Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our dragon's cage is now dipping down to 63 degrees at the coldest point and we were thinking that we need to bring the heat up a little at night. We tried a red bulb, but it woke him up Will a black bulb work?

We could spring for a ceramic heat emitter, but the lowest wattage one we can find around here is 60 watts. He uses a 60 watt bulb during the day for basking temps of around 110, so we're guessing that wattage wouldn't be good for night temps.

Did you buy a reptile red bulb. This is the one time that a reptile bulb is worth the money. A red bulb from home depot produces a lot of red light. A reptile red bulb produces very little to no red light. I use one or my green tree python. At night it is very hard for me to detect the light given off in his cage. Black lights same deal get a reptile one they put out much less light than standard black lights. You could try an undertank heater but I am not a big fan of them. I say if you use an undertank heater you need to use a thermostat.
-----
Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

the undertank heaters. I have used them in the past. They put out such a light amount of heat that you can barely detect it with your hand right on it (which is good for beardie's tummy, but bad for the fact that it doesn't help heat up the cage). Besides, if you use substrate and have a significant depth to it, the beardie won't be able feel the heat anyway.

I haven't used any night bulbs, but I wanted to tell you not to waste your money on the UTH.
-----
1.0 Bearded Dragon

How big is your tank? I had to use a 100 watt for a 40 gallon tank. If the emitter is too hot, you could raise the dome away from the tank. Or, as I have, get a thermostate controller. It has a temperature probe you place in the tank and will automaticly shut off the heater if the temperature gets too hot, then turn it on again when it gets too cool.

Yup, it was a reptile red bulb. He usually sleeps like a log, but the second we turned it on, he woke up