Bruinsguy55
Member
OK, I have been reading some posts so before I begin let me confess, we got our bearded dragon at PetCo.
I have been back a few times (for crickets almost daily) and have talked with a few different employees picking their brains for tips and info.
I have also done some extensive research on-line since, so I am not totally clueless (decision to purchase from PetCo excluded for that evaluation).
We did the "starter" tank that so many suggest NO ONE DOES (but it was purchased and set up before we brought Puff Daddy home, so there IS that).
The UVb light and heat light do actually seem to be doing fine for now, temp is about 95 during the day. At night we DID fall for the "here, buy this red light" BUT Puff REALLY seems to like laying under it as soon as it is turned on, so maybe the other heat light isn't allowing him enough basking heat?
Now, here of a few of the mistakes I now realize I have made thus far (yes, other than PetCo).
When we first got Puff home I let him get acclimated to his new surroundings and then put about 12 crickets as well as calcium covered fresh kale in his tank. He did not seem to be ready to eat and the crickets just sort of hung out. A few hours later he did eat about half of the crickets.
I left the remaining crickets in with him thinking he will eat them when he gets hungry, which he did the next day. Should we NOT do that?
I am not sure of the age of Puff but he was larger than the others they had and was in his own tank so I am going with Juvenile, safe assumption?
We went and got another 25 crickets, coated them in calcium and dumped them in his tank yesterday afternoon (his 2nd day with us) and he devoured ALL 25 quickly, good sign?
I am keeping fresh calcium coated Kale in his dish at all times and his water is being changed daily as well (using bottled spring water - wife thinks I am over doing it but better safe than sorry).
We have had him out a few times how to play with him and hold him and he seems very "chill" when we are handling him. The only advice we got was NOT to try and handle him (at least I THINK it is a him - found the "how to sex" info on here today, will find out for sure when I get home tonight) if he he is puffing his beard at all. Is that accurate and are there any other times / signs we should look for not to bother him/her?
OK, now MORE questions and I do apologize if these have been answered elsewhere:
CRICKETS:
Instead of buying them daily what will I need to buy them in bulk? (and how do I convince my wife they won't "get out" of whatever we keep them in?
Are there other "live" insects that are easier / better for Puff Daddy instead or in addition to crickets?
BATHING:
Me and the boys are going to do the Puff Daddy bath on Saturday. I have read up on this and know to use warm water. Would using spring water warmed up (bot not HOT) be OK? I am assuming I do NOT want to use warm tap water but correct me if I am wrong.
I also know not use any soap or stuff, but is there anything I can use to promote a healthier skin for Puff?
Would using a warm hairdryer to dry him / her off and warm up after the bath be OK or will the warm air dry out the skin too much?
PLAY TIME:
How long can we keep Puff out of his tank to hang out with us? I am concerned about him staying warm (we live in the Northeast USA). The house is usually around 70 degrees, but are there any signs or indications Puff may give us that he / she is ready to go back to his / her tank?
Any suggestions or warnings about play time activities? Me and the boys (with mom a distant observer) have used a large box to see if he would run around or anything. Mostly it has been just us taking turns holding him / her and rubbing his / her head.
Any other advice / suggestions / criticism is much welcomed.
(EDIT: figured out the image thing and also realized Puff Daddy is not all that unique of a name :roll: )
Thank you