Please help my bearded dragon spike

[BraydensMomma]

I just turned 18 a while back. And I can find things on my own. I've been to plenty of sites. She just said that the bulbs were 20 and I've only been finding them for over 30. And I can afford my bearded dragon. Yeah I don't have the money but my dad does. He's rich. He does whatever makes me happy. So now that I know that spike needs more things than he has I'm going to make sure he gets it. And I have a two year old. He runs around the apartment so I have plenty of time for my bearded dragon. I have ALWAYS made time for him even when my son was just a newborn. So you need to quit being rude when you know nothing about me or my situation.

 

[Mrkngpen]

The ReptiSun tube bulbs that were recommended for you to buy ONLY provide UV light (which is a necessity) but do not provide heat. You still should get (or keep, if you already have it) a heat bulb in there for daytime use. That is for the basking spot as well and what you need the digital thermometer to check the temperature of. It should be around 100*.

 

[BraydensMomma]

The ReptiSun tube bulbs that were recommended for you to buy ONLY provide UV light (which is a necessity) but do not provide heat. You still should get (or keep, if you already have it) a heat bulb in there for daytime use. That is for the basking spot as well and what you need the digital thermometer to check the temperature of. It should be around 100*.

Okay. Already plan on getting the ReptiSun 10.0 bulb now your telling me a need heat one too. Okay... Well I have bulbs already on him that petsmart told me was heating bulbs. They are for daytime use and are 100watts. I have two. One on each side of his tank. Is that good enough plus the ReptiSun bulb or just one of the bulbs or is there a type of heating bulb that you recommend???


Also I just want to say thank you to everyones help. I honestly never knew much about him but thank god I did this much research on him. Now I hope that I'm changing everything in time. Thank you though I really appreciate all of y'alls help.

 

[DaddyGeek]

The ReptiSun tube bulbs that were recommended for you to buy ONLY provide UV light (which is a necessity) but do not provide heat. You still should get (or keep, if you already have it) a heat bulb in there for daytime use. That is for the basking spot as well and what you need the digital thermometer to check the temperature of. It should be around 100*.

Okay. Already plan on getting the ReptiSun 10.0 bulb now your telling me a need heat one too. Okay... Well I have bulbs already on him that petsmart told me was heating bulbs. They are for daytime use and are 100watts. I have two. One on each side of his tank. Is that good enough plus the ReptiSun bulb or just one of the bulbs or is there a type of heating bulb that you recommend???


Also I just want to say thank you to everyones help. I honestly never knew much about him but thank god I did this much research on him. Now I hope that I'm changing everything in time. Thank you though I really appreciate all of y'alls help.

You should only need the heat bulb on one side of the tank. One side of the tank should be approximately 100 degrees in their basking spot. A little over is fine. The other side of the tank should be in the 85 degree area. At night they do not need light and the tank can drop down to around 65 and they will be alright, any colder than that and they need a ceramic heating bulb for night time.


So to recap:

1. One side of the tank needs a basking bulb and that spot should be 100 degrees.

2. You need a reptisun 10.0 bulb for UV purposes.

3. You shouldn't need a second heating light on the other side of the tank because it should be around 85 degrees.

4. No light at night. It can get as cold as 65 degrees and they will be fine but if it gets colder then get a ceramic heating bulb, not a light bulb.

5. Get a digital thermometer with a sensor. The stick on ones petsmart sells with the dials can be off by up to 20 degrees.

6. They need 14 hours of lights on and 10 off. I have an electric timer I bought from walmart that turns them on and off at preset times.

 

[BraydensMomma]

Okay got it. So don't need both my bulbs. So going to take one out. And I'm pretty sure their not basking bulbs so I need to get some of those. I have his basking spot on the right side of his tank. The bulb is on top pointing down. Should I put the ReptiSun in that same area just not blocking the basking bulb one.

 

[Drache613]

Please keep this discussion on a friendly & helpful level, thank you! Restraint from personal attacks is expected of members, as well. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

[kmc5]

I was very shocked at the rude comment. Thankfully others have the compassion to offer great advice. I asked a thousand questions, some a few times over, I just wanted to make sure and I was 46 years old when I got my beardie. I am so glad that I did not come across any one like that or I would of left and never posted again.

Keep working on your new enclosure and your beardie will gain in strength and health. And major kudos for finding this forum and asking questions and taking the advice to heart.

