Ameliatrystofly":138wergo said:
So a couple weeks ago I adopted Amelia from a local PetSmart, from what I've read from several forums she's adapted really well to the move at least (no glass surfing, eating well, loves to play and go outside for walks on my shoulder). PetSmart told me she is 6mo old, I measured her from tip to tip (nose to tail) and she was 5.6in in length, and after just 2 weeks grew about another inch and a half and she's an even 7in now. She has the 40gal Thrive Bearded Dragon Terrarium Kit (with whatever that all implies). Ig I'm looking for advice on the proper tank set-up (ie. wether or not I need to cut the top to let in more rays, fully remove the top and just hang the lamps, should I give her sand to dig in or just stick with the substrate mat provided with the kit), potential growth expectations since she's still so small, and if there's an expert on Beardies reading this I'd love to be able to get in contact with you and pick your brain.
Hi - and congrats on your new dragon! My girl is a Pet Smart baby beardie too. She’s not a bay anymore at 10 years - but she once was from there. It’s kinda hard to really trust their age estimates ... and dragons can def grow at different rates than others. At 5.5 inches, I would lean towards much younger than 6 months .... but I do feel chain stores will over estimate the age for numerous reasons - maybe so people won’t know they are selling them as young as they actually do. Blue, she was prob only a month old even though they told me she was more than that.
BUT - That’s great that she’s not showing much stress signs -
and you are first had seeing how FAST babies and juvies grow! It’s like - eat, poop, shed, eat, repeat ?
As far as the kit you got - I don’t know the specifics of it ... generally speaking they try to sell kits that - in my opinion - are full of much of the wrong things. SO - you are in the best place possible right now to get some really great advice from a lot of experienced people. Kudos!
The way I try to look at it is this:
They prob need one forever home - preferably 4x2x2 ... or as a basis for something similar to that. I use that as a basis to go off of. I truly believe a 40 gallon is too small - (for an adult - it’s a good size for your dragon now!) - but she will quickly outgrow it. I figure for an adult 75 being minimum and go up fro there - that size and up will offer room for a true temperature gradient to exist — a true hot/bask side - a comfy warm middle - and a true cooler side.
Lights - You need a UVA regular household or marketed basking bulb for a direct heat source - and a UVB aka “fake sunshine!” tube / linear light bulb - not a coil. These are the critical lights your dragon will need. The heat to bask and digest food - the UVB to survive life - to convert their food into the calcium their bones 100% need to develop and stay healthy (among other things) ... MBD is a very painful, sadly very common disease resulting in a lack of proper UVB - however it’s 100% avoidable which is the good thing.
Quality, proper lights and temps are the things you want to have 100% correct - because those two things will set the stage for most every health aspect of your dragon.
My UVB tube stretches half the tank - the side where her basking spot is - so she can get away from it if she wants to.
** what lights / brands do you age now?
If you choose to add another regular low wattage bulb on the other side of the tank for light purposes that’s cool- you just don’t want it putting out lots of heat).
Yes - if you have a mesh top - cut a strip out the length of the Reptu Sun or Arcadia 12% UVB tube. I personally use the T8 Repti Sun 10.0 ... some people opt for the T5 ... the difference in those is how far away those bulbs are placed. Back in the day like 10 years ago, the T5 wasn’t really on the scene as much as it now - the T8 is what most custom vivs were built to hold - so that’s the reason why I use the T8.
The screen can obstruct the rays - as well as any plastic that may cover the bulb, pop that off and let the light shine freeeeee so your dragon can get the full necessary effects. Removing the screen altogether is another option - and yes you can hang it across. That’s another plus of a custom viv - you don’t have to worry about the inconsistencies of having a wide open top - you can get those amazing front door/doors.
IF you can - I really suggest investing in a custom tank as a forever home - with all the light fixtures pre-mounted inside, and ya know I love a front sliding plexi glass door!! I purchased Blues custom 125 gallon forever home when she was 1 year old and it’s been perfectly amazing ever since. The guy that made mine collaborated with me online to make it just right ?. It’s an expense up front - but you won’t need to put any more money into set ups again! That can start to add UP.
As far as sand ... that’s a topic of debate.
I do not use loose substrate - it honestly scares me, i dont feel it’s clean, loose substrates can cause impaction - which can cause death - it can get in their eyes - etc ... they lick their surroundings and therefore they will ingest sand or walnut chips or pebbles etc. I use a slate like tile from Lowe’s I picked out 9 years ago. It was not expensive and best investment I ever made. I gave them the floor space measurement and they cut tiles of different sizes so I could lay them down and easily pick them up to clean. Super easy to clean, hold warmth but also can be cool when you need it to be, and will help keep nails down/trimmed. Very safe - and really attractive I think as a plus.
This is a personal choice - and there are people out there that choose sand or other loose stuff - but coming from my heart to you and your new babe - I always advocate for solid substrate. Tile isn’t the only choice - paper towels, newspaper, no adhesive shelf liner, etc.
Some people use solid substrate but have a smaller sand box in the viv - and if your female lays any infertile eggs she will want a dig box with that soil-y loose substrate (my girl has never laid fertile
or infertile eggs - so I don’t have experience with lay boxes)
Not sure if they told you - but females can lay clutches of them eggs even with zero male contact.
Good Thermometers are crucial too - I use a little stand up digital on both sides to measure the ambient / air temps and humidity ... and I use a digital temp gun (super cheap off Amazon) to take basking spot and other surface temps. You could also use a digital with a probe for that too. If using other kind of thermometers - like stick ons or such - be prepared for inaccurate readings - and knowing true temps is soooo important.
For a young dragon like you have - your temps will prob want to be higher then say - my adult temps. I have seen this vary as well .... for example her current old age actual basking spot surface temp range from her choice of 93 - 98 ... but when she was a bay and a juvie they were higher at 98 - 103. She prefers it not that hot anymore, but as a juvie or baby, she loved it toastier. The ambient on the hot side is in the low 90’s and the ambient on the cool side is around 82. Remember at night all lights go off - they like and need it nice and dark to sleep just like us, as well as cooler temps - and you definitely dont want to mess with any colour lights like red or blue - or any colour, just reg clear bright light for day and no light at all for night. ?
** What are your temps running at now?
Expect a lot of growth what feels like daily ? - it’s truly rewarding and they are amazing creatures!
What’s your girls name?
Any other questions? Food / diet questions?
Hydration questions?
I’m really big on consistent oral
hydration, it can tend to get overlooked with beardies, yet it’s so important - dehydration can easily be an issue with dragons and there are really good “delivery methods” to ensure your babe stays
hydrated - I’m personally not a fan of water bowls in their viv - you never know if it’s getting utilized, it can get dirty quick, and sometimes in can raise the humidity level higher than optimal. That’s just me and my experience - but direct water delivery has always worked well for me and my girl (veggies, baths, and syringe/dropper
drinking every other day) - I don’t just depend on one of those - I use all three. I’d be happy to share info!
Can’t wait to h at back from you!!!