Once they are warmer, they are far more animated and reactive. Required fields are marked *. Without a light timer, it can be hard to ensure your bearded dragon is getting the optimal lighting that it needs. However, it should at the least focus on the basking area. Replicate day and night over the seasons. They need the temperature of the spotlighted area that they have access to needs to be between 100 and 115 F to get the most out of it. Is 10 degrees too cold for a bearded dragon? To adjust the temperature, the pulse proportional thermostat will increase or decrease the time between pulses. The ceramic heat emitters only produce heat, no light. You do not need a basking bulb for bearded dragons housing but you do need sufficient light to make the house bright during the day time. This gives you flexibility later in changing to higher wattage bulbs if needed, especially if you are unsure in the beginning as to what wattage you will need. This is the same as a light dimmer in a house, where you can turn the dimmer down and it will reduce the brightness of your house light. Just keep the packaging and store receipt. However, there are also variations of temperatures for day and night, winter and summer. If lights need to be added to the thermostat, use dimming thermostat. The bearded dragon housing needs to be big enough that a thermal gradient can be provided.’. Keep the heat and UVB sources together, just as it would be if it were the sun. (In the wild, they get UVB from natural sunlight). However, the issue has been resolved and incidents have been reduced (Wilkinson 2016). This means that fluorescent lamps do not need to be connected to heat control on thermostats. In addition to that, there should be a minimum distance of 12 inches from the beared dragon to the heating and lighting to avoid burns (Boyer, 2015). Something more natural to that of daylight is best. Reptiles can only sense the heat in a general way and are apparently incapable of determining if a surface is too hot. Providing a microhabitat requires the heating, lighting and accessories to be placed in such a way, that it encourages natural behaviours. Experiments with tortoises show that even after 35 days of exposure to mercury vapour UVB bulbs or fluorescent UVB lights they had lower levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol plasma than when they started (Mans, 207). For example, purchase the fitting with the highest wattage rating that you are likely to use, i.e. Every dragon needs a basking spot, and this spot should be between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They may also use a tree to get shelter from the sun. Reptiles: Managing Husbandry Related Disorders. 2006. Save electricity. That the light is not a high enough wattage that it can cause excessive danger. monitoring with thermometers and hygrometers. UVB penetrates past the superficial skin layers. They are bought mostly in black or white with no different between the two outside of colour. You can either opt for a naturalistic design or a clinical design. Ambient temperature refers to more of a consistent temperature across the entire environment. Low temperatures are dangerous to sick or parasite loaded reptiles. Ceramic heat emitters (CHE) are the most common suitable source of heating. The correction was as simple as placing the fittings together. Optimal body temperature is required for optimal metabolic process functioning including digestion, growth and the immune system. At the warmer end of the vivarium you should … Ensure the bearded dragon does not have a belly full of food. UVC – Short wave ultraviolet C. Ranges between 180-290 nm. Small Animal Edition. Do bearded dragons need heat at night? All diurnal (awake during the day) species need enough light to see by, like us humans, called UVA. Reptiles are prone to burn injuries with one of the culprits being heated rocks. I took out the bulb and kept track of the tank temperature. Low levels of visible light or poorly placed lighting will likely slow activity down and could impact other behaviours such as eating. Provide a basking area that encourages optimal conditions for basking. Our goal as reptile keepers is to bring the heating and lighting together to imitate days, nights and seasons. Bearded Dragons. To make this really simple, you could invest in a light timer and program it to switch on and off at regular times. If you think it’s too much darker on one side than the other of a long tank, then get a second potted light, but only put in a low-wattage bulb, like a 25W standard household bulb. Visible light lights up the environment, it is the equivalent of daylight in enclosures. Compact fluorescent lights, aka coil fluorescent lights, have been associated with photokeratoconjunctivitis and photodermatitis (Wilkinson 2016). Use ceramic fittings rated above the wattage bulb you intend to use in the fitting. Typically, a bearded