Hi,

I am currently setting up the Viv and switching the lights on tomorrow to get the temps correct before he/she comes home.

I have a few questions....

1) Could someone recommend a good website for live food?
2) Before I purchase a "Habistat Pulse Themometer" For the ceramic Bulb...is this a good one etc? and does the ceramic live on the cool side of the Viv?
3) Could you also tell me where abouts the sensor sits to read the basking temp? Just now I have set up on the back wall....?

The house is fine temp wise when it is warm outside but it can get very cold up here....

Many thanks for your help and any advice that you all might to want share! and yes I have done my research but for this I do want clarification on.



Jingle Bells.

Can anybody offer some advice?

Thanks,

Jingle bells.

i haven't tried this website personally i get my stuff from a local exotic shop, a friend recommended them to me though hope this is useful

Ricks Livefood

heard nothing but good things about this one to http://reptilekeeping.co.uk/vivexoti...ck-p-1264.html

and there's this one http://www.thelivefoodwarehouse.co.uk/

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Thanks very much for the info...off to have a look ;o)

Jingle Bells.

I have tried almost every live food website along the way - but now I only use Livefood UK Crickets Locusts Mealworms Reptile vivarium supplies mail order. Simply because 99% of the time it's next day delivery. The customer service is really good.

I have never used a ceramic bulb before, I find them a waste of money. As long as it's a reflector, I use ordinary 100w household bulbs.
But yes, habistats thermostats are the best.
The ceramic will be your heat, so that will be the hot end of the viv.
I tape my sensor to the back wall of the viv, where the bulb is, about half way between where he will be sat and the top of the viv.

Have you put all the lights on yet?

Hi,

Thanks for the live food info and the lighting/sensor also. I have placed the sensor about a third of the way down the viv (Hot end) and the readings were all over the place. The Bulb (100 watt R80 spot) I had in is far to much and the cool end was to warm also.

So off to B&Q tomorrow to get a 60 watt.

Can I just place the sensor under the basking area to get a correct temp for there as well as having one in the middle?

I have a piece of thick slate under the basking spot and it was rather hot....will this be ok or shall I remove it?

I do feel quite confident about everything else regarding my Beardie but it's getting the temp thing right that flusters me. I just want to get it right uhhhhhhh

Many thanks for your help

Jingle Bells.

First of all, what temps are you working off and how big is your viv?

I personally couldn't get it hot enough under the basking spot with a 60 w bulb and if you have it on a dimming stat, you should be able to get the right temp, in a 4ftx2ft viv - maybe you have something smaller.

So what are you using the ceramic for?

It is feels more than warm to the touch, move it elsewhere, don't remove it all together as slate is good for them to climb on, keeps their claws trim.

Hi,

The Habistat Pulse and ceramic will be used for night time temps when it gets a little colder up here...not for just now.

I have a 4x2x2 viv and the temps last night were (100 watt R80)
Directly under Basking spot = 52c
Ambient = 36c
Cool end = 26c.

I have now swapped it for the 60 (R63) watt bulb.

The temps are now,

Directly underneath Basking light =40.7
Ambient = 29.7
Cool end = 24.6

Is this ok? Once again thanks for the invaluble advice/help.

Jingle Bells.

Those temps then with your 60w are perfect - The 100w ones are too high. Just of course keep an eye on them, maybe in the winter time you may need to switch to the 100w?
Are you using a wooden vivarium? These tend to help maintain temps better.

So how is it all going? Do you have your beardie yet?

Hi Miss G,

I have been running the lights in and they are running to form, and the slate is a lot cooler now.
I do agree with you about Winter time. The Temps here drop below 0c quite often...hence the pulse thermo for then. I want to be prepared...and I am sure that it will be used. I also use the Ceramics for the torts when it's brrrrrrr here(night time).
I find I have to alter the torts temps quite a bit when it is freezing so will be quite prepared for Beardie.

I have a wooden Viv didn't fancy the glass as I was unsure about how the temps would hold and I didn't think glass would keep a regular heat!!! Just a guess could be totally wrong!

No I do not have my Beardie yet uhhhh not til this Sunday. I asked the person to hold he/she for an extra week as I wanted to get the temps sorted before I went down the road to get it.

I am really looking forward to getting him/her (age 6-8 months, Rescue)... Keep looking at an empty viv hahahaha

Off into town tomorrow to get crickets and set up their tank. Just one more question about these evil things....I have read that they need to be fed what Beardie is getting (gut loading)...but what about fluid? is that gained soley from the veg or does that come in water form?

Many thanks for all your help ;o)

Jingle Bells.