What gets SO old is this pattern of "dying bearded" threads, with either unknown temps or substandard temps. It isn't because of poor intentioned keepers, it is just a reflection of the incredibly poor resources in Bearded books and caresheets, and general ignorance (lack of knowledge not dumdum-ness) of proper husbandry and temps.



Chris, your temps of 115F (surface temp of the basking spot at the hottest point) are MUCH more similar to 130F, at least in the same ballpark, than they are to temps of 100 or 105F. Beardeds can get the job done, typically, working with the 115F. They can get it done even better at 130F though. Really, truly, it is not that hot. Not for a surface temp of the only basking spot.



But 115F is miles ahead of 100 or 105, and in these circumstances with Beardeds or lizards that are already compromised, 105 is just not going to cut it. 100 is definitely not, and 95 or "it seems hot" is a death warrant.



These poor temps are what put the lizard in jeopardy in the first place.



As for my post-stalker BDlvr, KMartin is right, you can set up a hatchling cage with 83-130F temp gradient with little problem, it just takes a bit of knowledge and guidance. BDlvr can't sent up HIS cages that way, perhaps, but it can be done. I can do it in a 10 gallon tank.



Use an elevated basking spot- with a Retes Stack, effectively doubling the usable square footage of the cage, and providing basking temps of- get this 130F, 125, 120, 115, 110, 95, 85 all in the same basking stack. Choices, lots of choices, and they will use them all.



Limit evaporative heat loss by limiting the venting on the top/cover. And use a small wattage (50 watt or less) bulb for the basking stack. A regular lamp bulb in 10 and 20 gallon tanks, halogen flood bulbs in larger cages.



This type of lizard setup has been used for more than a decade now, just not widely in Beardeds, Bearded keepers are just now getting hip to it. But it works fantastically, and creates terrifically healthy animals, thriving, growing and breeding like they are meant to.
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