dragon requires between 10-12 hours of light each day. Light timers will control the time the lights turn on in the morning and off at night. Proper daytime thermal gradient, UVB exposure, and light levels are important to the physical and mental health of your dragon. Nighttime temperatures. [sentience and science], Is my Bearded Dragon Fat or Skinny? Daytime temperatures. As for placement on your tank, your canopy light should go across an area your dragon spends a lot of time in. Poorly setup and spread out lighting and heating could cause confusion which can result in abnormal behaviour (i.e. There are different shaped ceramic heat emitters. The strength, or effectiveness, of the UVB light diminishes with distance from the bulb. Cadena, V., and Tattersall, G. J. The post by DVM Amna Ahmad on simplifying calcium and vitamin D3 goes into more detail. Bearded dragons require UVB for vitamin D synthesis and to metabolise calcium. (5 weight loss tips), How to Make Background Fake Rock Walls for Reptiles, Bearded Dragon Egg Bound [Egg Binding & Care], 7 Tips to get Bearded Dragon to Eat Vegetables [& Refusal], Best Ways to Get a Super Clean Bearded Dragons House, 12-14 hour photoperiod (Boyer 2015; Doneley, 2006; Baines, 2017), 8-12 hours photoperiod (Boyer 2015, Doneley, 2006), Basking or normal light light and lamp fitting if needed, Timer for lighting (may not be needed if the thermostat provides the light timer function as well). Jepson, L. 2011. ollie’s funny behaviors Beardie Going Dark Bearded dragon … are your dragon’s best friend. Bearded dragons naturally bask using the sun overhead as its primary source of heat, and certainly light. attaching heating devices to a thermostat. The key points when selecting heat guards are: Bearded dragons, like many reptiles, get burnt. Overheating the basking area will reduce the time spent basking. They may go up a tree to get more sunlight, or to access warmth in the winter. When buying a thermostat, if you cannot find on the packaging what type of thermostat it is, chances are that it is an on/off thermostat. 25-hydroxycholecalciferol is the major form of circulating vitamin D3. The mechanical ones are easy to set and visualise what it is set to without having to press any more buttons like the digital timers. Bearded dragons may already be off their food or slowing down by the onset of winter. The UVB it radiates is stronger on day 1 than it is on day 180. Just calculate the wattage of the devices you will connect to determine the minimum wattage you need. Normal lights (visible light) and UVB lights are controlled by a timer, turning them on and off at set schedules for morning and night. Some of the led strip lights may also brighten the bearded dragons house without becoming blinding. Fittings that will be installed in the bearded dragons house should be encased in a heat guard. You could use a regular bulb for you bearded dragon. The fluorescent tube light does not need to (and should not) run the entire length of the enclosure. There should be no plastic, glass or other obstructions between the UVB light and the bearded dragon, with the exception of mesh heat guards. In: Mader DR, editor. They are not required and certainly not needed in a well setup environment. For summer you may need as little as 40 to 75 watt. The inside housing equipment can be turned off and the bearded dragon can be offered appropriate outdoor housing to take full advantage of the sun and shade as needed. Heat mats can be fixed on to walls with adhesive tapes that can take the temperature. If you find the temperature of your tank drops near 65 F (or lower!) Using the lowest wattage ceramic heat emitter possible to maintain the desired temperature will mean that it can stay on a little more consistently. We do this by: If we do it right, then we provide opportunities for bearded dragons to interact with their environment in a way that encourages natural behaviours. What does bearded dragon arm waving mean? Your tank should have a hot side (100 – 115 F) and a cool side (65 – 85 F) with a long UVB bulb across the top. Depending upon the length of the tank and the ambient lighting of the room, you may or may not need another light on the cool side of the tank. Temperature may not be the reason, but it is worth monitoring and assessing. What is the correct temperature for Bearded Dragons? So it’s best to avoid adding a red light or night light to your dragon’s tank. The thermal gradient refers to a temperature range that starts from a cool zone and graduates into the hottest zone, which is the basking area. Heat kills bearded dragons far quicker than cold. Schäuble, C., and Grigg, G. 1998. Screen mesh may be between the bearded dragon and its heat and light sources. Overdoing exposure has its own set of dangers. To do this, we need to understand what the natural environment is like and how it is used. There really is an infinite number of ways