advice im new

[akingsley9000]

I agree that a 40 gallon is the minimum, but when people are getting the initial setup they usually want the minimum and then upgrade from there. most people build their own enclosure as anything that is 48x24x24 is almost impossible to find around here unless you can afford $300 plus shipping for an enclosure.

For a baby the 40 gallon will last awhile. That list is more trying to steer people away from the 10, 20 and 30 gallons that the petstores try to talk people into.

 

[connors14]

you act like im getting a full grown one to start. i know its an animal and not a stuffed bear. im just starting out and ill upgrade later on.

 

[Ashleabdlover]

sometimes, if your beardie doesnt grow to be that big, a 40 gallon is fine.
you'll just have to be the judge of that. i mean if it grows to be like 22-24 inches, then yeah, you might want to consider getting a bigger cage later, but if it only grows to be about 17-19 inches, then youll probably do fine with a 40 gallon.

and also, i want to add, that the mercury vapor bulbs, in my opinion, work great!
even though they are a little more expensive, i think that after you buy 1 dome fixture, 1 heat bulb, 1 flourescent fixture, and 1 reptisun light it ends up being about the same price to just buy 1 Mercury vapor bulb and a big dome fixture.
the mercury vapor bulbs combine both heat and UVB lighting all in one bulb, but these bulbs are huge!
so if you go Bigappleherp.com they sell them at pretty good prices, but make sure to buy a really big dome fixture too.
dont just get the normal 10inch fixture, make sure to specifically get either the zoo med repti extra deep dome or the Big apple deep dome 10 inch heat and light reflector.

these bulbs work fantastically, and they will last for 1 year instead of only lasting 6 months like the repti-sun.

goodluck!!

 

[connors14]

ok so if i get the mercury vapor bulb then all i need is that instead of the other uvb bulb and the heat bulb?
and ive been trying to find the Bigappleherp.com site and it keeps saying it cannot find the page is this the right site?

 

[Ashleabdlover]

yeah, these bulbs combine heat and uvb lighting, so all you have to have is the bulb and a deep dome fixture. but i forgot to add this is... you have to make sure that your cage is tall enough.
a 40 gallon breeder is the bare minumum for a mercury vapor bulb.
your dragon needs to be at least 12inch away from the light or it could burn him.

so if you do get a mercury vapor bulb, make sure you at least have a 40 gallon breeder, and make the basking spot not that high up.

are you sure your typing it in right? here click on this:

http://www.bigappleherp.com/

and also when your looking for cages, try seeing if there are any local reptile shops.
generally they will sell used cages cheap.

 

[connors14]

ya im sure i copy and pasted i googled it and found it

 

[Ashleabdlover]

yeah, so if you need help with anything else. just lemme know.

i dont have a lot of experience like some other people on here, but i pretty much have been studying bearded dragons and other reptiles since i was 7 or 8 years old. (im 16 now)
and have had bearded dragons since then too.

except, my only weakness, is breeding. have almost no idea how to do it.