question...

slitherchick · 08-16-03, 11:57 PM

so when they're basking... are they supposed to gape? or does that mean that they're too hot?
i'm having problems regulating the temperature in the aquarium... it keeps on dropping to below 70.

reptilez · 08-17-03, 12:05 AM

I hope you mean that at night it drops to 70F.
When they Gape it means that they are cooling off there brain, since they dont sweat.

slitherchick · 08-17-03, 12:10 AM

hm would it help to buy one of the underheater pads? the ones that go UNDER the whole tank. i know burying heat rocks is just stupid, not even gonna go there. and would a ceramic heat lamp help?

ICULIZARD · 08-17-03, 12:23 AM

An undertank heater pad would work well.....or you could have a seperate light fixture for a night bulb. (pref. a ceramic heat bulb as it emits no light to disrupt their sleep pattern)

ICULIZARD

slitherchick · 08-17-03, 12:27 AM

i'm just FULL of questions tonight. hee hee hee! i just want to make sure my beardie's okay, i've fallen completely head over heels in love with him... how often should i expect a bowel movement?

Big AL · 08-17-03, 01:43 AM

One of the best investments I made was a temp gun. It gives you exact temp readings anywhere in the enclosure. They are fairly cheap around $40-$50. I have 2 now. I bought one from Radio Shack and one from http://www.tempgun.com

slitherchick · 08-17-03, 08:03 AM

i'm still kind of concerned over the fact that he hasn't pooped yet.
he didn't eat this morning, but i'm going to chalk it up to stress and the change of environment.

meow_mix450 · 08-17-03, 08:59 AM

Dont worry that has happened to me too, when i got him he didnt poop or eat anything the next morining, its cause of stress, so you should stop handling it for a while and leave its environment the way it is, for now and once he starts eating and pooing you can change the environment and handle him.

And i dont use a heat pad, i just use a basking light and when it gets to hot he would open his mouth wide open, hes trying to cool down, so you dont have to worry about that. When i was looking closely in his mouth there were sharp teeth!!! i was shocked lol

Well keep us posted

eyespy · 08-17-03, 09:29 AM

Gaping is really pretty normal as long as it's not all the time. Not eating or pooping regularly is also fairly normal during the first few days in a new home so try not to worry too very much.

I myself don't like undertank heaters for beardies. They are heliotherms, meaning they have a bony armor plating on their backs that soaks up UV and infrared radiation from the sun and store up that heat in order to regulate their body temperatures. Heat mats don't emit that kind of radiant energy, just warmth, so beardies have a harder time with thermoregulation.

They are also more likely to dehydrate because they don't have many nerve endings on the skin of their bellies and can't easily feel when they are getting too hot from below.

Once your little one settles in and has a nice regular meal schedule, he should poop at least once a day during his first few months, then once a day to once every other day as he gets older and his food intake becomes a smaller percentage of his overall body mass.

drewlowe · 08-17-03, 09:34 AM

Are you worried about the temp dropping below 70 in the day or night time. If it's the nighttime don't worry about it. My beardies drop in to the low 60's throught the night. If it's during the day it's ok for them to have a cool side and a warmside with a basking spot. The cool side should be in the mid 70's to 80's i keep my warm side in the 80's and i have 2 basking spots one is at a 100 the other 105. that way they can thermoregulate as best as possible.