Bearded Dragon and Infra red heat lamp

Question
QUESTION: Good day,

I have two Bearded dragons they are doing very well except for the one, well I'm am not sure. He is about +-6 months old. When i got them the pet store gave me a UVB light (2.0) and a infra red lamp for their heat for the basking side which ranges around 100F and around 80F in the cool side. I have been turning off the lights at night to keep the temperature at around 60F.

But now since it has got colder at night the pet store informed me that i can leave the infra red light on all day and night, but must turn off the UVB light at night. Is that correct or should i rather use another method of heating? The reason why i am asking this is that the beardie is not acting like it always does. it doesn't sit in its usual spots any more. also it seem as if it keeps looking for "dark" spots, it has even tried to climb beneath the news paper which it has never done before. Should i be worried or could it be the infra red lamp? I have been keeping the infra red light on permanantly for just over a week now.

Thank you in advance!!

Kind regards,
Rhyan Jeanson.

ANSWER: Hello Rhyan,

Hm, first off, that UVB definitely needs to be upgraded as a 2% is not nearly enough emissions to maintain his bone mass.  He needs a bright white basking light during the day instead of an infrared light.  That particular type of light is not bright enough to encourage them to bask.  A halogen spot or flood light is fine, or a regular household light bulb is good too.
Then, at night, if you need any additional heating, try using a ceramic heat emitter instead as they can see the color spectrum & that certain color red greatly disturbs their sleeping patterns.  
They need it dark to sleep at night, so that could be one reason he is extra stressed right now.

The best UVB light you can get in the form of a tube bulb is the Reptisun 10 tube bulb, NOT the compact or coil light.  Here is a good site you can get it from for a great price:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-rept

Are they housed together, or not?  What are you feeding them?
What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures with, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?  The overnight temperature of 60 really is perfectly fine, as they like to cool down to sleep.  

So, turn the red light off & leave it dark at night.  Use a bright white light for basking during the day instead of the red light.  Then, get the Reptisun 10 tube UVB light to help him with his health.  Do you use calcium supplementation?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,

Thank you so much for the advice, I will do as you sugested immediatly. To answer your questions you had at the end of your reply:
-They are housed togeter yes.
-I feed them crickets dusted in calcuim powder and then I give them Grated butternut and then carrot ocasionally.
-I use an analogue thermometer, which has a hydro meter on it too.

Thank you again.
Rhyan.

ANSWER: Hello Rhyan,

I forgot that you are in south Africa.  So, an easier UVB tube light to find would be the Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb.  That one is an excellent light.  Remember, that all tube bulbs need to be replaced every 5-6 months to help keep the UVB emissions optimal for them.  
Do you know the sex of your dragons?  At 6 months, you may be able to notice any subtle differences between the two.  If you have 2 males, you simply will not be able to keep them together.  They will kill each other.  If you have 2 females, you may be able to keep them together without any issues.  However, if you have a male & a female they need to be separated.  Otherwise, they will breed entirely too young, putting the female at high risk of health problems & the male at risk at hurting himself when he is not physically mature, sexually.

Good, the grated butternut squash is excellent, & the carrots are fine as well.  Which greens do you give?  The calcium should be given once daily, 5 times per week.  
Ok, the analogue thermometer is fine for measuring the humidity & the ambient temperatures in the tank.  The only problem with analogue thermometers is that they have a coil spring type mechanism inside which is not very good at measuring higher temperatures such as what the basking temperatures need to be.  So, I would recommend trying to find either a digital probe or a temp gun to make sure the basking temperatures are accurate.

let me know how things are going.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,

I just want to thank you for your help. I already can see a difference, he is back to himself. I will check today to see if they are male or female. I will then seperate them if needed. Once again thank you for the help, It is a major relief knowing he is doing better, thanks to an expert's advice.

Rhyan.

Answer
Hello Rhyan,

Wow that is really great he is doing so much better!  So he is eating & basking now?
Yes, just make sure that you don't have a male & female or a male & a male housed together & you should be doing fine.  :-)
Let me know if you need anything.

Tracie