Preparing for Beardie

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ComicBookMama

Sub-Adult Member
Hi there...

I've been inactive on the forum for a while; about four years ago, I got myself a Rankins Beardie (Loki) and now I'm ready to take on a regular sized dragon. Loki went to another home about six months ago; he suddenly stopped eating, and not even phoenix worms could tempt him. The vet couldn't find anything wrong with him (no parasites - he'd been wormed a few months prior due to pinworms), and I panicked and asked a friend who is an avid herper to take him and nurse him back to health. Loki is now in much better health and, according to my friend, eating like a horse - thought neither of us can figure out why he stopped eating in the first place. I'd forgotten all about this forum or I'd have posted a yell for help.

At any rate, I'm now planning on getting my first full sized beardie, and I'm feeling a bit anxious about it... I feel like a failure for not being able to keep Loki eating, though my friend says that dragons can be like that sometimes, and he adores Loki, so no real harm done (he's going to be a classroom dragon in the fall). I'm reading over the care sheets and looking to buy the biggest hab I can afford, though I've got a 20L quarantine tank ready and waiting. It's all a bit overwhelming, though... so much to take in. So... here are a few questions I haven't been able to answer on my own or with the help of the care sheets.

1) Do they sell stands for 40Breeder tanks? Where did you get yours?
2) When attaching the under counter fixture to the inside of the tank, how do you make sure that the cord doesn't affect the fit of the lid?
3) If you don't have any other herps in the house, should you still quarantine the new dragon in a smaller tank before putting him into his permanent hab?
4) Any advice for someone getting her first P.vitticeps? Things you go, "gee, I wish I'd known THAT in the beginning!"

Thanks!
 

MrSpectrum

Gray-bearded Member
Hi ComicBookMama,

I'm looking forward to my first as well, but I've been doing homework for months now, and I'm not completely without experience.

1) Do they sell stands for 40Breeder tanks? Where did you get yours?
They sell anything/everything. Some folks build a stand, some use an old dresser, kitchen/bathroom cabinet, or other furniture. I'm planning on using one of those folding tables vendors use at craft/reptile shows.

2) When attaching the under counter fixture to the inside of the tank, how do you make sure that the cord doesn't affect the fit of the lid?
Some use a larger size mesh that the cord will fit through (but not large enough for feeders to escape); some cut a slot/hole in the lid frame.

3) If you don't have any other herps in the house, should you still quarantine the new dragon in a smaller tank before putting him into his permanent hab?
I can't see why, but I'll yield to greater wisdom.

4) Any advice for someone getting her first P.vitticeps? Things you go, "gee, I wish I'd known THAT in the beginning!"
Yup, there are several videos on YT, and many more websites you could review
Google: before i got a bearded dragon

Good Luck!

(..and how do you get/have 1/10th of a dog?) :?
 
id recommend doing more soul searching first. Im on my first beardie, and did months of for thought. One question to ask yourself is are you going all sterile? Or bio active? If your going sterile a 40BR plus should be ok... but honestly... i have a 75 gallon and after seeing my 13 inch plus dragon in there i now feel 40 is too small unless your on a crunch for space, a breeder or you let your dragon out frequently and let him run around.

I would definitly provent a mite the tank if its sterile. And id definitly quarentine. Even on paper towels. The paper towel is simply to be able to see if theres anything wrong. Mites... consistantly runny or bloody stool proper digestion ect. That way if you have a mite problem later you know its not from the previus owner.

As for stands id recommend getting a cheap all solid wood desk from good will and either sand and stain it or primer and paint it. The reason for this is 2 fold one for style. And two you lower the risk of bringing pests in from some elses desk. Alternatively you could build one of pallets... ive done that before. Its a fun learning experience.

Also the reason i said more soul searching is because if you decide to go bioactive you need a 75 gallon. More or less for the beardie poops to be more spread out if possible and that means also having plants and what not. This also changes how you are able to deal with pest control. Some food for thought.
 

MrSpectrum

Gray-bearded Member
ComicBookMama":243s70e8 said:
MrSpectrum":243s70e8 said:
(..and how do you get/have 1/10th of a dog?) :?

Ummm... you make a silly typo! Lol... fixing it now!

In all this time? :lol: :D
I'm on my 4th dog. (Smartest of the 4, though #3 was the sweetest).
 
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