Questions re Breeding / Housing Baby Beardies

[Bigbird]

This is my first season of breeding beardies and my first clutch is about to hatch so I'm very excited! I just have a few questions regarding housing the babies.

I found this thread from a year ago and I noticed Miss B's set up:

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/herp-help/baby-beardie-questions-69465

She had large plastic tubs with a UV tube across them and a lamp with a 60w bulb in it, which is basically what I am planning to do. My questions are:

1) Does the 60w bulb need to be connected to a thermostat?
2) Would mercury vapour bulbs be suitable to use as I have seen that they provide a basking lamp and UVB light in one? I have very limited power points so if I can reduce the number of plugs I need, all the better!
3) Would a heat mat or a night bulb be better for heating them at night? I am in Melbourne and my house gets down to about 19-20 degrees over night at the moment so I would need additional heat.
4) Will the temps in the tub stay constant enough seeing as the tub has no lid?

Any help is appreciated as obviously I don't want the little buggers to die as soon as they have hatched!

Thanks

 

[Sturdy]

personlly i wouldnt use the mercury vapour bulbs, unless you want BBQ beardies.

i would use a heat cord an a fluro tube,

also a good idea would be to seprate them all so there's NO chance of loosing tails an toes

 

[ace#74]

first off good luck with them is so exciting seeing your first clutch poke their little heads out all i do with mine is put them in a 2ft tank with paper towel on the bottem and a couple of branches to climb on as for heating i use a heat matt 24/7 under half the tank and in the day i use a 75 watt globe as a basking spot and feed daily i start introducing them the greens as soon as they hatch most dont take it for a while but occasionally u get the ones that eat them straight away i mist them daily aswell to make sure there hydrated

 

[JasonL]

I use plastic tubs, and make aluminium wire mesh lids, they can be put outside (with a shaded area) on warm days, or kept under lights in poor weather.

 

[Bigbird]

Thanks everyone for the info, it's all very helpful!

So I definitely don't need a thermostat then? As long as they have an adequate basking spot and heating round the clock (measured with a thermometer of course) and a UV light, I should be good to go? Unfortunately, I don't have an outdoor area so I can't put them outside.

I will be feeding them baby woodies twice a day and offering them veggies too as well as misting once a day. I will leave a shallow dish of water in there for them too.

Fingers crossed it all goes well! I'll post pics once they've hatched and will be offering them for sale if anyone is interested.

One other quick question - does anyone know how I would go about freighting them? Do I contact the post office to find out??

 

[Dave]

personlly i wouldnt use the mercury vapour bulbs, unless you want BBQ beardies.

i would use a heat cord an a fluro tube,

also a good idea would be to seprate them all so there's NO chance of loosing tails an toes

your joking? MVB are the best bulbs on the market lol.. better uvb then tube/coil and they can easy heat upto 40c basking spot..

 

[TheBoga]

I might be interested Bigbird, looking for a juvy soon and from a Melbourne seller. I think your breeding Central's?

Good luck with it all.

 

[falconboy]

your joking? MVB are the best bulbs on the market lol.. better uvb then tube/coil and they can easy heat upto 40c basking spot..

Yeah, and WAY too hot for baby beardies

 

[Dave]

Yeah, and WAY too hot for baby beardies

lol? 40c is to hot for baby beardies? Yeah right.. maybe if your to lazy to mist them? 40c is good for all ages lol..

 

[falconboy]

lol? 40c is to hot for baby beardies? Yeah right.. maybe if your to lazy to mist them? 40c is good for all ages lol..

I did not say 40 deg was too hot. I was refering to MVB, as far as I know you cannot thermostatically control mercury vapour, therefore unless you are standing over the tub 24/7 you cannot safely stop them getting too hot. An MVB is not appropriate for baby beardies.

 

[Dave]

I did not say 40 deg was too hot. As far as I know you cannot thermostatically control mercury vapour, therefore unless you are standing over the tub 24/7 you cannot safely stop them getting too hot. An MVB is not appropriate for baby beardies.

I don't use thermostats for no bulbs even if I can... I test them about 3 weeks or so before the dragons are in the tank.. once you find out the hottest it gets the coldest it gets etc then you can just monitor it.. personally I need a 160watt bulb in winter and a 50watt bulb in summer where I am and I've never had problems.

 

[TheBoga]

I don't use thermostats either.

 

[Bigbird]

TheBoga - Yep, they are Centrals.

Here are pictures of Mum and Dad. Dad is kind of orange phase. He's not bright orange all over like some that you see, but he definitely has orange highlights! Mum has yellow highlights.

 

[TheBoga]

Very nice Bigbird, let me know if or when you have any that you are going to sell.