Too hot?

[emleebee]

Hello. I have yet another question about my new baby! (She's not a baby baby (3 months), but she's my baby lol).

I just got her a couple of days ago, and she is my first bearded dragon of my own. Anyway, according to the temp probe my basking spot was only getting up to about 98 (and I keep seeing that the young ones should have it higher than that). She was basking and I saw her occasionally opening her mouth (temperature regulation?). I got a stronger bulb and now the temp is about 107, but now my dragon is staying on the ground or much lower on the log than she was with the less strong bulb. Should I go back to the less strong bulb since she seemed happier with that even though the temp is a little lower? I want her to be warm enough but I also want her to get UVB

 

[Soulwind]

Definitely sounds like she's feeling too hot.

Although we list recommendations on temps and such, every dragon is a bit different
in their tastes.

Plus, that 107 might be off by a couple of degrees for "real life" depending on the
reflectivity, absorption, and heat retention properties of the basking surface.

I'd try going back to the lower wattage or moving the higher wattage light a little further away.

If she then goes back to basking at the "proper" place you want her at, then go with what makes
her happiest. They know instinctively how to regulate their body temps in general.

[they have troubles feeling heat from underneath, hence why we don't recommend heating pads,
but for overall body temp, they do what they need to for self-regulation, assuming a variety of temp
ranges is available to them].

 

[emleebee]

Thanks!

**Update: She's now had the brighter light for a day and is now back up at the top basking with her mouth open, so I'm guessing she likes the temperature, maybe she just needed some time to get used to the higher temp? Since she's back up at the top, I'm guessing that its not too hot for her?

 

[emleebee]

*Latest Update*:

Tia is now hanging on the top of her branch to bask, but everytime I look her she's turned so that its only hitting her head. Is this just her being weird or do we think that its too hot??

She's always like this: