New beardie owner here (pics inc) Amazon shopping advice

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NexusGod

Member
So lets get straight to the point. I financed an on-sale 40 gallon starter kit from petsmart with obvious knowledge that it wasn't meant to last.
Nothing "starter" from chains often are so I went into the store with this in mind. I bought it because its the easiest to get with a new beardie.
Amazon Prime will provide all other items that I need within the week.



So straight to what I'm buying so far and what you all recommend to add or to exchange please:

Bearded Dragon Hammock Jungle Climber Vines Flexible Reptile Leaves with Suction Cups Habitat Decor


Zoo Med ReptiSafe Instant Terrarium Water Conditioner 8.75 FL. OZ. (Pack of 2)


Fluker's Calcium Reptile Supplement with added Vitamin D3


Fluker's Repta Vitamin Reptile Supplement 2.5 Oz


Exo Terra LED Rept-O-Meter Digital Combination Thermometer/Hygrometer


Carolina Custom Cages Reptile 22" T5HO UVB + Single GU10 Basking Light Fixture


Equinox Digital Forehead Thermometer

 

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Gormagon

Extreme Poster
#2 is not really necessary because they seldom drink from still water. They get most of their hydration from the bugs and veggies they eat.
 

Shinryu

Hatchling Member
Staff member
Lead Writer
Hi NexusGod! Your little beardie looks so cute! Is your tank a 40 gallon "breeder tank"? Those are actually closer to 50 gallons and better suited for a fully grown bearded dragon. Some 40 gallon tanks can be too small. Also your photos show Fluker's Buffet Blend. I would only recommend live food for bearded dragons. Crickets sized to fit in the space between the beardie's eyes, dubia roaches and on occasion smaller hornworms.

Which UVB bulb are you getting? Since you're setting up your enclosure for the first time, I'll link our heating and lighting buying guides.



As far as the bearded dragon hammock, I like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013T6XPVC/. It looks sturdier and with better suction cups. I don't think that a fully grown dragon would be able to use those climber vines since they are so narrow and bearded dragons don't really climb vines. They seem better suited for a chameleon. I would recommend sturdy, thicker driftwood instead.

The water conditioner looks ok. As far as vitamins/calcium, I like this Repashy product that is an all-in one. I've also heard good things about Zoo Med ReptiVite (although you will need a separate calcium supplement). Fluker's is probably also fine.. I'm just less familiar with it.

The Combometer looks good. I've also heard great things about the Zoo Med brand of a similar product.

Carolina Customs makes good light fixtures for your UVB. One consideration for this product is where you want your basking bulb positioned. Carolina Customs makes the same light fixture without the built-in basking. I think this may give you more flexibility. You'd also be more limited in the type of basking bulb that you could use since it requires a GU10 bulb. I see in your photos that you already have dome fixtures. I would use one of those for your basking bulb instead of doing the combo. I'm not sure what is currently in your second dome fixture, but hopefully it's not a coil UVB (those are no good at all).

I wouldn't recommend a forehead thermometer for measuring surface temperatures. An IR temp gun would be a more appropriate choice. Here's one option for you to consider that is pretty popular. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMI632G/

Good luck! Come back and post a photo of your enclosure once you have it set up.
 

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NexusGod

Member
Original Poster
Hi NexusGod! Your little beardie looks so cute! Is your tank a 40 gallon "breeder tank"? Those are actually closer to 50 gallons and better suited for a fully grown bearded dragon. Some 40 gallon tanks can be too small. Also your photos show Fluker's Buffet Blend. I would only recommend live food for bearded dragons. Crickets sized to fit in the space between the beardie's eyes, dubia roaches and on occasion smaller hornworms.

Which UVB bulb are you getting? Since you're setting up your enclosure for the first time, I'll link our heating and lighting buying guides.



As far as the bearded dragon hammock, I like this one Amazon.com. It looks sturdier and with better suction cups. I don't think that a fully grown dragon would be able to use those climber vines since they are so narrow and bearded dragons don't really climb vines. They seem better suited for a chameleon. I would recommend sturdy, thicker driftwood instead.

The water conditioner looks ok. As far as vitamins/calcium, I like this Repashy product that is an all-in one. I've also heard good things about Zoo Med ReptiVite (although you will need a separate calcium supplement). Fluker's is probably also fine.. I'm just less familiar with it.

The Combometer looks good. I've also heard great things about the Zoo Med brand of a similar product.

Carolina Customs makes good light fixtures for your UVB. One consideration for this product is where you want your basking bulb positioned. Carolina Customs makes the same light fixture without the built-in basking. I think this may give you more flexibility. You'd also be more limited in the type of basking bulb that you could use since it requires a GU10 bulb. I see in your photos that you already have dome fixtures. I would use one of those for your basking bulb instead of doing the combo. I'm not sure what is currently in your second dome fixture, but hopefully it's not a coil UVB (those are no good at all).

I wouldn't recommend a forehead thermometer for measuring surface temperatures. An IR temp gun would be a more appropriate choice. Here's one option for you to consider that is pretty popular. Amazon.com

Good luck! Come back and post a photo of your enclosure once you have it set up.
I’ll stick with the basking uvb combo until I can return it if needed. The forehead temp gun is an IR temp gun that measures surfaces, air and liquid temps. The uvb currently in is yes a coil until the combo comes tomorrow and I have live crickets already here and roaches on the way :) I added driftwood earlier and I like that hammock you linked so I ordered it. Should be here in the morning.
 
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Shinryu

Hatchling Member
Staff member
Lead Writer
I’ll stick with the basking uvb combo until I can return it if needed. The forehead temp gun is an IR temp gun that measures surfaces, air and liquid temps. The uvb currently in is yes a coil until the combo comes tomorrow and I have live crickets already here and roaches on the way :) I added driftwood earlier and I like that hammock you linked so I ordered it. Should be here in the morning.
I'm glad you liked the hammock. Good luck setting up the enclosure! @CooperDragon @Claudiusx, are there any issues with using a forehead thermometer that also measures surface temp instead of IR guns meant specifically for surfaces?
 

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hi there,

There will be an issue using the forehead thermometer to measure your temperatures. Luckily, you can pick up very accurate digital thermometers with probe ends on amazon for a few bucks each, or you can find them at your local pet stores for less than 10 bucks.

The problem with IR thermometers is they rely on being setup to the proper emissivity level of the item they are intended to measure. ALL IR thermometers have this issue, not just forehead thermometers. For a forehead IR gun to be accurate, it's emissivity level must be set to the emissivity of human skin, because of this, it will not be accurate at all in reading certain other surfaces.

Most IR thermometers come with an E-Value set to .9-.95. This is OK for most general items, but it leaves out many items that you may have in a tank. If you are going to use an IR thermometer, I'd recommend buying one with an adjustable emissivity setting. And then you'd need to look up charts or resources online to determine the E-value of the item you are wanting to measure, and adjust your device accordingly.

Because of this complication, I always recommend the digital with probe end thermometers. No need to worry about whether your thermometer is reading the temperature properly, because their are no settings to adjust.
 

Shinryu

Hatchling Member
Staff member
Lead Writer
Hi there,

There will be an issue using the forehead thermometer to measure your temperatures. Luckily, you can pick up very accurate digital thermometers with probe ends on amazon for a few bucks each, or you can find them at your local pet stores for less than 10 bucks.

The problem with IR thermometers is they rely on being setup to the proper emissivity level of the item they are intended to measure. ALL IR thermometers have this issue, not just forehead thermometers. For a forehead IR gun to be accurate, it's emissivity level must be set to the emissivity of human skin, because of this, it will not be accurate at all in reading certain other surfaces.

Most IR thermometers come with an E-Value set to .9-.95. This is OK for most general items, but it leaves out many items that you may have in a tank. If you are going to use an IR thermometer, I'd recommend buying one with an adjustable emissivity setting. And then you'd need to look up charts or resources online to determine the E-value of the item you are wanting to measure, and adjust your device accordingly.

Because of this complication, I always recommend the digital with probe end thermometers. No need to worry about whether your thermometer is reading the temperature properly, because their are no settings to adjust.
I'm actually working on an article right now about thermometers/hygrometers. So this is helpful information for me as well. Is it true that digital thermometers with a probe end such as Zoo Med Digital Thermometer take up to 45 minutes to read the correct temperature? If so, what about doing quick readings with an IR temp gun and then double checking with the probe thermometers? Also, what are your thoughts on digital thermometer/hygrometer combo products (with a probe end). Also, how many of the probe end thermometers do you think someone needs in one enclosure? Thanks!
 
Last edited:

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
I'm actually working on an article right now about thermometers/hygrometers. So this is helpful information for me as well. Is it true that digital thermometers with a probe end such as Zoo Med Digital Thermometer take up to 45 minutes to read the correct temperature? If so, what about doing quick readings with an IR temp gun and then double checking with the probe thermometers? Also, what are your thoughts on digital thermometer/hygrometer combo products (with a probe end). Thanks!
I actually wrote one already, (or was in the process of it, it was a rough draft) I had it saved on the old forum under the articles section. Perhaps you could ask Alex to dig it back up because I noticed that section of the forum is no longer visible (for me at least :))

IME you'll get an accurate reading after 5 minutes. Although depending on the temperature change of the probe, it can take up to 10 minutes to actually settle.

If you have both an IR gun and a digital with probe, and you find that both thermometers are reading about the same, then it's safe to assume the emissivity of the item you are attempting to measure is within range (or at least close enough) to the range your IR gun is set to. Therefore, you can switch to using your IR gun if you find it more convenient. Would still be a good idea to check with the probe every once in awhile, and when measuring a new type of surface material in your enclosure. Certain rocks which would be common to use in an enclosure have a significantly lower emissivity than .95, enough so that it will throw off the reading a significant amount.

