beardie light/heat help!

[XxRachxX]

hi i plan on getting a bearded dragon soon (hes such a sweetie!!) and i was wondering how i would heat the viv at night. i read somewhere that reptiles cant see true red light? so could i use a red bulb to heat during the day and night? i also thought about using a heatmat? but would i need to use two thermostats or could i switch from the bulb in the daytime and plug the heatmat into the thermostat at night? understand me? or is that just a silly idea? well any help would be appreciated greatly! the sooner i set up the sooner i can bring my lil darling home!!
BTW im NEW!!! Newbie on borad! whoot whoot!!!:zi:

[corr]

Actually, bearded dragons don't need any heat at night but if you feel more comfortable with it then I would use an under-tank-heater, just a small one. Although, I use a low wattage blue bulb that stays on all the time. I use a 95 watt spot on a timer in the day. Dragons associate heat with intense light, so I wouldn't use a red bulb only.

[corr]

Welcome, btw :)

[XxRachxX]

i wouldve thought that they would need heat at night cuz i mean in australia the nights have got to be warmer than in england! so ill probably go with what youve suggested...all ive got to do now is scrape up my cash :-p thanx alot for you help and the kind welcome ^_^

[XxRachxX]

hey, another question do beardies need a light to bask in or would the UV be ok? i was also thinking of using ceramic heaters cuz i dont particulaly like the light

[corr]

The outback can get quite cold at night (into the 50s) and the dragons can take it no problem.

They do need a light to bask in, an incandescent light. A ceramic heater by itself would be confusing for them and a fluorescent UV light just doesn't get warm enough.

I'd say definitely use a spot light plus the UV plus supplemental night time light of your choice. :)

[Tim Winegard]

In my tank there is a 100 watt flood 6 inches away and its 108 I you can make a type of basking platform. Also for at night if you use rocks under your basking site, the retain alot of heat.

[Maxwell The BD]

Hey i agree with them about this. My vet says that they should have a basking point at about 100-105 degrees. It could be lower tho. Just make sure its in the upper nineties. Keep a water bowl in with it also or mist it everyday. Like they said, they dont need light or heat at night. I think that if u kept it heated theyd almost be confused. What type of substrate r u using? If u use sand, which i wouldnt recommend doing until its over eight months old, the sand should stay pretty warm. they also like to burrow in the sand. sorry if u knew this already. Just makin sure. By the way, do as much research as possible. I still research, and i hardly know anything.

Brandon

[Tim Winegard]

About the basking area I dont think that I would go lower than 100F Some Beardies like it up to 115 as adults and babies even a little hotter. As for at night the heat from during the day should be retained in the enclosure but if not then a ceramic heat emmiter or a UTH would work well.

[Maxwell The BD]

Hey, thanks for the correction. I accidentally said that about the basking light. I meant the whole cage i think.
Sorry for the confusion.

Brandon

[Tim Winegard]

Were all learning here
and the cage yes should be bellow 100F usually a median of 80 and a cool end temp of 75

[Alexahnder]

You can use a low wattage heat bulb during the day and a low wattage heat mat on at night. You don't need a thermostat. Also whattype of beardie are you getting, also what size tank are you going too keep it in and what age is it. In the regard of the temperatures at night in Australia during winter it can be as low as 1 degree and during summer it averages 10-18 degrees but also depends on the part of Australia, I'm in Sydney.

Alexahnder

[XxRachxX]

the beardie i want is.......well i suppose its just your average beardie! not sure what age it is (its at a rescue centre) and were making our own tank it will be about 3.5 foot long 24 inches wide and 20 inches tall. that IS ok isnt it?