Your hot spot is surface basking temps-- those need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer please-- the uvb is a coil or a long tube fixture ? These are crucial to him eating-- if any of this is off he will eventually quit eating-- right now he's going thru relocation stress so his eating will be off but we want him eating more and he will do that once he's acclimated to his tank and surroundings- and correct temps and uvb will do that- what size tank is he in?
It’s a long uvb. T8. 40 gal tank
Are you using a Reptisun 10.0 brand? Those are really good UVB's --
Ok so the T 8 is in the tank-- please get a piece of decor directly under it 6-8 inches -- the bulb your using is what brand? It looks like a Zilla fixture the fixture is fine but not so much the bulb if that is what your using- is the tank a 40 gallon? If so I would recommend upgrading your UVB to a T 5 - you will need to get a new fixture as well -- your screen on the tank is good for placing the T 5 on top of it - you have a wide holed screen - if you would like links for some good fixtures and bulbs let me know I can post some for you- the UVB will need to be upgraded if you decide to get a bigger tank -- 75-120 gallon
This is the light I have but mine is a desert. He still is only eating like 6 bugs a day. Do you think he looks skinny?
The fixture is fine take the clear plastic cover off tho and leave it off please get this bulb a reptisun 10.0 T 8-- this bulb needs to be unobstructed including the screen on the tank it needs to be 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor- these bulbs are not strong enough to go thru screen- the reptisun bulb is a way better bulb-- if you need help getting this set up I can help you- please don't take him outside yet your gonna loose him- they are way to fast for you to catch - he needs time to acclimate to his tank and surroundings- he looks good now. He should be eating 20-25 crickets per feeding which would be 2-3 times per day along w/ fresh salads every morning- or if feeding dubias 10-15 per feeding please dust the insects w/ calcium d3 5x per week ONCE per feeding and vitamin w/ beta carotene ONCE per feeding 2 x per week -
Please replace the uvb w/ a long tube fixture-- it's just a matter of time before quits eating and becomes lethargic- these coils are inadequate and cause all kinds of health issues- 3-4 crickets per day in not enough - he should be eating 20-25 at one feeding w/ 2-3 feedings per day - it's great he's eating salads but he needs the protein as that is his main diet now-- I can help you w/ a good uvb as of now he is not able to absorb the calcium he is eating-- this is going to cause mbd please start your own thread
That is a shame --- he has no idea the start hes giving these baby dragons --- none for UVB rays -- not all meters are the same either ---
They often they do not produce the right wavelength of UVB that is actually usable for them. They can also produce harmful UVC. Even if none of this is the case and it is giving off the correct UVB and you're readings are good in that spot, ultimately those bulbs don't provide enough coverage in the enclosure. There is the one spot where the light is that they can get UV and everywhere else they go in the tank will be not enough. Just like with heat, you want to be able to provide a gradient. You kind of want to have four zones in your tank: hot plus UVB, cool plus UVB, hot with lower UVB and cool with lower UVB. Coils just don't allow for this even if there are no other concerns with it.
As far as coverage, whole area in the tank (quite small) is covered, UVB reading is the lowest in the corners around 40 mW/cm2 and gradually goes all the way up to 130-140 right below the light.
