claudiusx":3nzys3zh said:
Hi there,
If you can, there is no reason why you cant start a baby off in its large forever home. Ideally a 4x2x2 but a 40g breeder will suffice as the bare minimum for an adult. Which is 36"x18"x18"
However, I wouldnt go with anything smaller than a 20g for a baby. Any smaller and it's too difficult to get proper genes and gradients.
So my vote is for starting them off with a 40g breeder or 4x2x2.
-Brandon
'
True , however this can often be overwhelming and very stressful to a young hatchling who wont be accustomed to so much space all to itself .
Also in a larger enclosure it's more likely the little dragon will loose track of it's more active fast moving feeder insects (especially roaches and crickets (and locusts if available where you are) so I recommend starting off in a small enclosure for the first 6 to 9 or even 12 months , about 120L ( not less than 70cm long and 45cm tall , a converted clear sided tub is perfect for rearing maybe 2 hatchlings for their first 6 to 12 months ).
One way around this is to temporarily partition off one half of the forever tank while the dragon is little , then as it grows larger , remove the partition .
That the general standard for a single adult central bearded dragon is a tank 1.2m long x 60cm wide and no less than 45cm tall ( the height is determined more by the height of hide/s , the basking branches , fake rock grotto , and top to bottom distance of the basking globe + the ceramic light fitting.
PLEASE DON"T BUY a tank with a mesh top .
Yes I know these are what pet shops
all push over there in the USA , but a mesh topped tank is not a thermally efficient tank ( you'll need much more wattage to achieve proper basking spot temperatures , warm and cool zone daytime temperatures , and to hold the tank at an acceptable temperature overnight (esp in cooler climates) and it's a very poor design for a reptile tank and should be avoided .
Plus many noobs make the mistake of buying tank kits , these invariably come with undesireable bedding (sand), poor basking globes and woefully inadequate UVB sources ( 13W compact UVB globes ).
Spend a few more dollars and get a front opening tank , replace the mesh top with solid timber ( MDF, plywood , even thin melamine or offcuts of 4mm thick decorative wall paneling are going to be a vast improvement).
Mount the lights all UNDER the lid.
Invest in at least 2 digital thermometers ( the ones with a probe that dangle on the end of long wire cable )
If you opt to use a rearing tub to start off , here's how I set up my rearing tubs :
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