 

[BraydensMomma]

Thank you very much for saying that kmc5. I was very shocked with the rude comment as well cause this is just a helpful site. Not suppose to have rude things. I agree with you though. Thank god there are others who have a heart and want to help me out instead of being rude to me. The only reason I ask so many questions, and some over and over again, is to make sure I'm understanding everything right. I love my beardie and no matter what that person said. I will NEVER give him away. He has became part of my family and I will have him until the end

Is there any advice for my beardie Spike that you can give me???

 

[DaddyGeek]

Okay got it. So don't need both my bulbs. So going to take one out. And I'm pretty sure their not basking bulbs so I need to get some of those. I have his basking spot on the right side of his tank. The bulb is on top pointing down. Should I put the ReptiSun in that same area just not blocking the basking bulb one.

I place my UV Bulb(I have the 18 inch Reptisun 10.0 in a fluorescent fixture) across the back of my cage sitting on top facing downward and I have a large piece of driftwood in the front left side of the cage with the basking bulb shining down on it. A lot of people do it different ways depending on cage size and layout. I think as long as they can get the UV from anywhere in the cage they are okay. Be careful about letting the basking bulb touch anything plastic such as the fixture for your UV bulb because it will melt it very easily. Hope this helps.

 

[coastergirl946]

Oh and make sure you have a digital temp gauge with a probe (you can get them for $12 at Walmart), not the stick on thermometers.. those can be inaccurate. What you will want to do is rest the probe on the basking spot so you have your basking spot temp (not sure how long to leave it there to determine the right temp). You will want to measure the cool side temp the same way.

 

[BraydensMomma]

Okay got it. So don't need both my bulbs. So going to take one out. And I'm pretty sure their not basking bulbs so I need to get some of those. I have his basking spot on the right side of his tank. The bulb is on top pointing down. Should I put the ReptiSun in that same area just not blocking the basking bulb one.

I place my UV Bulb(I have the 18 inch Reptisun 10.0 in a fluorescent fixture) across the back of my cage sitting on top facing downward and I have a large piece of driftwood in the front left side of the cage with the basking bulb shining down on it. A lot of people do it different ways depending on cage size and layout. I think as long as they can get the UV from anywhere in the cage they are okay. Be careful about letting the basking bulb touch anything plastic such as the fixture for your UV bulb because it will melt it very easily. Hope this helps.

Yeah I'm going to get an 18inch too cause a 24 inch would take over my entire tank pretty much. Cause right now until I can get 100 I have a like 30 gallon tank. But I'm going to put my UV Bulb on the back of the tank with the command hooks holding it up than put my basking bulb on the front of the tank pointing down.

 

[BraydensMomma]

Oh and make sure you have a digital temp gauge with a probe (you can get them for $12 at Walmart), not the stick on thermometers.. those can be inaccurate. What you will want to do is rest the probe on the basking spot so you have your basking spot temp (not sure how long to leave it there to determine the right temp). You will want to measure the cool side temp the same way.

That's what someone else told me. But I think she told me to get the one that sticks on. Would that be in the pets department or do you know?? And will do

 

[Mrkngpen]

No, you don't want a temperature gauge that sticks on. Any of those kinds aren't accurate. This is what she told you to get at Walmart:

So here is what you want at Walmart:

- 24" flourescent light fixture ($9)
- Command hooks ($3)
- Acurite digital thermometer ($12)
- Non-adhesive shelf liner, the solid kind with out holes. ($5)

The thermometer is the "Acurite digital thermometer" it has a wire with a probe at the end. You stick the probe at the basking spot and then read what the temperature is on the readout.

 

[BraydensMomma]

No, you don't want a temperature gauge that sticks on. Any of those kinds aren't accurate. This is what she told you to get at Walmart:

So here is what you want at Walmart:

- 24" flourescent light fixture ($9)
- Command hooks ($3)
- Acurite digital thermometer ($12)
- Non-adhesive shelf liner, the solid kind with out holes. ($5)

The thermometer is the "Acurite digital thermometer" it has a wire with a probe at the end. You stick the probe at the basking spot and then read what the temperature is on the readout.

Oh okay. I thought that's what the acurite digital thermometer was. A stick on one. I was wrong. Sorry. In what department would that be in though??

 

[coastergirl946]

the pet department, with the other pet supplies..