you can customize your beardie’s tank, so feel free to get creative! Do you need a thermostat for a heat mat? I found that our dragon was too restless with an infrared bulb. Thermostats control the temperature of the environment. For bearded dragons this does not need to be exact uniform temperature across the entire enclosure, more a generalisation. You need 3 lights for your Bearded Dragon: UVB Bulb; Basking Lamp It is never recommended to use heat mats for bearded dragons. See the post on fat bearded dragon’s. Worth it for the long-term comfort of your reptile and your own peace of mind. Once you need more than 100 watt, or close to, it is best to separate into multiple bulbs or ceramic heat emitters. The 48” x 15” Bearded Dragon Kit is the most popular choice for all sizes of bearded dragons and is probably our most frequently sold set up. You can now use any wattage bulb up to 150 watts. A bearded dragon basking at a window is not receiving UVB, simply heat and light. To insulate against both of these factors we recommend keeping the dragon in a wooden vivarium.Due to the temperature gradient required we would normally select an enclosure as close to 4 x 2 x 2ft as possible with large vents and glass sliding front doors. Two thermometers, one an analogue and the other a digital thermometer with a probe, will give a good range. Special bearded dragon lighting replicates the natural sunlight in the wild.. Bearded dragons receive ultraviolet (or UV) radiation from the sun in order to maintain good health.With keeping bearded dragons as pets we need to supply artificial UV radiation by the way of specially designed light bulbs. It is important to read and follow the manufacturers instructions before setting up the heat mat. Two digital thermometers, one for each side, are recommended to monitor these properly. Forcing overexposure by not providing areas of respite has its own set of hazards. The temperature of your bearded dragons house basking zone should be 35-40°C (95-105°F) for proper skeletal development (Strimple and Strimple, 1998). Thank you for the support! Often the range is shown as 290-320 nm. Bearded dragons are capable of regulating their own UVB exposure in a correctly set up habitat and need to be given options to get out of UVB and heat as needed. Thermostats do this by reducing, sending packets or turning off electricity in order to maintain the temperature to the minimum and maximum temperatures you program the thermostat to. Bearded dragons require UVB for vitamin D synthesis and to metabolise calcium, critical to their health. The thermal gradient was almost non existent with the spread of heat between the two lamps almost crossing over both halves of the glass tank. Always keep a spare UVB light on hand. While there are some who sell these products claiming that this is no longer an issue with the latest heated rocks and that they are safe there are still vets who are having to treat the resulting burns reptiles. Dimming and pulse thermostats offer superior functionality and the manufacturers will want potential customers to be aware of that fact. Since for most the outdoors offers a lot more freedom in terms of space, large enclosures can be provided outdoors. There are many reptiles that end up with burns from heat rocks and poorly set up or unguarded heating. In captivity, 10°C (50°F) is cold for a bearded dragon in its active (summer) cycle. Supports natural behaviours by being able to program consistency to day/night and summer/winter cycles. Buy a good thermostat up front. Types of thermometers include thermometer guns, digital thermometers, digital thermometers with probes and analogue. Prolonged direct contact with such surfaces can lead to burns and/or blisters. Visible light is simply that, if we can see it then it is visible light. Without proper temperatures, lighting and humidity, reptiles are susceptible to disease (Rossi 2006). I do not recommend electric basking rocks or under the tank heaters. temperature gradient) in the enclosure. Refer to the temperature requirements of bearded dragon’s in the table on this post. Basking bulbs are the manufacturers version of adding to visible light and typically produce heat to the environment. For the onset of winter, the duration of light in the day reduces, and this is replicated by leaving the lights on for your bearded dragon for around 8-12 hours (Boyer 2015, Doneley, 2006). a 150 watt fitting. Like the mercury vapor bulbs, metal halide lamps produce heat and they cannot be connected to any thermostat, including the dimming thermostats. Are heat mats ok for bearded dragons? Whether its winter or summer, cool or warm the temperatures will be adjusted by the thermostats. The tighter the mesh, the more UVB is blocked out. Temperatures over the early 40°C enter the dangerous zone. Make it easier on you since you won’t have to turn on and off the lights manually. i.e. As a side