BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hello!
So I've been researching for a few months now,and I've noticed that there are a few different lighting/heating options available..some people like heat bulbs,others only use pads..still others use both..and then others use all of the above AND a UVB.

Kind of confusing for a new coming to owning a BTS. What do YOU use and why?
I'm no stranger to heating reptiles. I have a 6 year old Beardie that is in a 75 gallon tank with a 100W heat bulb and a ReptiSun 10.0 UVB bulb that is INSIDE the tank (as I've learned,the screen blocks out most of the rays). I'm just curious as to what is the best way to keep a BTS 100% healthy!!

Thank you in advance for any responses!!

Bri

Philips par38 incandescent spots for basking 26W UVB200 in a Nanohood for UV , 7W heat pad under tiles to warm hide overnight.

kingofnobbys wrote:Philips par38 incandescent spots for basking 26W UVB200 in a Nanohood for UV , 7W heat pad under tiles to warm hide overnight.

So do you turn off all the lighting overnight and keep the pad on?

I use a 75 watt basking bulb during the day, nothing at night.

Gsxrgrl21 wrote:

kingofnobbys wrote:Philips par38 incandescent spots for basking 26W UVB200 in a Nanohood for UV , 7W heat pad under tiles to warm hide overnight.

So do you turn off all the lighting overnight and keep the pad on?

Yep .... that's the deal for all my 3 pet skinks ( 2 Eastern Bluetongues & 1 Eastern Water Skink ) and 1 Central Bearded Dragon. The heatpads sandwiched between tiles stay on 24/7 and are under their main hides .

My skinks' heatpads are thermostatically set to stay at 32-34 degC , the beardie's heatpad is set to stay at 35-36 degC. And they all love them. Especially now it's winter. No one is brumating, none of my pet skinks or dragons have ever shown any inclination to brumate. Everyone is up and basking at about lunchtime , and expecting a feed about 4pm , and if I fail to get each out for some quality daddy time and maybe some floor fun time (the big lizards) or fun play time all over me and the coffee table and the lounge next to me - I get given the hint ,and maybe stink eye.

My home is climate controlled over winter ( big Fujitsu Inverter Split Reverse Cycle Aircon stays on 24/7 and holds the room temperature in the living areas about 22 degC overnight , and 24-25 degC during the day).

Only Fluffy the water skink has ever experience real winters here (she's started life as a semi tame wild skink in my garden and would disappear for a few weeks over winter ,then she had a run in with a grass trimmer in November last year and was rescued near death about 6 months ago - she's mega tame now and horribly spoilt (like all my lizardy children are) and seems to love her new lot in life and being cared for by me. She's got a very well train and agreeable and comfy warm human slave now.

kingofnobbys wrote:

Gsxrgrl21 wrote:

kingofnobbys wrote:Philips par38 incandescent spots for basking 26W UVB200 in a Nanohood for UV , 7W heat pad under tiles to warm hide overnight.

So do you turn off all the lighting overnight and keep the pad on?

Yep .... that's the deal for all my 3 pet skinks ( 2 Eastern Bluetongues & 1 Eastern Water Skink ) and 1 Central Bearded Dragon. The heatpads sandwiched between tiles stay on 24/7 and are under their main hides .

My skinks' heatpads are thermostatically set to stay at 32-34 degC , the beardie's heatpad is set to stay at 35-36 degC. And they all love them. Especially now it's winter. No one is brumating, none of my pet skinks or dragons have ever shown any inclination to brumate. Everyone is up and basking at about lunchtime , and expecting a feed about 4pm , and if I fail to get each out for some quality daddy time and maybe some floor fun time (the big lizards) or fun play time all over me and the coffee table and the lounge next to me - I get given the hint ,and maybe stink eye.

My home is climate controlled over winter ( big Fujitsu Inverter Split Reverse Cycle Aircon stays on 24/7 and holds the room temperature in the living areas about 22 degC overnight , and 24-25 degC during the day).

