| Beardies require a temperature gradient in their | | | | on the cool side and another near the basking site. |
| enclosures because they can't regulate their body | | | | A thermometer on the hot part and another on the |
| temperatures like. They have to thermo regulate, | | | | cool part of the enclosure will make sure that your |
| which means that they have to move between | | | | temps are in the range they should be in. Do not use |
| areas of differing temperatures in order to regulate | | | | hot rocks as they are potentially dangerous! Dragons |
| their internal temperature. To produce heat and a | | | | don't sense heat well with their tummies, and can be |
| basking spot in your enclosure, you can use either a | | | | lethally scorched without realizing. |
| ceramic heat emitter, a reptile basking light (red, blue | | | | A good heat source for night time is a ceramic |
| or white) or just a plain old household light bulb. | | | | heating element (CHE). CHE's are non-light emitting |
| The best fixture for any of these choices is a | | | | heating units. They get very hot but disperse heat |
| porcelain dome light fixture. This type of fixture is a | | | | over a very narrow (15" in diameter) and shallow |
| must with a ceramic heat emitter due to the amount | | | | area. The range for a 60 watt CHE is 8" down, the |
| of heat they produce. The temperature for this | | | | range for a 100 watt CHE is 10" down, the range for |
| basking spot you created should be around 110oF for | | | | a 150 watt CHE is 12" down, and the range for 250 |
| juveniles and can be around 95oF for adults. | | | | watts is 14" down. |
| Your Beardie will also need an area to cool down if | | | | CHE's are not effective in heating large enclosures |
| he gets too warm. At the opposite end of the tank, | | | | and a rheostat or dimmer switch may be used for |
| you should try to keep the temp around 75-85oF. A | | | | small enclosures so it doesn't get too hot. It is very |
| few degrees within this temperature are just fine. | | | | important that CHE's only be used in porcelain |
| Night time temps shouldn't be allowed to drop below | | | | ceramic light sockets as the amount of heat that |
| 60oF, whereas 70-75oF is more comfortable for | | | | they produce is enough to melt regular plastic light |
| them. Don't guess on temps - you could cook or | | | | sockets. |
| freeze your Beardie! Use a good thermometer, one | | | | |