not enough heat?!

[ciaobella9821]

I just got my baby dragon and had one red night bulb and one 75 watt basking bulb and the temp wouldnt get higher then 75 degrees F. I replaced the red bulb with a 60 watt standing house bulb and it increased to around 80ish but doesn't seem to get any hotter in the tank. The tank is a 40 gallon breeder. What should I do to increase the temp?

 

[Twobeardieguy]

How are you measuring the temps and are you measuring the cool end or the hot end? The best to use is the thermometer with probe ends to be most accurate. I also use 40 gal breeders and I use a 100w and it keeps my temps around 100. Hope this helped.

 

[ciaobella9821]

Right now I just have those stick on ones which I know are kinda crappy and a strip that changes color with the temp, if that makes sense. I ordered a digital one with probes for both ends but that hasnt come in yet. The thermometers are on the hot end and they wont go above 80

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Chances are they wont go above 80. It may even be a bit cooler then they are reading. I would wait to make any adjustments until it comes in.

 

[mostlyharmlessnj]

Just so you know the stick on ones measure the temperature of the glass itself.

I use a 60w Halogen bulb BR30 in a 40gallon breeder, and it easily gets the basking temps to 100f - 110f.

 

[ciaobella9821]

ok thanks

 

[ciaobella9821]

wow, now I feel dumb, lol. I experimented by taking it off the glass and put it on the ground and it went up by about 15 degrees. Thanks for the info, I was getting worried.

 

[durps]

wow, now I feel dumb, lol. I experimented by taking it off the glass and put it on the ground and it went up by about 15 degrees. Thanks for the info, I was getting worried.

What do you mean you put it on the ground? lol
and use a 60watt halogen light from walmart or target, don't buy a reptile based halogen as it will be 15 dollars more for no reason.

 

[ciaobella9821]

lol, I meant that I took it off the glass and laid it on the reptile carpet I have in the tank.

 

[ciaobella9821]

Alright, well now I have a digital indoor/outdoor probe thermometer with the probe on the basking end of the 40 gallon breeder tank and it still will not get hotter then around 92 and that is with both a 60 watt household bulb and a 75 watt basking bulb together. What am I doing wrong now?

 

[diamc]

When using a probe thermometer, you have to make sure that the probe end is resting on (actually touching) the basking log or rock, then wait about 45 min for the temp to stop rising before getting the final reading.

What is the distance of the bulb to the basking spot?

 

[ciaobella9821]

the light is about 12 inches from her basking rock

 

[diamc]

Is there any way that you can raise the basking rock up a little? Is the probe actually touching the rock and are you waiting at least 45 min for the reading?

Since the basking bulb right now is 12" away, there is the concern of the beardie not being able to get close enough to the UVB. Could you fill us in on the brand & type you're using? Is the UVB right alongside the basking bulb? Would it be possible to post a picture of your setup?

 

[ciaobella9821]

sorry it took me so long to post a picture. Here is my setup so far. Right now I am working on building something that will help her get closer to the light. I am using a reptisun 10.0 right now. After getting the probe directly on the rock, I was able to get varying ranges of temps from 90-120 F. Im playing with using the bulbs to see what stays the best. Any tips on what wattage for the 40 gallon??