Bearded Dragons & Me! - Part 2

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I am double-triple checking over my final check list of goodies and necessities to get my lil' dragon baby as she reaches her age and final few weeks to ship out to me! And preparing to hit the purchase button on my carts of goods.

Though while she waits with her siblings and before I drop my cash, I wanted to post one more time prior to her arrival in case I mixed information up and missed something or if an item I am buying isn't safe and I do not know of such dangers. My first post within the Introductions Forums was a lot of help in the finalizing of my frantic adding and removing of items in online shopping carts and the long various strolls through pet-store aisles. So below will be my Shorten version of the list as I have a much longer and expensive one within my notes. The one I am posting is just her starter set up and diet and will slowly become more and more vibrant as I add items. The tank already has Repti Carpet w/ Paper Towels on standby. As well as two branches, one on the cool end and one on the hot. I will be adding more items for her to climb on as well as possibly a water and food bowl. I am going to be hand (tong) feeding her. I will be using my old aquarium hood and placing a UVB bulb within it; and within the entire top I will be sliding in the heat lamp between the gaps. I will post pictures of how it is set up once everyone is bought.

Bearded Dragon ( https://i.imgur.com/4FNTcDh.jpg ) < My Sassy lil' Danger Drake

Food Source & Supplements + Extra

Diet Guide :
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Starting Diet
- https://symtonbsf.com/collections/live-black-soldier-fly-larvae
- Symton's Live Black Soldier Fly Larvae
- 1,000 Small Feeding-Grade Black Soldier Fly Larvae

+ Going to be ordering Food Every 2-4 Weeks depending on how fast she east 1,000 BSFL

- Rep Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3 Ultrafine Powder
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-food-supplements/11442-105551/rep-cal-rep-cal-calcium-with-vitamin-d3-ultrafine-powder.html

- Rep Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene Multivitamin
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-food-supplements/11442-105550/rep-cal-rep-cal-herptivite-with-beta-carotene-multivitamin.html

- Zoo Med Angled Stainless Steel Feeding Tongs : 1 Pack - (10" Long)
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-tongs-feeders/11442-620385/zoo-med-zoo-med-angled-stainless-steel-feeding-tongs.html

Thermometer -
- Temp Gun off of Amazon
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMI632G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Lighting & Heat
- ReptiSun 10.0 UVB
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/11442-580035/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-10-0-uvb-high-output-bulbs.html

-Heat Lamp (150W)
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/bird-lighting/11442-504915/zoo-med-zoo-med-deluxe-porcelain-clamp-lamp.html

-Heat Bulb (150W)
- https://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-incandescent-bulbs/11442-504972/zoo-med-zoo-med-repti-basking-spot-lamp-with-uva.html
 

CooperDragon

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Moderator
I have a few thoughts on this. You will need a T5 fixture for your UVB light. Are you planning to hang it above the basking area or have it sit on a mesh top? This is a pretty good option but is better for hanging https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ/

Since you will have a T5 (sitting within 12-14'' of the main basking area) you don't need calcium with D3. They should be able to synthesize D3 on their own with the higher output lighting. Just a plain calcium like Repashy Supercal NoD.

You might want to either get an adjustable lamp stand so you can raise/lower the basking light to adjust temps or get a halogen bulb that will be better and handling dimming. I like using GE PAR38 90w halogen flood lights. The wattage you need may take some trial and error though. You can set it on a lamp dimmer or dimming thermostat but it's good to get the wattage close beforehand. I also suggest using a fixture that is rated to handle a bulb that is higher wattage than what you will be using. I like using brooder lamps from the farm store https://www.theisens.com/products/brooder-lamp-18/2-sjeo-x-6/40820211/
 

ReticsandTegus

Member
Original Poster
CooperDragon":3ttann9n said:
I have a few thoughts on this. You will need a T5 fixture for your UVB light. Are you planning to hang it above the basking area or have it sit on a mesh top? This is a pretty good option but is better for hanging https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ/

Since you will have a T5 (sitting within 12-14'' of the main basking area) you don't need calcium with D3. They should be able to synthesize D3 on their own with the higher output lighting. Just a plain calcium like Repashy Supercal NoD.

You might want to either get an adjustable lamp stand so you can raise/lower the basking light to adjust temps or get a halogen bulb that will be better and handling dimming. I like using GE PAR38 90w halogen flood lights. The wattage you need may take some trial and error though. You can set it on a lamp dimmer or dimming thermostat but it's good to get the wattage close beforehand. I also suggest using a fixture that is rated to handle a bulb that is higher wattage than what you will be using. I like using brooder lamps from the farm store https://www.theisens.com/products/brooder-lamp-18/2-sjeo-x-6/40820211/

I made a note of the new hood and light set up but am re-using a aquarium hood at to hold my T8 Reptisu 10.0 UVB bulb.
 

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
The T8 fixture won't run the T5 bulb you linked to. If you use a T8 bulb and fixture it's best suited for a small tank. It should be 6-8'' above the main basking area and not have anything between the bulb and basking surface.
 

ReticsandTegus

Member
Original Poster
CooperDragon":28zi7hew said:
The T8 fixture won't run the T5 bulb you linked to. If you use a T8 bulb and fixture it's best suited for a small tank. It should be 6-8'' above the main basking area and not have anything between the bulb and basking surface.

Apparently the hood didn't work at all, it did run T8 Bulbs however and I did order a T8 and not the T5 so that's some good news... sorta. I mixed up bulbs and forgot the T5 is stronger than the T8. I will try and trade it in for a T5 and figure out how to set it up. Thanks for the catch and heads up though!

Ill be trying to DIY and set up the UVB light inside the tank and probably get a lamp to hold the heat lamp if the clamp that comes with it isn't strong enough. The heal lamp DIY is probably going to be the easy part and the UVB in-tank set up will be a lot of googling.
 

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
If you're doing a DIY then that Sunblaster fixture will work well. It has clips that allow it to hang or you can attach it directly to the roof of the tank. For the main basking light you can just set up a standard screw fixture over the basking area and hook that to a dimmer or dimming thermostat.
 

ReticsandTegus

Member
Original Poster
CooperDragon":deh9xflq said:
If you're doing a DIY then that Sunblaster fixture will work well. It has clips that allow it to hang or you can attach it directly to the roof of the tank. For the main basking light you can just set up a standard screw fixture over the basking area and hook that to a dimmer or dimming thermostat.

Would I be able to PM you about this? I'm not the best DIY'er and would like some info on which sunblaster fixture to get as well as if I need anything specific to hang it in the tank. I can PM you pictures of the set as nearly everything arrived today besides the heat gun reader and the food bowls.
 

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Of course. I'll do what I can to help. I'm best with lighting but will try to point you in the right direction regarding enclosure build too.
 
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