Temperature control

[Rangers1933]

HI,

Baby/Juvenile bearded dragon- about 3 months. Live in Northeast so cold air is a coming.

Want to change night temp. please read below.

So I have a 38 long and from left to right I use three thermometers. all approximately 14" high in an 18 inch high cage. 20" 10.0 Repitsun UVB over basking area.

Night temp - left to right 70 - 65- 63 - thinking about putting 24W UTH only at night under basking area with small ceramic hut to give him options and protect against variable ambient temp from cold winters.

Yes or no?

My max temp- aasume all temps vary buy 2-5 degrees based on thermometer position.

Basking 105 - have logs so he can regulate. 100W basking bulb.

Mid - 90-95 - basking/ relaxing ceramic rock - 60W CHE- turn on 30 minutes before lighting to warm up tank.

Low - 80-84 - small water dish and dish for greens, small palm tree cosmetic and place for him to hide-- also acts as humidity control when he sheds. 50W Incandescent.

The tank is a Net Geo which came with a faux wall which he sees to love scurrying across during the day will multiple tiny ledges.

 

[Taterbug]

The temps seem ok to me, a night drop is fine. You could leave the CHE on at night and give a hide/shelter there instead of a UTH. UTH don't heat ambients sso well, they work sort of like an electric blanket and if you decide to use one you should get a thermostat to control it. There are thermostats with day/night features that you could use with the CHE as well to control the night drop.

 

[CooperDragon]

Your night temp gradient is pretty good as it is. If your house gets colder though you may need a small bump. Have you tried leaving the CHE on overnight? That may do the trick. You just need to keep it around 70 or so.

 

[Rangers1933]

So just leave the CHE on all the time to reduce the spike during the night. This should also help heat the tank faster in the morning. He is definitely more agile when warmed up. Not doing jumping jacks but moving around

 

[Rangers1933]

So I left my CHE on all night -- temp it 80 across the entire tank, wonder if that is to high? Would plan B be better off with the UTH and a ceramic hut so he can com and go as. He pleases during the night?

From my reading the night temp ranges from 65 -80 and being we are hitting. A cold spell womger which way to go? The tank will definitely warm up faster with the CHE on all night.

Also hoe long before you have to replace the CHE

 

[CooperDragon]

80 is a bit warm but if there is a range with some cooler areas that's OK. You may want to hook it to a thermostat or raise it a little higher. I'm not sure what the lifespan of the CHE is. Mine has lasted for quite a while (years).

 

[Varalidaine]

I will just say that the area around your dragon probably isn't 80. You said your thermometers were 14" up the tank, which is a lot closer to CHE than your dragon is. Up higher in the tank it may be 80 but down on the floor, more than a foot away from your thermometers, it is probably much cooler.