Tips for controlling the temperature of a bearded dragon cage/vivarium
Probably the most frequently asked topic by new bearded dragon keepers is how to properly set the temperature in the vivarium.
It’s a pretty tricky thing to get right from the start, which is why it’s always recommended that you set up the vivarium and have it running for about a week before you get your bearded dragon. Slight adjustments while fixing it can cause the temperature to go up or down, which wouldn’t be very comfortable if you were busy gaming.
The first thing to consider is where you set up the nursery. You don’t want it in direct sunlight, or in a place where there are a lot of drafts, as this will cause your temperature to fluctuate. Placing it in a sheltered, shady part of the room is a good start.
Bearded dragons need to be able to thermoregulate – they will bask until they are too hot, then retire to a cooler location to cool off. Therefore, you should have a basking spot with a temperature of around 105 °F (41 °C), and the other end of the vivarium should be cooler, with a temperature of no more than 30 °C ( 85°F). Lower than this is fine.
To do this you will need to have a lamp that puts out heat at the ‘hot end’. Bearded men are drawn to sunbathing under bright lights, so a nice bright 60 or 100 watt bulb is ideal. You don’t need to buy the expensive ones at reptile stores – a regular household one of the correct wattage will do just fine. Ceramic lights that do not emit light are acceptable, but the bearded dragon may not be as attracted to basking under them. That being said, one of our bearded ones has always had a ceramic bulb and it sunbathes very well. Ceramic lights also have the advantage that you can turn down the heat at night without a light disturbing your sleep. However, most homes are warm enough that bearded dragons don’t need extra heat at night, as long as your home doesn’t go below 60f (16c) for an adult, or 65f (18c) for a juvenile. Bearded dragons need a good drop in temperature at night in order to sleep well.
The temperature must be controlled by a thermostat that turns the heat lamp on or off to maintain constant heat. The type of lamp you choose will determine which thermostat you should buy. A dimming thermostat gradually reduces and increases the power of the lamp, a pulsating thermostat turns it on and off. If you have a heat light, then a dimming thermostat is necessary; otherwise it will keep burning the bulbs. A pulsating thermostat can be a bit cheaper and can be used with ceramic light bulbs.
The most important thing to remember is that the thermostat should be used to keep the cold end cool. The sunbathing spot is the actual place where the bearded man will lie down to bask in the sun. This can be adjusted later, and by adding branch rocks you can raise or lower the basking spot until it’s at the right temperature. It’s not all the ‘hot end’ of the nursery that is trying to get to that height.
Place the thermostat probe near the cold end of the viv, turn the heat on, and leave it for a few hours. A good digital thermometer with dual inputs and a dual readout is great for being able to see temperatures at the hot spot and the cold end at the same time. Your goal is for the cold end to be below 85f (30c) and the sunbathing spot to be at 105f (41c). If extreme cold is right, measure the temperature at the basking spot and add or remove your rocks or branches to try to get to 105f (41c). If the cold end is below 85°F (30°C) and you cannot raise the temperature of the basking spot, move the probe slightly toward the center of the vivarium. Again, let sit for a few hours before rechecking measurements. You need to continue this until you have the right temperatures on the cold end. It doesn’t matter if the cold end is below 85f (30c).
Once you have the right temperatures, go outside and stop playing. Wait a couple of days and then check again. Make sure you have the UVB tube turned on at the same time as it will give off a bit of heat.
If you find your nursery too hot and you can’t get the temperature down enough on the cold end, check to see if there are enough air vents in the back. There should be at least one at each end, one towards the top and one towards the bottom. You can add additional vents if needed.
If the temperature is too high due to the height of summer, you should consider investing in a reptile fan. A separate thermostat can control this, and can be programmed to kick in when the temperature rises above a certain level.
Once the probe is in the right place, your temperatures have stabilized, you shouldn’t need to adjust the settings. Now you can introduce your bearded dragon to his new home.