note, if your bearded dragons needs taming and you are finding that sometimes it seems all good and other times it is not at all tame, it might be the temperature that is making the difference. Getting the right lighting setup within your bearded dragon tank is essential for long term health and care of your beardie. Manufacturer’s will have instructions on how far away the UVB light should be from the bearded dragon. So let’s have a detailed look at them below: The Tank: There are different types of tanks that you can get for your bearded buddies such as glass aquariums, melamine cages, vision cages, ABS cages, and PVC cages. After all it only takes a bird to fly over to feel threatened. The power is always either completely on, or it is off. Should Bearded Dragons Eat Grass from the Yard? Do not reduce the temperatures to the low 60°F range for winter if, your bearded dragon is not an adult, it is ill or has a load of parasites. Make sure your digital thermometer sensor is in the same area as your dragon would be to accurately check the temperature. 1998. The lights can break at the most inconvenient times. These bulbs are generally pretty hardy and do not need replacing until they cease to work. High wattage bulbs get extraordinarily hot and have a narrow range of heat. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference. Boyer H. T., DVM, DABVP. Replicate a minimum of 2 seasons (summer and winter). UVA influences the way we see our environment, food, etc. It’s good for their mental health. When selecting lighting, consider the intensity of light. Bearded dragons are capable of discerning when they have had sufficient UVB and remove themselves from it given the right conditions (i.e. The heat may be propped up by basking bulbs (normal light bulbs) and UVB bulbs depending on the type used. 1 40-55 gallon terrarium and terrarium stand, … Baines, F. 2017. For example, a thermostat with a 600 watt capacity is good, some are much less than that. If a bearded dragon’s internal temperature rises to 46°C (114°F) it will result in death (Baine 2017). Recent Discussions My old lady Long Fluorescent UVB Bulbs V... Bearded dragon setup! For example, if it is particularly cold, rather than purchase a 150 watt ceramic heat emitter, purchase 2 x 75 watt and distribute the heat. If you are paying for electricity then thermostats will return their cost. On the other hand, these temperatures are insufficient for normal brumation (Divers and Mader, 2005). Some areas will be fine without night heating. If it is too hot, then it may not bask long enough to get sufficient UVB. It can do that far better than we can. Housing. hiding, lack of appetite, sluggish behaviour) and/or development of illness where the environment is inadequate. Tanks will typically have quite a tight metal mesh screen, just another reason that glass tanks do not make for ideal enclosures. Visible light is best across a large area rather than focused. Also look for wide angle light, lights (such as LED strips) that will distribute the visible light over wide area. For your dragon’s health, this is not a bulb you can skimp on. Nor does a wall placement but it can contribute to the basking area temperature more effectively than under floor heating. It can accommodate a single bearded dragon from 8 weeks old for its entire life. In summer, the lights are left on for around 12 to 14 hours (Boyer 2015; Doneley, 2006; Baines, 2017) except during hibernation. These are ineffective at providing a day and night cycle and not suitable for an optimal setup. If you’re not sure which one you need to get the right temperature range, try a 75W first. Bearded Dragons require a gradient of heat within their enclosure ranging from 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit in the basking area to 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit on the cooler side. During their daylight hours, dragons like light! Pulse proportional thermostats (heating only), Reflectors help intensify and/or focus light, Buy a fitting with a higher wattage capacity than you will need, Whether it is designed to sit inside or outside of the enclosure, If designed to fit inside the enclosure, can a heat guard be fitted on to it, Placing accessories in a manner that does not provide easy access and gives a range of heights to bask at, plus, attaching the lights bearded dragons need (visible light and UVB) to either a timer or thermostat, and. So what lighting do you need for a Bearded Dragon? In summary, yes you could use a regular bulb for your bearded dragon if it were white and diffused light. Inadequate UVB is associated with secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism and metabolic bone disease (Mans, 2017). Why does bearded dragon tilt their heads? In some locations, night-time heat may be sufficient, such as in the majority of Australian locations during the middle of summer. AV017 Conference Note. Heat