Hi All,
I’ve been a beardie mom for a year. I got my dragon at petco he was three months oldish December last year.
I’m a member of another forum and recently posted in there just to get feedback to see if what I’m doing is the best I can do and that I’m providing what Nico needs to be at his best. This being said, I researched a lot prior to getting him, and continued to and still research all the time. Information out there is often very contradicting. In any case, my post unexpectedly caused a very negative reaction and some strong opinions that I’m doing everything wrong when it comes to lighting and enclosure. Someone there pointed me here because it’s obvious that opinions and facts are different things and also that so called facts that are floating around on the internet can be largely contradicting. So to get second thoughts, below is basically what I posted in the other forum:
My male beardy, Nico, is 13 months old and is very personable and seemingly happy and healthy. I want to run everything i do by this forum in case there is anything I am doing wrong or should do better. (Pictures below as well)
Tank size: Glass 4 foot long x 1 foot wide x 18 inches tall, metal screen top
Substrate: Tile flooring
Furniture: Large corner water dish (mainly to help boost humidity to 30-35 on cool side because my house is dry) food dish, 2 log hide, raised hammock basking spot
Thermometers: two digital hygrometers temp/humidity one at each end, one digital probe thermometer placed at basking spot, one scale hygrometer in middle of tank
Additional Heat: Small heat pad under tank on basking side
Lighting(On 12 hour on/off timer): Power sun UV 160w on basking side(Supposed to give both uva & uvb), 15 watt T8 uva & uvb tube light on cool side, 150 watt nocturnal infrared heat lamp (used 24 hours in winter for extra warmth but only at night in spring/fall if chilly, dark during summer)
Temperature Average: 95 hot side, 70-75 cool side, 105 basking spot
Diet: Staple-Salads mustard greens-dandelions-Arugula topped with other fruits and veggies switched. Dubias or Crickets (dusted with calcium twice a week and dusted with multi vitamin once per week, undusted other days)
Treats: Occasional raspberry (he loves these but limit him to one torn up every few weeks), super worms a couple per week
Bath soaks once per week sometimes more or less (more depending on shed or weather) spray misting every other day in summer
Important to note that Nico gets let out daily to play and run and my house is very clean(vacuumed prior to him being loose) he’s handled regularly, watches tv snuggles I fleece blankets and watches the bird feeders out the window (he loves the action).
Any and all suggestions from experienced owners welcome!
The biggest issue off the bat in the other forum was that I was using a deadly bulb using the power sun. That it could fry him was one comment. It hardly keeps the basking spot at 100 -105 never hotter so I’m looking for real experienced responses here. I do not want to spend a lot of unnecessary money to replace the expensive things I already use unless it is truly necessary for the health of my dragon.
Looking forward to responses!
I’ve been a beardie mom for a year. I got my dragon at petco he was three months oldish December last year.
I’m a member of another forum and recently posted in there just to get feedback to see if what I’m doing is the best I can do and that I’m providing what Nico needs to be at his best. This being said, I researched a lot prior to getting him, and continued to and still research all the time. Information out there is often very contradicting. In any case, my post unexpectedly caused a very negative reaction and some strong opinions that I’m doing everything wrong when it comes to lighting and enclosure. Someone there pointed me here because it’s obvious that opinions and facts are different things and also that so called facts that are floating around on the internet can be largely contradicting. So to get second thoughts, below is basically what I posted in the other forum:
My male beardy, Nico, is 13 months old and is very personable and seemingly happy and healthy. I want to run everything i do by this forum in case there is anything I am doing wrong or should do better. (Pictures below as well)
Tank size: Glass 4 foot long x 1 foot wide x 18 inches tall, metal screen top
Substrate: Tile flooring
Furniture: Large corner water dish (mainly to help boost humidity to 30-35 on cool side because my house is dry) food dish, 2 log hide, raised hammock basking spot
Thermometers: two digital hygrometers temp/humidity one at each end, one digital probe thermometer placed at basking spot, one scale hygrometer in middle of tank
Additional Heat: Small heat pad under tank on basking side
Lighting(On 12 hour on/off timer): Power sun UV 160w on basking side(Supposed to give both uva & uvb), 15 watt T8 uva & uvb tube light on cool side, 150 watt nocturnal infrared heat lamp (used 24 hours in winter for extra warmth but only at night in spring/fall if chilly, dark during summer)
Temperature Average: 95 hot side, 70-75 cool side, 105 basking spot
Diet: Staple-Salads mustard greens-dandelions-Arugula topped with other fruits and veggies switched. Dubias or Crickets (dusted with calcium twice a week and dusted with multi vitamin once per week, undusted other days)
Treats: Occasional raspberry (he loves these but limit him to one torn up every few weeks), super worms a couple per week
Bath soaks once per week sometimes more or less (more depending on shed or weather) spray misting every other day in summer
Important to note that Nico gets let out daily to play and run and my house is very clean(vacuumed prior to him being loose) he’s handled regularly, watches tv snuggles I fleece blankets and watches the bird feeders out the window (he loves the action).
Any and all suggestions from experienced owners welcome!
The biggest issue off the bat in the other forum was that I was using a deadly bulb using the power sun. That it could fry him was one comment. It hardly keeps the basking spot at 100 -105 never hotter so I’m looking for real experienced responses here. I do not want to spend a lot of unnecessary money to replace the expensive things I already use unless it is truly necessary for the health of my dragon.
Looking forward to responses!