picture: 75W basking bulb over basking spot far-ish right corner; 22" T5 10.0 UVB reptisun reflective hood just in front of basking bulb on top of screen. Both get shut off at night; 150W CHE just left of center on left rear screen panel. Stays on 24/7 now. We live in New England in an old house. I plan to get a dimmer switch for the CHE in a couple months when ambient temps increase.
temps: after some fiddling/adding basking light here is what I get using ZooMed dual thermo/hygro laying it flat on the surfaces I am testing until equilibrated (I know it isn't an infrared and I may get one eventually).
-105 basking surface (he seems to like his head on the middle of the "flinstones rock" (though not a rock, it's plastic). ~90 in hide under basking rock
-~85 tank bottom under CHE
-~75 in coolest part of tank day, ~70 night, dropped to 60ish one night, but that was when the CHE was at the opposite end, it's closer to middle now.

Though I did a bunch of research prior to getting him and spent a long time with the reptile folks at the store, I know of a few shortcomings myself and I am sure you all have some suggestions. Please be gentle.

My questions/topics..so far
1. need both CHE and basking bulb? Initially, the thought was that the T5 10.0 bulb with the 150W CHE would be enough to keep him basking happily. He seemed to be doing ok and was basking, but I have since added a 75 W basking bulb and had to re-arrange everything because temps were getting too high in basking spot when I had them closer to each other (122). Since I added basking light, he now gapes during basking, so I take that as a sign he likes it.
2. UVB bulb under hood? - everything I have read says that you lose UVB when the bulb sits on screen and to mount inside. But I understand the T5 10.0 is a stronger bulb and though you might be wasting $ on lost UVB, it "may" be ok to leave on screen. I am looking into ways to mount under the screen but want to keep the reptisun hood (v. a home depot under counter light) and have read a couple things that say it might be too much for the T5 10.0 to be inside. Thoughts appreciated.

 

[CooperDragon]

That looks great and it sounds like your temperatures are just right. You might want to spot check them with an IR temp gun or eventually pick up a thermostat that will have probes to constantly monitor the zones but that can be down the road no problem. The key is high enough basking temps and a good gradient - you have that. Since that's all on point I think you should keep everything as it is for now. If you find that it gets too warm or needs adjustment when the seasons change you could just use the CHE as needed overnight and go with a more powerful basking lamp. I wouldn't change it for now though since it's just right.

I'm glad to see you're using a T5 UVB light. That is a good fit for the tank. Those ZooMed tops have a pretty fine mesh that intercepts quite a bit of UVB but the T5 10.0 should still be powerful enough to reach the basking area at about 10'' or so. You may want to work on a climbing branch of some sort to offer some space closer to the bulb if he wants to go there.

 

[Stewart978]

You may want to work on a climbing branch of some sort to offer some space closer to the bulb if he wants to go there.

Thanks! I am working on this, but it is turning out to be tougher than I thought to find the right "thing" to use. Should I get the climbing thing closer to under UVB bulb or to directly under basking bulb? I am concerned it would be too hot if under basking bulb, but would like him to have the option to get closer to UVB. would I then raise the basking lamp like with a clamp stand or something?

Also, is it normal for them to sleep on top of their basking spot? He pretty much fell asleep basking last night (i.e., basking lamp and UVB is off at night). The CHE is at the other end of tank. He had been going underneath the basking spot in the little hide for the past few days. Probably doesn't help that I keep fiddling with inside the tank set up trying to get it perfect.

 

[lizardmom25]

My Beardie sleeps on his basking spot pretty much every night, so It is normal, at least for my guy.

 

[CooperDragon]

I'd build the branch to get closer to the UVB light. It may take a lot of trial and error to get things just how he likes it so try something and watch his reaction and adjust as needed. It's normal for them to fall asleep in odd positions all over the tank.