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BlueLab

Member
Hello everyone~

I found myself here on this helpful site after following a few links and thought as I will probably be spending time here, I would make an account and introduce myself.
People call me Blue; I'm getting my first bearded dragon next week. I've been interested in reptiles (all animals, really) since I was very young. I owned a Californian Kingsnake fora few years (until my family moved and the house we moved too was too small for the vivarium...)
But, as I now have my own place and have no intention of leaving for smaller pastures, I have been looking into getting a beardie friend for about six months to a year.

Despite all the research, there still feels like there's an awful lot I don't know and a lot of a differing opinions on how to look after and care for your beardie. The vivarium arrives next Wednesday, and the baby on the Friday giving me time to get everything set up and ready to go.

My beardie will be 19 weeks old when they arrive. No pictures at the moment, though I have seen and handled them.

Beyond that, I love birds, I crochet and embroider when the mood takes me, I also use my spare time to play games, indulge in my weird obsession with tabletop dice (I have a problem...) and often play or run D&D games. :)
I'm very nervous and excited to be here and to be embarking on beardie ownership.
It's nice to meet you.

~Blue
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Welcome to the forum------------what is coming w/ the tank ? Anything like lighting etc? Did you look at the Newbies Buyer Guide on this forum?
Karrie
 

BlueLab

Member
Original Poster
Hiya,

So, the vivarium is a 4ft vivarium.
Comes with a D3 copact E27 reptile lamp, heat guard, lava rock, thermometer, some cork pieces, critter sand (which I won't be using) and a dish for food.

I haven't looked at that article; I guess I missed it... i'll have a look now.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Well the size of the tank is good but the lighting not so much--- I would take the UVB back to the store and see if they wont exchange it for this ------------ a Reptisun 10.0 TUBE either the T 5 or a T 8 --- the T ' 5's are a stronger bulb and need replaced once a year --- also if the screen is a wide hole it can go on top - if you get a T 8 it will need to go inside the tank 6-8 inches from basking and would be to be changed out every 6 months----------- COIL's are not any good they do not prevent MBD --- eneven UVB rays are given off here is some info for you on UVB's
Which UVB light should I use?
The best UVB light is a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube HO (Or Arcardia 12% in the UK). Compact or coil bulbs do not emit the proper amount of UVB light for a bearded dragon, and should not be used. Other brands, such as the Zilla Desert Series and ReptiGlo have been known to cause eye problems and other health issues with bearded dragons, and should be avoided. The reason that some UVB lights (Zilla, ReptiGlo, coils/compacts, ect.) are considered dangerous is because the wavelength of UVB that they emit is shorter and more intense than the wavelength of the "safe" lights (ReptiSun, Arcadia). UVB lights should be replaced every 6 months. The T5’s are a strong bulb and only need to be replaced once a year – the T 8 every 6 months--- where as the T 8 are not as strong—they need to be placed inside the tank the T 5 10.0 bulb approx 10-11 inches from basking spot – the T 8 approx 8-10 inches from basking spot—the cover needs to be off the bulb for full effect of the UVB rays--
Your going to need a Infrared heat gun to get accurate basking temps--- can be purchased from Walmart Home Depot or Lowes for around $10 -- they are the best way to get your temps- you will need a digital probe thermometer for the cool side of the tank - it should be around 80's during the day and not below 65 at nite -- if you find your tank getting too cold at nite please invest in a CHE or ceramic heat emitter -- they produce no light only heat and you will need a dome fixture for it they come in different wattages -- 75-100 -- that would be trial and error -- I have one for my tank and its 4x2x2 100 watt and its on only in the winter--- I would look at getting some textured non adhesive shelf liner from Home Depot or Lowes for a substrate --- its cheap easy to clean w/ vinegar/ water 50/50 in a spray bottle -- and insects cant get underneath -------------- please ask questions
Karrie
 

BlueLab

Member
Original Poster
Sorry, that's a lot of information being thrown at me.
I've found the Arcadia 12% on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002UDTYF2/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1PH60OYR84OEQ

But the only fixture I can find is:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-ACR30-Vivarium-Controller-Watt/dp/B002UDXC9Q/ref=pd_bxgy_199_2/262-2506331-3537760?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002UDXC9Q&pd_rd_r=6a5686dc-a8f5-11e9-af60-adc40eafed34&pd_rd_w=3ljbK&pd_rd_wg=BE1XC&pf_rd_p=07e3e597-b71b-4701-a3fd-d79c50f48406&pf_rd_r=1MD4WYXSWWNBRZWN6XV2&psc=1&refRID=1MD4WYXSWWNBRZWN6XV2
(I wouldn't be able to get the fixture you mention because its got a US plug, and I'm in the UK).

Is that suitable? Is the Arcadia lamp a T5 or a T8?

I was going to get a textured substrate; tile or some kind of shelf lining as you suggested as I have head the horror stories.

