Aquilist
Member
Hello! I've been looking at this forum for a while and just signed up.
I'm Ella, I'm 15 and getting my first beardie tomorrow (so excited!)
So, I've been keeping frogs for many years and have been so excited to get into the reptile hobby. My options are fairly limited, being in Australia, but I decided to get a beardie for my first reptile, because of their great demeanour and interesting personalities.
I've been researching their care, diet, personality, etc for a good five months, I hope I've got everything right.
I plan on getting a juvenile beardie, so I can watch it grow and bond with it (I know you can bond with adults too!)
So, aside from introducing myself, I'd like to check that I have everything right before the big day. I set up the tank 2 days ago.
So, the setup:
Vivarium: 4x2x2 foot melamine (Me and my dad handmade it.)
Heat: Heat Mat and 100w Basking Lamp. Measured temp with digital thermometer and probe.
Basking Spot: 41-42 Celsius (105-107 Fahrenheit)
Cool end: 26-27 Celsius (78-80 Fahrenheit)
Lighting: 10.0 Uvb tube
The tank has two hides (one at the cool end and one on the hot end that doubles as a basking spot)
A goldvine branch for climbing, that allows beardie to get within 15cm of UVB light.
A few fake plants (That are quite green... the setup isn't very 'desert-y' it looks more like a forest but it provides all the adequate needs for my dragon. I hope this is ok?)
Fake grass is what I use as a substrate, cut into 30x30cm squares so when one gets messy, I can replace it with my spare.
Also a small water dish (around the size of my hand and only a few cm deep)
And a food/salad dish.
Planned Diet: I plan on feeding the salad with a few Calci-worms on top, and crickets separate. I plan on pre-making the salads each week, and zip-lock bagging them in the fridge, so it's easy to make and feed.
Salad - I'll mix up between all these things, with a minimum of one item from each category. This is a plan but may change.
Greens (all daily) Note: As I'm in Australia, I struggle to find dandelion, collard or mustard greens. These are the best I've found.
* Bok Choy
* Chinese Broccoli
* Rocket
Vegetables
* Butternut pumpkin
* Green Beans
And one of the following daily:
* Celery
* Alfalfa sprouts
* Red Capsicum
Fruits (1 daily)
* Apple
* Blueberries
* Grapes
* Peaches
* Strawberries
* Watermelon
* Papaya
Note to self: DO NOT FEED AVOCADO, RHUBARB, TOMATOES, SPINACH AND BEET GREENS.
Protein / Insects
* Staple: Crickets
* On salad: Calci-worms
* Sometimes treat: Silkworms
Note to self: DO NOT FEED MEALWORMS, ANYTHING CAUGHT OUTSIDE OR MEAT
Schedule
As I'm in school, I'm not home for the majority of the day, so here is a schedule I've devised. Will I feed him enough?
Morning
7 am
- lights come on
- Pre-maid salad with calci-worms
- Replace water
- Clean faecal matter
Night
7.30 pm
- Feed dusted crickets in separate tub
- Clean food and water dishes (give leftovers to crickets)
- Replace water
- Clean faecal matter
- Spend time out of the enclosure
- Use this time to check health and shedding
9pm - lights turn off
Weekly
- Bath
- Take outside for some sun
- Prepare weeks salads in ziplock bags
Monthly
- Clean all aspects of the tank with watered down white vinegar and let dry in the sun.
Annually
- Take to vet for a check-up
I think that's everything I've planned. Thanks for the long read :study:
I didn't think it'll be this long :lol:
If there's anything that's wrong or needs revising, please tell me!
Thanks again! :wave:
I'm Ella, I'm 15 and getting my first beardie tomorrow (so excited!)
So, I've been keeping frogs for many years and have been so excited to get into the reptile hobby. My options are fairly limited, being in Australia, but I decided to get a beardie for my first reptile, because of their great demeanour and interesting personalities.
I've been researching their care, diet, personality, etc for a good five months, I hope I've got everything right.
I plan on getting a juvenile beardie, so I can watch it grow and bond with it (I know you can bond with adults too!)
So, aside from introducing myself, I'd like to check that I have everything right before the big day. I set up the tank 2 days ago.
So, the setup:
Vivarium: 4x2x2 foot melamine (Me and my dad handmade it.)
Heat: Heat Mat and 100w Basking Lamp. Measured temp with digital thermometer and probe.
Basking Spot: 41-42 Celsius (105-107 Fahrenheit)
Cool end: 26-27 Celsius (78-80 Fahrenheit)
Lighting: 10.0 Uvb tube
The tank has two hides (one at the cool end and one on the hot end that doubles as a basking spot)
A goldvine branch for climbing, that allows beardie to get within 15cm of UVB light.
A few fake plants (That are quite green... the setup isn't very 'desert-y' it looks more like a forest but it provides all the adequate needs for my dragon. I hope this is ok?)
Fake grass is what I use as a substrate, cut into 30x30cm squares so when one gets messy, I can replace it with my spare.
Also a small water dish (around the size of my hand and only a few cm deep)
And a food/salad dish.
Planned Diet: I plan on feeding the salad with a few Calci-worms on top, and crickets separate. I plan on pre-making the salads each week, and zip-lock bagging them in the fridge, so it's easy to make and feed.
Salad - I'll mix up between all these things, with a minimum of one item from each category. This is a plan but may change.
Greens (all daily) Note: As I'm in Australia, I struggle to find dandelion, collard or mustard greens. These are the best I've found.
* Bok Choy
* Chinese Broccoli
* Rocket
Vegetables
* Butternut pumpkin
* Green Beans
And one of the following daily:
* Celery
* Alfalfa sprouts
* Red Capsicum
Fruits (1 daily)
* Apple
* Blueberries
* Grapes
* Peaches
* Strawberries
* Watermelon
* Papaya
Note to self: DO NOT FEED AVOCADO, RHUBARB, TOMATOES, SPINACH AND BEET GREENS.
Protein / Insects
* Staple: Crickets
* On salad: Calci-worms
* Sometimes treat: Silkworms
Note to self: DO NOT FEED MEALWORMS, ANYTHING CAUGHT OUTSIDE OR MEAT
Schedule
As I'm in school, I'm not home for the majority of the day, so here is a schedule I've devised. Will I feed him enough?
Morning
7 am
- lights come on
- Pre-maid salad with calci-worms
- Replace water
- Clean faecal matter
Night
7.30 pm
- Feed dusted crickets in separate tub
- Clean food and water dishes (give leftovers to crickets)
- Replace water
- Clean faecal matter
- Spend time out of the enclosure
- Use this time to check health and shedding
9pm - lights turn off
Weekly
- Bath
- Take outside for some sun
- Prepare weeks salads in ziplock bags
Monthly
- Clean all aspects of the tank with watered down white vinegar and let dry in the sun.
Annually
- Take to vet for a check-up
I think that's everything I've planned. Thanks for the long read :study:
I didn't think it'll be this long :lol:
If there's anything that's wrong or needs revising, please tell me!
Thanks again! :wave: