You are not too far off from where I was back in late Aug 2017. I also got my beardie from a
Petsmart and was sold very inappropriate lights, thermometers and food. I have spent many hours researching and have been given the best advice from this forum. Top things I have learned, brand is important with UVB!!! One of the top UVB is ReptiSun T5HO 10.0 TUBE, do not use coil or compact as they have been known to cause eye issues. UVB is a must, it plays an important role in their overall health and well-being. Mount you UVB tube inside the tank, just beneath the mesh top, use a fixture with a reflector or purchase a clip-on metal reflector, this too is important. Be sure your beardie can be within 10" of the UVB, the distance will depend on what tube you purchase, come back for further details! I bought all of these on Amazon, it is much cheaper, also think outside the box and visit hardware stores for fixtures. You want the whole tank to be filled with light, be sure you have the basking light next to the UVB so your baby can absorb all vitamins and heat. Lighting is half the battle and by far the most difficult part of being a new parent.
As already stated from another poster, the stick-on thermometers are useless. You want to check temps in various areas at various times of day. I use two wire probes and an infrared gun, temps are my nemesis as I live in MT and it may be -25 one day, 40 the next in winter and anywhere from 70-105 in the summer. I cannot keep her heat consistent day in and day out, but in time I will figure it out once and for all!! If you need to keep heat at night, use ceramic heat emitters that do not produce light. Beardies sleep conditions are interesting to read about, they go through cycles just as we do, but theirs are in shorter intervals. I have an article somewhere, but you should be able to find on the forum. Just know that light interferes with their sleep, so night bulbs are no good.
It is tough to tell from your picture, but a 40 gallon tank is the absolute smallest tank for a fully grown beardie; if it is possible, consider investing in a bigger tank or homemade enclosure. Please do not think that you have to stress out and spend even more money, some can afford to and some, such as me, cannot. I am slowly building one out of an oak entertainment center I found on craigslist, this has been a process for a few months as I had to spend money on my initial set-up then money on the correct set-up. If money is an issue, start with the UVB as it is crucial, then work your way to the other things. Shop around before buying, look at Amazon, Ebay, Craiglist, Wal-mart, Home Depot, garage sales, Facebook if you have it (I do not, but my co-worker let me use hers lol).
Feeding is easier than lighting, I have found black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), dubia roaches and hornworms to be the easiest and healthiest live feeders. BSFL and hornworms take the least amount of work as you do not have to gut load the same as dubias and crickets. Hornworms are great for
hydration, if you were told water is not important because they are desert, then you were mislead just like me.
Hydration is important!!! Crickets are easier to find in petstores, but they are noisy, smelly and they escape easily O(for me at least). Dubias are great, but you do have to gut loas and dust with calcium and multivitamin. I will not educate of vitamins as I have too little of knowlege on the subject. I would say to stay away from pet stores for food, lighting or most things really. I order BSFL and hornworms from mulberryfarms.com or dubiaroaches.com, both will deliver to your home or post office and they are much cheaper than buying in pet stores. I prefer mulberryfarms as they have excellent communication and are great at educating. Offer fresh vegetables daily, he may not eat or show any interest, but it is good to start introducing for when he gets older, use
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html it is a simplified list of what is great, okay, not so good or flat out do not offer this to your beardie. I prefer to offer a variety of live and vegetable, I am hoping this will help her to not be picky. DO NOT FEED MEALWORMS!!! Mealworms can cause impaction and are fatty. I have also read horror stories about superworms, but cannot tell yet as to what is fact and what is fiction.
Just in case you do not know, sand or anything similar should not be used as beardies lick everything and the sand can cause impaction.
This is a lot of information and may seem overwhelming at first, but once you get the basics down, everything is much easier. I have had Lady Mufasa about 5 months, she was an estimated 1 mo old when I got her from the store. After 5 months tof]gether she and I have formed a bond, while they are not like dogs, they still have personality. When I speak to her she recognizes my voice over others, when I have her out and one of my niece/ nephews frighten her, she runs to me, when she is tired, she buries her face in my hair, neck, arms, hands or side, I try to move her and she will come back. Ways I found to build a bond is to interact with her as much as possible, maybe not when you first get them, but after the intial relocation stress (about two weeks at most). I first started talking to her while she was in her tank, then I would take her out and set her on my leg or sit the
bath tub with her. Then I read that putting a piece of clothing that I have worn, but not washed, in her tank would help her get used to my smell; needless to say, I no longer have my woolly socks, she LOVES THEM!!
Little tips just in case you encounter constipation, gently rub your fingers from top of abdomen to vent, warm baths, pumpkin. If you notice swelling and there is no known injury, try tart cherry juice undiluted and unflavored pedialyte separate syringe than the juice. Of course, stop on the forum as there are several here who can offer better advice than most vets. I give these tips as I have encountered slight constipation and gout with my girl and these are useful to start while you wait for assistance, plus they do not cause harm if it is not constipation or gout. I am nowhere near expert status, butI am here if you need anything. Time to let the true experts intervene if needed!
