STILL having problems getting heating right.

[MuggleMaggie]

I'm still having a hard time getting the basking spot up to 110ish degree. Right now it's only 98.8. I have a juvenile dragon. I'm using a UVB bulb and 65 watt halogen indoor flood light (GE). And it's even pretty low.

The pet store man suggested that I spray Draco several times a day to raise the humidity in the tank, to help raise the heat... but everything I've read says that humidity is a BAD thing. So, I'm thinking that's not the best advice. I am however, supposed to spray him twice a week, right?

These are the lights and set up. What am I doing wrong?

(the cord leading to the rock is the temp thingy.)

 

[ashley7988]

It looks like the probe for your thermometer is too low. It needs to be up at the highest point of his basking spot. I'll attach a picture of my setup and the white thing on the top of his branch is the probe for the thermometer. You want to know the temperature of the highest point of his basking spot and also on the cool side of the viv. The cool side should be around 85 degrees.

 

[ashley7988]

Also, as far as misting them. I give Draco a 15 - 30 minute soak everyday, well roughly, I soak him until he poops because that is the only way Draco poops. I mist him once a day and the humidity is fine in there.. I don't soak him by any means, I just run the mist over him back and forth twice and he's usually basking when I do it so it dries everything fairly quickly.

 

[MuggleMaggie]

Thank you, Ashley! My Draco and I thank you.

 

[Pat B]

I would suggest getting a higher wattage bulb, however I would reposition the probe first and see if that will give you a more accurate reading. You don't want to put the bulb too low because he could possibly flip his tail up and burn it. Happened to my little Spike. Please be very very careful about taking the advice from pet store 'reptile specialists'. Quite frankly....most of them will give you bad advice. You do not have to mist your beardie several times a day. These are desert creatures. Personally, I give Spike a warm soak about once every 3 days and only mist when he is shedding and he is doing great!

 

[MuggleMaggie]

I would suggest getting a higher wattage bulb, however I would reposition the probe first and see if that will give you a more accurate reading. You don't want to put the bulb too low because he could possibly flip his tail up and burn it. Happened to my little Spike. Please be very very careful about taking the advice from pet store 'reptile specialists'. Quite frankly....most of them will give you bad advice. You do not have to mist your beardie several times a day. These are desert creatures. Personally, I give Spike a warm soak about once every 3 days and only mist when he is shedding and he is doing great!

Okay. Higher wattage bulb it is...I moved the probe, and my temp went DOWN! I assume because the probe was on the log thing, and that's a ceramic thing...so it must get warmer?

 

[Germ]

I'm still having a hard time getting the basking spot up to 110ish degree. Right now it's only 98.8. I have a juvenile dragon. I'm using a UVB bulb and 65 watt halogen indoor flood light (GE). And it's even pretty low.

The pet store man suggested that I spray Draco several times a day to raise the humidity in the tank, to help raise the heat... but everything I've read says that humidity is a BAD thing. So, I'm thinking that's not the best advice. I am however, supposed to spray him twice a week, right?

These are the lights and set up. What am I doing wrong?

I agree with Ashley7988, your sensor\probe is not in the right place ... This will show approximately where it should be placed to get an accurate measurement in Both your enclosures ...

MuggleMaggie

Ashley7988

That is the type of info we have gotten to expect from most Pet Store staff. Pet Stores are generally one of the poorest sources of decent info. You are correct, raising the humidity is not a good thing. Here is some good info on misting & bathing ...

Misting/Bathing: A twice weekly misting from head to tail with a fine spray mister of room temperature water helps hydration and shedding. Two or three times a month let your dragon have a bath in chest deep warm water, not too hot. Dragons seem to enjoy soaking and it may help to assist in hydration & clearing of minor impactions or constipation. Dragons will often defecate in the bath water, change the water immediately and run a fresh bath, they will only soil their water once on most occasions. Baths are ideal prior to allowing your dragon out of the enclosure as it helps to prevent "accidents". Do not leave your dragon unattended!

Read More: Basic BD Care Sheet - A Place To Start

Also, as far as misting them. I give Draco a 15 - 30 minute soak everyday, well roughly, I soak him until he poops because that is the only way Draco poops. I mist him once a day and the humidity is fine in there.. I don't soak him by any means, I just run the mist over him back and forth twice and he's usually basking when I do it so it dries everything fairly quickly.

Soaking & Misting everyday is serious overkill. He will poop when he needs to, without the help of what to them, would be the equivalent of a daily enema by you inducing a bowel movement, whether they are ready to go or not. These are Desert\Scrubland creatures, very few nice warm puddles\ponds for them to romp around in their natural habitat. It is a better plan to take the BD out & mist it thoroughly while it is in your hand or on your arm than misting inside the enclosure. Misting it while on it's basking spot, it will evaporate quickly (Yes, raising the humidity somewhat), reducing the effectiveness & purpose of the misting. Misting outside the enclosure will give it a chance to saturate & be absorbed somewhat by the skin, helping to loosen sheds if needed & allow time for it to lick the droplets running off it's nose if it is thirsty.

Are you using an MVB for Heat\UVB? If so, what wattage bulb is it?

Good Luck to you both.

 

[MuggleMaggie]

Are you using an MVB for Heat\UVB? If so, what wattage bulb is it?

Good Luck to you both.

LOVE the pictures. You are so helpful. Moving my probe now.

I have no idea what an MVB is for the UVB. I have the heat lamp, and then this:
http://www.petco.com/product/14564/...ferralID=da6ff758-a6ce-11e2-9dea-001b2166becc

 

[ashley7988]

Fair enough. Thank you Germ. I was told as juveniles you should give them very frequent soaks and that you can't over hydrate. I don't use a MVB I use a basking bulb which is 150 watts. I was using a halogen flood light that put out the same heat and my beardie was always showing stress marks so I switched to the basking bulb and only see the marks when the lights first come on until he warms up.

 

[Germ]

The mention of the MVB was directed at Ashley7988, sorry for the confusion.

 

[Germ]

LOVE the pictures. You are so helpful. Moving my probe now.

I have no idea what an MVB is for the UVB.

An MVB is a specialty Mercury Vapor Bulb. This type of bulb is specially manufactured & will provide both UVB and some heat. But these bulbs are designed for much larger enclosures, as they have a minimum safe distance required, that must be adhered to, so they do not harm your BD. I do not recommend the use of them in the standard sized enclosures, which are relatively small, as this safe distance generally can not be maintained or achieved in most of the enclosures that we normally use for BDs. If the safe distances can be achieved, often they will not provide enough heat at greater than the minimum safe distance to get the desired temps & subsequently a second heat source may be needed anyway, to bring the temps into range.

 

[Germ]

I don't use a MVB I use a basking bulb which is 150 watts. I was using a halogen flood light that put out the same heat and my beardie was always showing stress marks so I switched to the basking bulb and only see the marks when the lights first come on until he warms up.

Unsure why I even asked the question , It's not like your tube UVB is not obvious , I was looking over several threads with enclosure pics & confused another one with yours. My Bad! -Sorry for the goof

 

[ashley7988]

Haha no problem! I was wondering why you asked. I figured maybe the light in my tank was a funky color or something =P