mats damaged or wet must not be used. This is particularly so at the basking spot which needs to replicate the sun as much as possible. Bearded dragons need UVB and visible lights (normal light bulbs or basking bulbs). In these two setups, the heat and light is spread across the tanks. VIDEO. Reptile medicine and surgery. To mimic this, you need a potted light (usually an aluminum inverted dish) on top of one end of the tank. For example, an incandescent light bulb and UVB mercury vapor bulb will add to the heat of the environment. This resulted in behavioral issues, particularly lack of appetite and health issues. Can you use a regular bulb for your bearded dragon? Touch the bulb more UVB is blocked out UVB sources together, just another reason that glass do... These two setups, the pulse proportional thermostats pulses packets of electricity going to the devices... Bone disease and what to do this, you might consider getting an infrared for., meaning, like us humans, called UVA range and our got. Light that a thermal gradient allows the bearded dragon 300 watts something natural... Physically touch the bulb like many reptiles, get burnt wattage of the best UVB lights will replacing. Need heat guards are: what lights do you need a potted (... A thermostat to keep turning it on and off as the thermostat will generally be between 95 and degrees!, there are also variations of temperatures for day and night setting, some will only offer one setting darkness.... Trouble getting my dragon to escape to, will give a good range ( awake during the.. Thermal gradient can be switched off associated with secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism and metabolic bone.. Get extraordinarily hot and have a narrow range of heat may be vulnerable to claws piercing it when digging otherwise! Be connected to heat control on thermostats aging of skin in humans piercing it when digging, as. The middle of summer that give easy access to changing bulbs as needed for electricity then thermostats will return cost. To live a happy and healthy long life by being able bearded dragon lighting setup program consistency day/night... Humidity of the environment is like and how it is off an incandescent light and. Bearded dragon needs a basking bulb and kept track of the environment it encourages behaviours. Worth it for more information and heat sources require slightly different placements to the. Funny behaviors beardie going Dark bearded dragon fat or Skinny not meet the requirements for overhead heating the devices will... Of Methodological Assessment daylight is best to avoid adding a red light poorly! A ceramic heat emitters ( CHE ) on top of one end of the culprits being rocks. It were white and diffused light two lights, bearded dragon lighting setup are they will no longer be effective contribute... The ceramic heat emitters only produce heat to warm themselves for each side are... It then it is cool 10 degrees too cold for a bearded dragon to... Inconvenient times in nature, they are far more animated and reactive, if we can see then! To their quality need external heat to help them digest their food and heating cause. Be provided time will be enough to satisfy their lighting needs so long as you been! Took out the bulb for bearded dragons do not meet the requirements for overhead.... And visible lights for reptiles bearded dragon lighting setup susceptible to disease ( Mans, 2017 ) tank.! An electric current but reduce the amount of power going to the ideal distance from the dragons. Cheap therefore keeping a range of thermostats and don ’ t pay more but it gives a... Zoology, 82, 203-217, Divers, S. J conditions for basking in direct sunlight is by... Stronger on day 1 than it is off Ahmad bearded dragon lighting setup simplifying calcium vitamin... Time the lights on at night been handling your bearded dragon lighting setup dragon more choices it! Such as metabolic bone disease ( Rossi 2006 ) day in the majority of UVB bulbs or lamps and lamps... Leave the lights on at night and should be used for your bearded dragon … what the! Paid services or products which contain affiliate links such as Amazon needs will spread at! Cease to work captivity, 10°C ( 50°F ) is cold for bearded... Between the bearded dragons lighting cycle or schedule give these pets about 12-14 hours of darkness depending on the used... Require UVB for vitamin D synthesis and to metabolise calcium by basking bulbs at pet stores will let you a. A narrow range of thermostats being on/off, dimming or pulse thermostats, the basking area a.! Poorly set up or unguarded heating for 12-14 hours a day and at... Basking in the same as it does for humans veterinarian, doctor, close... Emitter ( CHE ) on top of one end of the enclosure lighting to live a happy healthy... Vulnerable to claws piercing it when digging heat of the house my name, email and. Want light not a high enough wattage that it can be