Beardies New Tank

[Amanda]

We have just obtained a new 6 ft tank for our Beardies. The problem I have is that the tank is sitting at 20 degrees at the cold end of the tank and 22 degrees at the warm end, which I thought would have been too cold for these guys. But instead of basking under the light, to try and keep warm, the male is fascinated with the water feature, and each time we check on them, at least some part (or all) of him is in the water. Then, when you pick him up, he is extremly cold to touch.
He has just had his 3rd shed, and SHOULD be over this. I am just confused as to why he is freezing his little butt off, when he could be basking in the warmth.

The Female is sitting at the cold end of the tank, and if you put her near the warm end, she eventually ends up at the cold end.

Someone please help, cause I don't want to have to take them to work with me again so I can keep filling up the hot water bottle!!!! My work thinks I'm mad! :lol:

 

[diamond_python]

My female is doing a similar thing. She is always going to the cold places of my 4ft tank and not the heat where as my male will stay near the heat a majority of the time. Annoys the **** out of me

 

[Amanda]

But is she really cold to touch? Cause he is really quite cold.
I keep thinking, "Oh well, they know where the heat is, and if they get cold, they'll just move to the heat......... Stop stressing".
Maybe I'm just an over protective mother. :wink:

 

[Hickson]

Are they Eastern, Central, or Pygmy Beardies?



Hix

 

[Amanda]

Hi Hix, They are Central Beardies. Does it make a difference? Wouldn't they all have the same sort of behaviours relating to heat etc? :?

 

[Guest]

I would get that hot end bumped up to about 40 degrees Amanda. 22 Degrees just doesnt cut the mustard for centrals. As for him being in the water, some beardies just love being in water, and maybe thats what your guy is doing.

 

[Amanda]

I'm trying to get it as hot as I can, but because of the size of the tank, it's taking ages to heat up. I know it will get there eventually, but for the time being, I have got a log in there that will put them right under the heat lamp (But not too close to burn them.)

I went to a pet shop that specialises in Reptile supplies, and was told that a heating cord under the bottom of the tank would heat the substrate, but alas, WRONG!!!!! So now I am relying on this heat lamp to do the heating for me.
I also have a hot water bottle in there that they like to sit on (On occasions.)

Any other suggestions to get the heat in the tank up?

 

[Guest]

Get an oz bright uva/uvb/heat lamp from www.animalattraction.com.au with a dome fitting. Cost you about $100 all up but is very worth it and beneficial for the animals. Only run the heat cord under the tank at night. The oz bright will give you a basking spot of about 45degrees no problems.

 

[ErisKSC]

I'm assuming it's a fishtank you are using?
But you could insulate the sides to retain heat better?

 

[Amanda]

TS, the heating cord is doing absolutly nuthin. I've had it running since Sunday. I've got a UV light going, and this heat lamp, and the temp is coming up..... Slowly.

ErisKsc, Yep, it's a fish tank style. It's all glass. Ideas on insulating the glass?

OMG, I sound like I know absolutly nuthin on these guys. I have just never had such a problem with heating such a big tank! Lucky you guys are here to help! lol. 8)

 

[Guest]

If it is a fish tank and you end up using the oz bright, i wouldnt worry about insulating as during the day the light is on constantly, and at night they will get a natural temperature drop. I have never heated beardies at night and it hasnt bothered them at all.

 

[Guest]

Yeah the temp might raise slowly, but by the time you get it to a decent temp it will be time for nigh nighs and you will lose all that hard earned heat. Try the ozbright idea, i think you'll find its the best solution unless you buy some really high wattage heat lamp. But you get the added benefit of the uva/uvb out of the ozbright too. Highest uva/uvb output on the market im lead to believe.

 

[Amanda]

Thank for that. Will try and track one down. But in the mean time, I think it is just gunna be the old re-filling the hot water bottle every few hours. Oh man, this is worse than having kids! lol

 

[Reptilegirl]

g'day sorry to steal your thread but i have just upgraded my beardies to a nice 3ft tank and my biggest one has gone into hiding.. its gotten to the point where i cant find him i just know he's in one of two places.. i know this is natural for beardies but i'm just concerned about him cos he's only a youngen... i had him in the tank for a couple of days when my SFR ran out.. then he went into hinding.. i have since gotten more but he just doesnt seem interested... also another thought i had was thats its too cold of a night so he get's warm by burrowing under the sand... any ideas why he's doing it would be great... also should i get him out.. or just let him do his thing??
Cheers and once again sorry about stealing your thread..
Megz

 

[Amanda]

Megz,
No drama's about stealing the thread.

I'm no expert on beardies, (as you can tell by the question I posted), but I do have a few ideas.

1, What temp is the tank?

2, Is he stressed? Was he doing this before in the old tank?

For either of these, I would not stop him from doing it. I would just let him go. Ours get handled alot, and are quite used to getting taken out of the tank, so they don't get too stressed. He's just doing what is comfortable for him. Let him go for a while. Just keep an eye on him.
Is he still coming out to eat etc?

 

[Reptilegirl]

Megz,
No drama's about stealing the thread.

cheers

1, What temp is the tank?

warm end is about 30.. basking spot about 38 i think and the cool end is about 18-20...

2, Is he stressed?

i wouldnt say so... he's the biggest of the four... i had to seperate one cos he got twice the size of it.. so i wouldn't say anyone pushes him around..

Was he doing this before in the old tank?

i previously housed them in tubs with no substrate and the fella i got them off didnt use substrate either.. so he's never been able to do this before... but for a couple of week's before i moved them into the 3ft tank i used to put them in there a couple of hours a day a couple of times a week.. just to get them use to it.. but he didnt do it then either...

it was only after about the second or third night that he just decided to dig a nice little hole up the cold end and hide in it... he came out once the day before i got more SFR... ate a couple SFR.. but then went and dug a different hole up the other end (warm end) and hasnt came out since.... and that was friday i think..
i guess i'll just have to wait n see what he does..
Megz

 

[Guest]

RG, i have a 2 year old male at the moment and since the start of winter, i havent seen him eat or drink. All he does all day and night is sleep, the only time he is awake is when i disturb him to have a cuddle. Ive pretty much summed it up to winter brumation as he hasnt lost any weight or condition. Ive offered live food, and he doesnt care 2 bits. I wouldnt worry about yours, i reckon he is just resting for the winter. My guy also digs himself down into the BC and i wont see him move again till i disturb him which is not very often.

Im guessing you dont heat at night? if you dont, what temp do you reckon it gets down to? I dont heat at night at all and it gets down to about 16-18degrees. During the day i only give him about 6-7 hours of basking time, then its lights out.

Funny though, every morning i look under the arched log he sleeps under and he must know im there cause he opens one eye and has a look at me, then goes back to slumber land, its very cute!

 

[hugsta]

I wouldn't be too concerned with them being in the cool end, they are just brumating. Totally normal behaviour.