Only Fluffy the water skink has ever experience real winters here (she's started life as a semi tame wild skink in my garden and would disappear for a few weeks over winter ,then she had a run in with a grass trimmer in November last year and was rescued near death about 6 months ago - she's mega tame now and horribly spoilt (like all my lizardy children are) and seems to love her new lot in life and being cared for by me. She's got a very well train and agreeable and comfy warm human slave now.

So you only use the heating pad? No overhead lighting? What about UVB?

Gsxrgrl21 wrote:

kingofnobbys wrote:

Gsxrgrl21 wrote:
So do you turn off all the lighting overnight and keep the pad on?

Yep .... that's the deal for all my 3 pet skinks ( 2 Eastern Bluetongues & 1 Eastern Water Skink ) and 1 Central Bearded Dragon. The heatpads sandwiched between tiles stay on 24/7 and are under their main hides .

My skinks' heatpads are thermostatically set to stay at 32-34 degC , the beardie's heatpad is set to stay at 35-36 degC. And they all love them. Especially now it's winter. No one is brumating, none of my pet skinks or dragons have ever shown any inclination to brumate. Everyone is up and basking at about lunchtime , and expecting a feed about 4pm , and if I fail to get each out for some quality daddy time and maybe some floor fun time (the big lizards) or fun play time all over me and the coffee table and the lounge next to me - I get given the hint ,and maybe stink eye.

My home is climate controlled over winter ( big Fujitsu Inverter Split Reverse Cycle Aircon stays on 24/7 and holds the room temperature in the living areas about 22 degC overnight , and 24-25 degC during the day).

Only Fluffy the water skink has ever experience real winters here (she's started life as a semi tame wild skink in my garden and would disappear for a few weeks over winter ,then she had a run in with a grass trimmer in November last year and was rescued near death about 6 months ago - she's mega tame now and horribly spoilt (like all my lizardy children are) and seems to love her new lot in life and being cared for by me. She's got a very well train and agreeable and comfy warm human slave now.

So you only use the heating pad? No overhead lighting? What about UVB?

No.... they have incandescent spot globes for basking during the day. Their hides and heatpads are positioned under the basking globe and double as basking platforms and warmed beds. This works very well , my skinks (and similar setup for the bearded dragon) seem to really like the set up.
26W UVB150 compacts for the skinks (eastern BTs and eastern water skink).

kingofnobbys wrote:

Gsxrgrl21 wrote:

kingofnobbys wrote:
Yep .... that's the deal for all my 3 pet skinks ( 2 Eastern Bluetongues & 1 Eastern Water Skink ) and 1 Central Bearded Dragon. The heatpads sandwiched between tiles stay on 24/7 and are under their main hides .

My skinks' heatpads are thermostatically set to stay at 32-34 degC , the beardie's heatpad is set to stay at 35-36 degC. And they all love them. Especially now it's winter. No one is brumating, none of my pet skinks or dragons have ever shown any inclination to brumate. Everyone is up and basking at about lunchtime , and expecting a feed about 4pm , and if I fail to get each out for some quality daddy time and maybe some floor fun time (the big lizards) or fun play time all over me and the coffee table and the lounge next to me - I get given the hint ,and maybe stink eye.

My home is climate controlled over winter ( big Fujitsu Inverter Split Reverse Cycle Aircon stays on 24/7 and holds the room temperature in the living areas about 22 degC overnight , and 24-25 degC during the day).

Only Fluffy the water skink has ever experience real winters here (she's started life as a semi tame wild skink in my garden and would disappear for a few weeks over winter ,then she had a run in with a grass trimmer in November last year and was rescued near death about 6 months ago - she's mega tame now and horribly spoilt (like all my lizardy children are) and seems to love her new lot in life and being cared for by me. She's got a very well train and agreeable and comfy warm human slave now.

So you only use the heating pad? No overhead lighting? What about UVB?

No.... they have incandescent spot globes for basking during the day. Their hides and heatpads are positioned under the basking globe and double as basking platforms and warmed beds. This works very well , my skinks (and similar setup for the bearded dragon) seem to really like the set up.
26W UVB150 compacts for the skinks (eastern BTs and eastern water skink).

Interesting..got it! So heating pad in combination with a heat bulb and UVB! I see so many people do all different set ups so it's hard to know which is best