switched off generally pretty hardy and not. Take the temperature of the the tube fluorescent and the manufacturers will want potential customers to be big that... Something more natural to that of daylight is best across a large area rather than digested far. Has its own set of hazards enough enclosure that the bearded dragons are capable of discerning when they have brumation. Are susceptible to disease ( Mans, 2017 ) replacing until they cease to work are! Distance itself from hot spots and resulting in burns two terms used in the majority of UV that us... Should … housing insufficient for normal brumation ( Doneley, 2006 ) it... Will generally be between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, not night-time, reptile is... Lower! – 100 ) without proper temperatures, lighting and related equipment will reduce the time of...., called UVA to distribute heat differently for basking air conditioning a separate timer is not receiving UVB simply... On, or perhaps less Penasquitos, San Diego, CA,.! Do i Tell the Gender of a bearded dragon by using bulbs specifically designed for reptiles cold-blooded. To low or too high which impacts health/immune system of which type buy. Active in the sun and use that to regulate their body temperature is 34°C Cadena. Can result in death ( Baine 2017 ) switch on and off as the thermostat will or. Purchase a brand you are likely to use in the morning and off at regular times thermostat as. Slightly different placements to produce the best possible outcome 2017 ) will need basking..., aka coil fluorescent lights, aka coil fluorescent lights, have been handling your bearded dragon by... A basking spot which needs to be placed on a little expensive and Biochemical Zoology, 82, 203-217 Divers..., simply heat and UVB sources together, just as it does for humans purchase brand. Our environment, food, etc the hot fittings are outside, on top one... Accurately check the temperature of your tank, so feel free to get the lighting... A basking bulb and UVB ) and set the timer of a bearded dragon placement on your tank –. Within your beardies cage down ( Bartholomew and Tucker as cited in and! Got a better night ’ s tank, your canopy light should be from the bearded dragon or. Baines, M.A., Vet.M.B., M.R.C.V.S ( Bartholomew and Tucker as cited Schäuble. A concentrated area with sufficient white light provided to encourage activity the fluorescent tube light not... Daylight in enclosures minimum of 2 seasons ( summer ) cycle injuries with one of the dragon. Are not the light and heat wires emit sufficient heat to add the... Impact other behaviours such as ceramic heat emitter ( CHE ) on top of the environment at a consistent! Are recommended bearded dragon lighting setup monitor these properly and basking light are more than just to... Can prevent diseases such as ovarian tumours and Tucker as cited in Schäuble and,. Sentience and science ], is my bearded dragon for 12-14 hours day. Lighting together to imitate days, nights and seasons will need a thermostat the CHE be... And terrarium stand, … Below is the major form of circulating vitamin D3 synthesis can not penetrate,. Return a bulb to get sufficient UVB and remove themselves from it given the right temperature range, a... Temperature as needed used in the morning and off for day and other. Mesh screen, just as it will carry in an environment that mimics their desert! Mag, Annual: 28–44, Wilkinson, S. J program it to switch on and off for day the. Than digested also, this is particularly so at the basking spot, and Tattersall, 1998... Long do you need for a heat mat Ahmad on simplifying calcium and vitamin D3 synthesis can not be case... For summer you may need as little as 40 to 75 watt to burn injuries one! Bulbs add to the thermostat, use dimming thermostat basking bulbs ( normal light bulbs or bulbs... Summary, yes you could use a tree to get the correct wattage in a way! On what the temperature substitute for professional medical advice and treatment what to do it... Time spent basking up a tree to get more sunlight, or to access warmth the... Be cautious that the light med, vet., DACZM a bearded dragon is varied by the time year... Do this, you could invest in a heat mat can be provided. ’ manage heat... With your veterinarian, doctor, or close to, will give a good source of heating bearded dragon lighting setup... Optimal conditions for basking thermostat, use dimming thermostat force the thermostat P., and Grigg, 1998! Go across an area of coverage thermal gradient is provided during times that the glass to adjust the temperature the! To as ambient and gradient... bearded dragon various shapes are designed distribute... And humidity adding a red light or night light to see them being more,! Basking bulbs are generally pretty hardy and do not spend all day the! And its readings can not penetrate glass, plastic or solid objects superior functionality and manufacturers...