-Brandon
 

NexusGod

Member
Original Poster
Some dragons like baths some don't. The only necessary time to bath them is when they soil themselves. Misting them once every day or very other day (depending on the humidity) will be fine.
Ended up cancelling a few things and the conditioner. Thx
 

NexusGod

Member
Original Poster
Hi there,

There will be an issue using the forehead thermometer to measure your temperatures. Luckily, you can pick up very accurate digital thermometers with probe ends on amazon for a few bucks each, or you can find them at your local pet stores for less than 10 bucks.

The problem with IR thermometers is they rely on being setup to the proper emissivity level of the item they are intended to measure. ALL IR thermometers have this issue, not just forehead thermometers. For a forehead IR gun to be accurate, it's emissivity level must be set to the emissivity of human skin, because of this, it will not be accurate at all in reading certain other surfaces.

Most IR thermometers come with an E-Value set to .9-.95. This is OK for most general items, but it leaves out many items that you may have in a tank. If you are going to use an IR thermometer, I'd recommend buying one with an adjustable emissivity setting. And then you'd need to look up charts or resources online to determine the E-value of the item you are wanting to measure, and adjust your device accordingly.

Because of this complication, I always recommend the digital with probe end thermometers. No need to worry about whether your thermometer is reading the temperature properly, because their are no settings to adjust.
Makes sense. Since I have general use for the gun outside of the tank it’s a win win to keep it and I believe the probe thermometers I was going to buy were replaced with the hygro-thermo thermometer elsewhere in the list which even if seeming like overkill to have it set in the middle with 2 probe thermometers (one on each side) in a 40 gallon, I’m probably gonna end up with a 75 gallon or bigger since I tend to buy big tanks for all my “tank” pets. So it may be future proof to keep all three thermometers? Offers a nice backup or compare or reference point to gauge average temp?
 

NexusGod

Member
Original Poster
Hi NexusGod! Your little beardie looks so cute! Is your tank a 40 gallon "breeder tank"? Those are actually closer to 50 gallons and better suited for a fully grown bearded dragon. Some 40 gallon tanks can be too small. Also your photos show Fluker's Buffet Blend. I would only recommend live food for bearded dragons. Crickets sized to fit in the space between the beardie's eyes, dubia roaches and on occasion smaller hornworms.

Which UVB bulb are you getting? Since you're setting up your enclosure for the first time, I'll link our heating and lighting buying guides.



As far as the bearded dragon hammock, I like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013T6XPVC/. It looks sturdier and with better suction cups. I don't think that a fully grown dragon would be able to use those climber vines since they are so narrow and bearded dragons don't really climb vines. They seem better suited for a chameleon. I would recommend sturdy, thicker driftwood instead.

The water conditioner looks ok. As far as vitamins/calcium, I like this Repashy product that is an all-in one. I've also heard good things about Zoo Med ReptiVite (although you will need a separate calcium supplement). Fluker's is probably also fine.. I'm just less familiar with it.

The Combometer looks good. I've also heard great things about the Zoo Med brand of a similar product.

Carolina Customs makes good light fixtures for your UVB. One consideration for this product is where you want your basking bulb positioned. Carolina Customs makes the same light fixture without the built-in basking. I think this may give you more flexibility. You'd also be more limited in the type of basking bulb that you could use since it requires a GU10 bulb. I see in your photos that you already have dome fixtures. I would use one of those for your basking bulb instead of doing the combo. I'm not sure what is currently in your second dome fixture, but hopefully it's not a coil UVB (those are no good at all).

I wouldn't recommend a forehead thermometer for measuring surface temperatures. An IR temp gun would be a more appropriate choice. Here's one option for you to consider that is pretty popular. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMI632G/

Good luck! Come back and post a photo of your enclosure once you have it set up.
I also purchased the repashy regular calcium plus. Is this a daily dusting on salad or mostly on live feed
 

Shinryu

Hatchling Member
Staff member
Lead Writer
I also purchased the repashy regular calcium plus. Is this a daily dusting on salad or mostly on live feed
I read in a different bearded dragon forum that people use this 5 times per week, 1 meal per day (either insects or veggies, depending on what your beardie is more likely to eat. That only applies to the one that I attached as a picture. The company makes a couple more variations of this product, but I'm not really sure about those.
 

NexusGod

Member
Original Poster
I read in a different bearded dragon forum that people use this 5 times per week, 1 meal per day (either insects or veggies, depending on what your beardie is more likely to eat. That only applies to the one that I attached as a picture. The company makes a couple more variations of this product, but I'm not really sure about those.
Yeah those seem to be one as a source of “medicinal” remedy and another if there is a low source of uvb to encourage natural d3 and the others seem more catered to different species so I’ll stick with the regular repashy since it’s a baby and I’m getting the new uvb in today or tomorrow. I’m going to the market at around 8am to pick up a bunch of greens and squashes which I already eat cooked so I have no raw on hand. I love prime because even tho I have a lot of shipments coming, once I know what I’ll use and won’t use, I’m still within my free return window.

I also created a makeshift salad of small cut pinto bean, snap peas and like the tiniest bit of kale just to see what it would take to and basically the crickets are eating it so that works too. I know some of those items are “controversial” either way I’m heading to the store in a hour so….
 
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Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
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