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Beardie Heating

Chris Steele

Chris Steele

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I have one in a 50gal... I put a 45 watt normal house bulb and a 65 watt flood at the same time but it wont heat it. Can flexwatt be used with dragons? If so, would I need to do something extra to make sure he doesn't get burnt by it, or would I just make sure of that by the thermostat (which I would set at what?)?
 
I would use a higher watt bulb - 75 to 100 should be good. If you are still having trouble keeping your temps up you can also try adding an under tank heating pad on one side of the tank. I am not sure about flexwatt, I don't know what that is. As far as your dragon's temperatures, the ambient temperature on the cool side of the tank should be between 75 - 85*F. The warmer side should have a basking spot in the range of 105 - 115*F depending on the age of the animal. Adults tend to prefer the cooler end of the spectrum.
 
Well I put a 100w in yesterday and its staying at 90 tops in the hotspot. I guess I am going to have to go with some under tank heating.
 
Beardies really don't benefit nearly as much from UTH as they do the overhead heat source. What do you have under the light for basking on? A good option is usually raising the basking area higher and closer to the light bulb. Are your overall temps acceptable?
 
Using a raised basking area is a very good suggestion. You didn't mention what type of bulb the 100w was, but if it's a regular lightbulb then it will need to be in a reflector as well, but a flood light is preferrable.
I have a 90w flood on my dwarf monitors and it creates a basking area of 130-140, so there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get enough heat from a 100w even in a cool room.
 
Also, what are you using to measure the basking spot? Try using a temp gun for a more accurate measurement of the actual basking spot. As far as the UTH, they can help at night when the lights are out. I use them in the winter months when the house cools off too much at night. But I agree, the overhead heat source is defintely more important.

Jamie
 
Alright, well how would you suggest raising the basking area? I don't want anything that could fall down on top of the dragon when he gets rowdy. I think that would fix the problem, because the rest of the cage does seem to be just about right. I don't have a temp gun *yet.* How larger area will have to be raised? Thanks!
 
I use a diagonal log in my cage - this way the dragon can thermoregulate as he/she chooses. You could also try a larger (thus higher) rock, etc. to provide a basking spot closer to the heat source.

Jamie
 
Rocks can be sanitized using a bleach water soak, then rinsing well. They are not porous like wood, and you don't really have to worry about critters and such being burrowed deep inside of them. I usually just pour about 1/2 cup of bleach into a kitchen sinkfull of hot water, let them soak for 30 min or so, then rinse well and air dry.
 
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