I'm sorry. I now feel like all confidence I had has gone out the window and down the drain. Not once have I been told that coil lamps are bad. The place i'm buying from comes highly recommended by other bearded dragon owners I've met and spoken to in the town where I live.
I've been to the shop several times, asking questions and getting the lay of the land as it were. They're not a big store company; its a small family run business that literally relies on positive reviews and word-of-mouth. So, I'm a bit gobsmacked?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I am sorry ☹️-- I know it's alot of info-- the Arcadia 14% or 12% would take a T 5 fixture--- I did not know Arcadia made coil bulbs someone else will haft to weigh in on that specific bulb--- but the substrate tile or shelf liner-- is good-- the UVB you found on Amazon is good-- I know they sell them so I am going to let someone else help you and maybe they can give you some insight on the Arcadia coil-- Reptison puts out a 10.0 coil and it's no good! If you have anymore questions please ask and I am sorry for the info overload
Karrie
 

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Welcome blue! Glad to have you around. Cant wait to see your beardie!

There is a lot to take in for sure! But once you've got it all set, it's easy :)

I've heard that the Arcadia d3 coil is an ok bulb, but that's just hearsay. I've never actually seen of someone using it, or testing it out. So to me it's a grey area and the tubes that karrie suggested would be what I'd go with.

Edit: sorry typos, on my phone lol.

-Brandon
 

BlueLab

Member
Original Poster
No, please don't apologize.
I'm grateful for your insight, it's helpful and one of the reasons I set up an account, to get more insight from current dragon owners, so I can ask questions and learn, and do the best for my own.

The place I'm getting my viv and dragon from is small, family run and has a really good reputation. Everyone who works there is from the family, the have a background in herps that spans a few generations now. All the animals they breed themselves, and the also take in rescues or pets that can no longer be kept for whatever reason. So, when you said that coil bulbs were bad, that's why I was a bit shocked, because it didn't seem like the right thing for a small place like that to suggest the wrong thing on something so integral to the wellbeing of the beardie as the UVB light.

Thank you for your input, I really do appreciate it.
You clearly know your stuff. :)
 

BlueLab

Member
Original Poster
claudiusx":22x2wauh said:
Welcome blue! Glad to have you around. Cant wait to see your beardie!

There is a lot to take in for sure! But once you've got it all set, it's easy :)

I've heard that the Arcadia d3 coil is an ok bulb, but that's just hearsay. I've never actually seen of someone using it, or testing it out. So to ne it's a grey area and the tubes that karrie suggested would vee what I'd go with.

-Brandon

Hello~

It is a lot. Even though I've been looking into things for a while and doing research, I still feel like I'm floundering. Its all a learning curve, and really all I want is the best set up for my beardie, so it is happy and content and just needs to concentrate on doing beardie things.

If the Arcadia is just 'okay' then I'll look more into the tube-lights as Karrie suggested. Unless anyone else chimes in with first hand experience with that specific bulb. :)
 

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Ok might have been an understatement, I dont want to bash the bulb and say it's not up to par. It's really not used very much here in the states and we dont see it being used here on the board so we dont really have the testing and knowledge on it that we do with the other bulbs. I can tell you though without a doubt that the 12% and 14% tubes are great bulbs :)

-Brandon
 

BlueLab

Member
Original Poster
I understand, its hard to have an opinion if its not wildly used. The guys in the store swore by them. Lots of opinions coming in from both sides in regards to lights!

Would it be alright as a temporary measure, do you think?
Just because to buy the new light and the fixture - and maybe buy a second just as a spare in case of issues, would the coil bulb be okay for maybe the first couple of days while waiting for the others in the mail? Then obviously it would be swapped out for the better light and the proper fixture.
 

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
I would ask them if they have a solarmeter so that you can see the uv output of the bulb yourself. Weve done that testing on the other bulbs.

And for whatever reason, I can't find the coils on Arcadias website. They usually post up data on them and I cant seem to find anything. I'll keep looking though because I'm curious now lol.

-Brandon
 

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Is it a compact like this? https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/23w-vivarium-compact-lamps/

I haven't tested that either so I can't say much about it's output. If the shop has a Solarmeter, if you could borrow it as mentioned, that would be very helpful. My tests with (somewhat) similar bulbs has shown them to be comparable in output to a T8 tube but with a more narrow spread of UVB. I prefer using the longer tubes mostly because they have a nice wide, even spread of UVB across the basking area that allows for even basking.

If you can't find what you need locally, the Swell Reptiles site has pretty much everything you need. I'm envious of the products available for reptiles in the UK.
 

JumpinJellyfish

Juvie Member
Hi and welcome!!!
I'm a bird person, too - I have more experience with them than with herps, but I've had my fair share of both over the years. My (grown) kids do tabletop games, so they'd understand your enjoyment there.
Beardies are wonderful companion pets! :0)
 
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