TEMPERATURE

[laninz]

Hi,
We purchased our dragon last week & have conflicting advice on what the temperature of his enclosure should be.
The people we brought him off had his enclosure at 77f - 86f.
Our pet shop run their enclosures from 95f - 104f.
Which one of these is correct?
Many thanks

 

[Dak52]

Both...

Your basking spot should be around 105f. And the cool side of your tank should never get lower than 65f

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hi,
We purchased our dragon last week & have conflicting advice on what the temperature of his enclosure should be.
The people we brought him off had his enclosure at 77f - 86f.
Our pet shop run their enclosures from 95f - 104f.
Which one of these is correct?
Many thanks

Baby dragons need slightly higher temps than juv dragons and then adults don't need as high of temps... so really it depends on your dragon and how young to how old
All dragons need a temp gradient from hot to warm to cool as they thermo regulate their body temps..
All dragons need the heat to digest food, they need proper UVB light to process D3 and other nutrients
Baby Dragons: Basking 100-107F warm 85-95F cool 70-75F
Juv Dragons: Basking anywhere from 95-107F Remember they need it to digest warm 85-95F cool 70F
Adults Basking 90-95F can also be low 100'sF warm 80-90F cool 70F
As long as the night time temps don't dip below 65F all is good if it does get a CHE to keep temps up.

***There are always some adjustments that can be done depending on your dragon and how they are doing. If they are sluggish and not seeming to be happy bump up the temps see if that changes if so adjust...If they are sick warmer temps are advised, if they are brumating temps/lighting can be adjusted.

 

[laninz]

Thanks for that. When we got the dragon the owners were using a flood light bulb instead of heat light. We went straight to the pet shop and brought a red heat bulb the next day and we have noticed the difference since he has the proper equipment. They brought the flood light and must have thought it was a heat lamp but it was for a bathroom and offered no heat at all so we are surprised he looked in as good health as he did! We also got him a water fountain, hammock, separated the sand and put some matting down.

 

[Hdrydr31]

When are you using the red bulb? Make sure you don't use it at night, as that keeps them from sleeping if you need heat at night use a CHE ceramic heating element. I am not as versed in flood lights so I will leave that for others to comment on... As long as your bathing regularly they really don't need water fountains they should be getting the moisture they need from the food and baths...Glad to hear you've gotten rid of the sand.

 

[PatsyB]

DO NOT USE THE RED BULB AT ALL! Beardies do not need any sort of light at night in fact light at night disrupts their sleep cycle and makes for a groggy cranky dragon. If your whole tank drops below 65 degrees at night then use a ceramic heat emitter to warm the tank but you don't need it too warm just in the high 60's is fine because they need a cool down period.

During the day you want to mimic the natural world as possible. There is no red light in the natural world. A Repti sun 10.0 tube style bulb is perfect along with some sort of basking light whether it be a reptile basking light or a halogen flood light. As long as it puts out bright light and gets your basking temps to the proper temperatures.

 

[laninz]

DO NOT USE THE RED BULB AT ALL! Beardies do not need any sort of light at night in fact light at night disrupts their sleep cycle and makes for a groggy cranky dragon. If your whole tank drops below 65 degrees at night then use a ceramic heat emitter to warm the tank but you don't need it too warm just in the high 60's is fine because they need a cool down period.

During the day you want to mimic the natural world as possible. There is no red light in the natural world. A Repti sun 10.0 tube style bulb is perfect along with some sort of basking light whether it be a reptile basking light or a halogen flood light. As long as it puts out bright light and gets your basking temps to the proper temperatures.

Hi, this is why we are so confused! Everyone is giving totally different advice lol. We got told that dragons can't see the red in the light, that is why it is a great light to use. Having a flood light in the tank before we got him, obviously didn't give him any heat at all other than what was trapped in the tank during the day in the heat. He does like the red light. He is always basking under it and it doesn't seem to stop him sleeping as he is in the same place in the morning as when we leave him at night lol.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hi, this is why we are so confused! Everyone is giving totally different advice lol. We got told that dragons can't see the red in the light, that is why it is a great light to use. Having a flood light in the tank before we got him, obviously didn't give him any heat at all other than what was trapped in the tank during the day in the heat. He does like the red light. He is always basking under it and it doesn't seem to stop him sleeping as he is in the same place in the morning as when we leave him at night lol.

They can sense the red light from their 3rd eye ontop of their head.. He likes it because it's hot most likely.
It is hard when you get different tips from people, and unless you spend time around true reptile specialists your going to get all sorts of advise.... I go off of the majority and lots of research.. Some dragons may Tolerate the visible light but are not truly getting full sleep, some dragons may not show how they are feeling after a night's "rest" under even the faint lights.. some get super cranky after a non-restful sleep..

 

[PatsyB]

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Health/Habitats-Care/Reptile-Lighting-Information/
http://www.rioreptiles.com/lighting.html
http://beardeddragoncaresheet.weebly.com/lighting.html
http://www.beardeddragons.co/shop/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=11

 

[ObiThaGod]

At night no lights.....no red no black no blue....NO LIGHTS!

like stated he's probay taken to the red light beause its a source of heat when he has had little to none.

It's kinda like if it central heat goes out mid winter and u go stand in front of the oven to warm.....not the safest but better than a cold room....but u really want your heat fixed.

Get you a regular basking bulb, they cost a little more than the red blue and black bulbs but its what you need, they'll provide light and heat. I do compensate for additional lighting by using an indoor flood light in a small dome....it creates some heat but not much more.

At night I turn out all lights.....if its comfortable in the room for you to sit then your beardie is probably more than warm enough.

Do some searches look at other enclosures you'll see 90 percent of us have similar setups.....we use what we know and researched to be beneficial to the beardie....