Tank not getting hot enough. Please help!

[Sarahsaur]

Hi! Im new to the world of bearded dragons. I've been doing my research for about a week and a half now(I thought I knew it all but I dont know it all lol.)
Yesterday I brought home a 1 month old baby bearded dragon. I had the tank all set up (well, the important parts at least! I need to add more decorations.) I have the little guy in a 40 gallon tank.
I set the lights up yesterday before my baby came home and I was using a velcro stick on thermometer gauge and it was saying it was the 80F(I just discovered today that those are bad and give wonky readings.) I bought a digital thermometer when i got my dragon and put it in the cool down area but once I read that the readings can be weird I got rid of the gauge and put the digital one(I have a thermometer gun coming in the mail and I plan on purchasing another digital thermometer today) in the basking area and now it saying the basking area is only 70 degrees F. I changed the bulb from a 75 watt to a 100 watt and its only gone up 5 degrees. Can someone please help me? I want to fix this ASAP and give my new baby the proper heat he needs Ill attach pictures of my set up and the lights I have

 

[KarrieRee]

Have the temps raised at all since you last posted?

Unread postby CooperDragon » Thu Dec 27, 2018 12:15 pm

What are you using for a basking light? Are you reading surface temperatures using a temp gun or digital thermometer with a probe on the basking site? If you're getting accurate readings then that is too low. You can try using a higher wattage basking bulb to bring the temps up but first be sure you're getting accurate readings.
This was posted by Cooper Dragon-- you need to make sure those are accurae readings-- Infrared guns are the best way to get accurate temps--

 

[KarrieRee]

Take your probe and lay it on the basking rock / or what ever your using - it will give you some idea of what its reading but the best way is the IR gun you have coming--

please take some pics and maybe some one else can weigh in on this issue

Karrie

 

[fubardad]

As others have said, you can get a infrared temp gun like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Las...sr=8-2-spons&keywords=infrared+temp+gun&psc=1

Its only $16 via AMZ and that will do the trick! At least, it has worked for me! Just take the temp 2-4" away from your spot that you want to take the temp for the most accurate reading. But, even if you take it 12"+... its only off by a +1/-1 degree. So, its not the biggest deal in my opinion. I think using the probe is too much of a hassle but since you most likely all ready bought one to measure your cool and hot side of the tank... it can be used in that same fashion.

 

[Sarahsaur]

Sorry for such a late reply guys!!! I ended up going to a local reptile store and they helped me out. They suggested I get a night light that doesnt shine (on top of my other 2 lights that do shine lol) and put tin foil all over the top with a towel on top of the tin foil. Its a 60w with it's own dome. I've also got the orginal lights half way into the enclouser through the top grate so it shines right on my little girl. I also purchased a temp gun. the thermostat I had before was a probe.
The temps can now go above 110 but I make sure they dont. I got this enclouser second hand and I have NO IDEA how the people before kept their beardie in this thing with this lightening. They had a heat rock so I'm assuming they used that for heat too. But even if you added a heat rock I dont think it could up the temps enough. And not to mention the dangers of it ?‍
Thanks again everyone!!

 

[KarrieRee]

the night light what is it? You dont need a colored light in tank - it will hurt their eyes-- You can buy a heat emitter that has only heat no light- you need a basking bulb that heats his basking area 90-105 or so babies they like warm- the UVB should be either a Reptisun 10.0 T8 or Arcadia T5 10.0-- all lights in tank should be off for 12 hrs on for 12 hrs -- there is a lot of info on this site about lighting food all kinds of stuff-- at the top of this page care sheets and articles please read them for more info--- bugs should be fed--- dubias are the best in my opinion as they dont give parasites -- bugs should be dusted w/ calcium D3 5x per week w/ vitamins 2 X per week- if you have more questions please dont hesitate to ask --- hope this helps--
Karrie