Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So do you guys set up lights for your BD? Do you have UVA and UVB bulb and the basking bulb on one side of the cage and have the other side be cooler? Still a little confused on that one. I have a temp gun now so this will help me.

Also I need some help on what to use for my Nubs to climb on to bask? See he's just got numbs for front arms.

maybe for Nubs...I'm assuming that he has his own tank....have a few low lying rocks that he could wheel up on. If i'm not mistaken you said he has a little harness with wheels for the front right? Or you could build him a ramp up to something. I'm sure he'd learn how to use it. nothing steep but just a piece of wood thats angled enough so that Nubs can get up to a rock or branch or another wood structure thats flat but brings him up closer to the light..
thats the only thing i can think of

Ideally the UVB light should span the whole enclosure. The UVA/Heat lamp should be on on side. The basking site temp. for a baby should be 105-115.

At home depot you can buy wide boards by the foot. Something like a 1 x 6 (3/4" thick by 5 1/2 wide) or 1 x 8 (3/4" thick by 7 1/2 wide) would be good. I would recommend poplar not pine or oak. Pine or oak has a higher splinter risk. I would sand the corners somewhat. Then you could cut an angle on one end to make a low sloping ramp like the last poster suggested. She may be able to push herself up and down a ramp like this without the wheels. She will need to thermoregulate so she needs to be able to move around the light somewhat. I don't know if you use the wheels all the time. If it was me I'd make the basking site closer to 105 so she can't overheat if she has trouble moving about.

You could always check the bird section and they tend to have wood peices in all funky shapes and you can always make a ramp per say for the beardie to get proper basking. Temps should be hot side 100-115 and cool side mid 80's about 80-85 degrees. Temps will drop at night but should not drop below 68. Good luck and congrats on the little one!!

UVB should span the entire length of the cage, or at least 2/3rds of the cage. Basking light should be at one end, which produces a natural cooler end providing the basking isn't too hot or the cage too small.

For forelimb-less bearded dragon, I suggest a very low flat and wide basking spot. As he can't use his arms to climb up or down, a typical basking spot will prove impossible to navigate. Even with a wheeled harness, it may still be impossible for him to properly thermoregulate.

A wide flat basking area with the basking light hitting it slightly off center to provide warmer and cooler areas on the flat or very slightly sloping basking area, should work best. It will really depend on how mobile your dragon is without his front limbs. If he seems able to move about pretty freely, he may be able to handle ramps etc to get to higher locations. It will be something of trial and error. Try laying large flat rocks (such as slate tiles, ceramic tiles, shale, etc) or wood underneath the basking light. Sanding down the ends so they are easier for the dragon to get over is good, or adding a mini ramp to the shale (or carefully cutting or chipping off the corner, then sanding it down to take the sharpness off) will work.
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PHLdyPayne

I agree with the other posters about low, wide and inclined basking spots. Make sure you don't build anything too high because if he slips he can't grab on to regain balance.

You didn't mention if you are providing a water dish or instead hosting some supervised water time. I was looking at some habitat furnishings and saw a perfect low incline wedge until I realize it ended in an inch-deep water dish and I just had a horror image of Nubs floundering in that. Since he can't push himself up I think any level of water might be dangerous for him.

How is he doing on eating? he looked like he had a healthy pot belly in the picture.

Keep up the good work, I too had a disabled lizard, though not to Nubs extent, and he and I had a very strong bond until the end (natural causes aged 8 1/2).

Thanks for all your input everyone! I think I'm going to make my own ramp thing our of wood as you suggested. I got the lighting figured out and I hope everything workes out. Nubs is healthy, I wasn't going to keep him if he wasn't going to eat but he eats like a pig! I'll take some pictures of him with the harness and the new ramp an soon as I get it all done.

I just have a reptisun 5.0 or it may be the 8.0 (can't remember which one. and a basking bulb for the basking area temp is 100. temped with temp gun so I'll keep wveryone posted.