Night Time temp. question.

[sleestak]

Greetings Beardaholics-

I have a question about night temperatures. Before getting my first beardie about a month ago I scoured the web for how to set up an ideal beardie Viv. Almost every source recommends not letting night temps dip below 65 degrees F. I then researched the their native habitat in the central Australian deserts and woodlands where light frosts are common and average winter low temps range between freezing and 50 degrees F.

So I'm just wondering where the 65 degree recommendation comes from? I'v never raised one before now and am just getting to understand these critters.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[DeweysMom]

I've never head of light frost occurring where bearded dragons are found. As a precaution I always made sure Dewey's viv never fell below 65 and when he was sick I always kept it at 80. If it gets below 65 it could lead to an upper respiratory infection which is no fun for the beardie or you as you try to nurse it back to health. Personally, I'd play it safe and stick with 65 deg rule. It's just not worth the risk.

 

[Mistyck]

I guess it varies on the owner and the dragon. I've noticed that unless the temp is around 60 in my dragon's tank, then he normally doesn't really sleep.

But as mentioned, the recommended temp for night is 65.

And think of it this way: if we did everything like they have in the wild, would they live as long? Would they be as healthy? I don't think so.

 

[label]

Central bearded dragons are found in the arid zone of central Australia, which includes Alice Springs. I can testify from personal camping experience that you can have frost in winter. But the beardies would be brumating then, presumably in some sheltered place.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Enclosures]

 

[sleestak]

I guess it varies on the owner and the dragon. I've noticed that unless the temp is around 60 in my dragon's tank, then he normally doesn't really sleep.

But as mentioned, the recommended temp for night is 65.

And think of it this way: if we did everything like they have in the wild, would they live as long? Would they be as healthy? I don't think so.

The relationship between life expectancy and temperature is debatable. Think of an animal's life span as a candle wick. The hotter it burns,the shorter it's life span. As temperature increases so does metabolic rate. The life span of most species increases with latitude and colder winter temperatures (lower metabolic rates). This is especially true for brumating / hibernating species. I'm wondering if the tendency to brumate is decreasing as dragons are being captively bred over many generations. I think brumation evolved to cope with lack of food associated with lower winter temps which is not a problem for captive beardies as food is nearly unlimited with good husbandry. I'm rambling now but I find it an interesting topic.

 

[Claudiusx]

As temperature increases so does metabolic rate. The life span of most species increases with latitude and colder winter temperatures (lower metabolic rates). This is especially true for brumating / hibernating species. I'm wondering if the tendency to brumate is decreasing as dragons are being captively bred over many generations. I think brumation evolved to cope with lack of food associated with lower winter temps which is not a problem for captive beardies as food is nearly unlimited with good husbandry. I'm rambling now but I find it an interesting topic.

Well, you are contradicting yourself with your very own example of the candle burning hotter, burning out faster.
If you are using that to compare higher temps raises metabolic function which decreases their life span, then you are saying that a lack of brumating will too. You also say that in the wild they do this quite often, but we know in the wild they live significantly shorter life spans.

The relationship between life expectancy and temperature is debatable.

I don't think that is what Brandi was really comparing though. She, like myself, believes it to be very foolish to try to replicate every aspect of the wild, for the simple argument of "it happens in the wild, so i'm sure it will be fine for my dragon."

For instance, dragons live on a loose substrate in the wild, must be ok to house my dragon like that too.
In the wild they often go days without eating, must be fine for me to do that too.
Etc.. You get my point.

But that is besides the original topic..

IMO, and IME, I often let it get below 65. I never really have paid much effort to the rule of not letting it get under 65, although I always recommend following that.
I've never experienced any ill effects in my dragons from letting temps drop substantially at night, but I'm not saying they can't happen if your dragon is already sick, your husbandry is not in order, or anything else in general isn't basically perfect.

If your dragon is sick, it's definitely a good recommendation to keep the temps hotter at night like DeweysMom suggests.

-Brandon

 

[sleestak]

Well, you are contradicting yourself with your very own example of the candle burning hotter, burning out faster.
If you are using that to compare higher temps raises metabolic function which decreases their life span, then you are saying that a lack of brumating will too. You also say that in the wild they do this quite often, but we know in the wild they live significantly shorter life spans.



-Brandon

Thanks for the thoughts Brandon. i don't think it's contradictory when considering the relationship between temperatures, food supply, brumation, and multi generation captive breeding when comparing differences between wild and captive dragons. I'm saying that unlimited food supply might compensate for the lack of brumation in a higher temp. environment - especially after many generations of captive breeding. Just a theory brah.

Of course all of us want our beardies to live the longest and healthiest life possible. I was just surprised to see such a big difference between wild and captive temps. and wondered if there was a good reason for it. I'm not looking to create a Beardsicle.

 

[Claudiusx]

I would say it's just something that has been done, and we know to work well. No real harm comes from keeping temps around 65 at night (as far as I've seen in over 15 years).

On the other hand, I also can't say I've ever seen a case where cold temps at night were the explicit reason for any illness or ill effect in a dragon. I have seen it exacerbate a condition that might not have been too noticeable before though.

Which is why I myself will be a hypocrite in recommending not letting temperatures drop bellow 65 degrees at night because as a generalization, the people asking this question still have a lot to learn about dragons, and likely are not doing everything perfect. Which, as I already stated, can potentially bring to life some issues that have been on the back burner as far as the dragons health.

-Brandon

 

[sleestak]

I would say it's just something that has been done, and we know to work well. No real harm comes from keeping temps around 65 at night (as far as I've seen in over 15 years).

On the other hand, I also can't say I've ever seen a case where cold temps at night were the explicit reason for any illness or ill effect in a dragon. I have seen it exacerbate a condition that might not have been too noticeable before though.

Which is why I myself will be a hypocrite in recommending not letting temperatures drop bellow 65 degrees at night because as a generalization, the people asking this question still have a lot to learn about dragons, and likely are not doing everything perfect. Which, as I already stated, can potentially bring to life some issues that have been on the back burner as far as the dragons health.

-Brandon

Thanks Brandon. i appreciate it.