Am I doing everything right?

[Grace28933]

Okay, I am going to ask a lot of questions because I love my beardie and I want to spoil him and make sure he is as healthy as possible!
1.)

Is this a good UVB set up? Is it placed in a good location? Is it effective?
2.)

Is this basking bulb and ceramic heat emitter good? Are they placed in a good spot? Is it okay that they are close to the UVB hood?
3.)

Is this food good for him? I fill his little bowl everyday, and take out the pellets that he steps on or that get wet. I also give him turnip greens or kale greens every morning, though I can't tell if he actually eats the greens. He loves the red pellets though!
4.)

I just bought these worms today. I was told they need to be kept in the fridge and are super high in fat, so should only be fed as occasional treats. How many should I give him and how often? 1 or 2 every other day, or what?
5. Lastly, how is my general tank set up? It's a 40 gallon because I couldn't find anything bigger, though I may start saving up for a custom 75 gallon or something, but that won't happen for a while. Does he have enough places to hide? Should his basking spot be higher? (I have been told recently that the heat rock isn't good for him, so I no longer plug it in- he still likes to sit on it though). Is the hammock placed correctly?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want everything to be perfect! Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok so this is going to be long so here it is
the strip UVB fixture is fine- the UVB bulb not so much its ok but if you want a better bulb use this one Reptisun 10.0 T 8 - the bulb should go right into the fixture when you take the plastic cover off the fixture to replace the bulb LEAVE IT OFF- next the UVB needs to go inside the tank it is not strong enough to go thru the screen and the screen is blocking 30% of the rays- you want your basking decor 8-10 inches directly underneath the UVB you can hang the fixture w/ these 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire –long plastic zip ties -fishing line or potted plant hangers -- you need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate basking temps - petco or petsmart has them $6-- your basking bulb and ceramic heat emitter is fine - you will not need that ceramic heat emitter or CHE unless that tank is falling below 65 at nite --- they are usually used more so for winter months so hang on to it - they are also work good if your dragon gets sick --- you need to get a actual basking temp so when you get the digital probe place it on the decor piece he sits for basking-- heat rocks are not really any good you can use it for a place to sit but I would invest in something like this it will give him places to sit for basking also known as gradient heat - I have two of them in my tanks and my dragons love them https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/PetSmart/5290971 you can lay them different ways in the tank here is the digital probe I am talking about https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/PetSmart/5176729
Please ditch the pellets and feed your dragon live insects-- he needs salads everyday
here is a website for nutrition http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its good to feed as a staple feeder you can order dubias on line and other worms as well the wax worms are fatty I would feed those sparingly like 2 times / week and a few at a time - you can get him super worms -- how old is the dragon? He looks to be older - he should only have insects 2-3 times per week if he is over a year old -- babies need insects everyday -- you do need to feed him his salads every day - pellets are not real good -- you need to dust his insects w/ calcium D3 when you feed them and alternate vitamins 2 x per week dusting the insects as well ---
the hammock is fine but you need to adjust your UVB so he can sit directly under it inside the tank - so if you want to use the hammock for that make sure its 8-10 inches under it --- the heat rock I would get rid of and get a good piece of decor like I showed you for your basking area-- just make sure you have a digital probe to get basking temps 95-110 NO Hotter!! If you want to order dubias and other worms I can give you some websites for that - you might be able to get super worms at the pet store as well and I would feed like 3 on top of his salads every morning --- a good balanced diet of insects fresh salads and worms like silk horn butter meal and super worms will keep him healthy and happy -- you will need a glass or ceramic bowl that the insects and worms cant get out of -- just to let you know when you upgrade your tank you will need to upgrade your UVB as well -
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Okay, thank you! Now, a few more questions/clarify.
1.) I will remove the heat rock altogether and get one of those basking branches. Then, I will stick the UVB in the tank. Not sure if it can go over the hammock, because the tank isn't high enough for there to be 8 inches between the hammock and light, but I will place it near his basking spot. (I will send more pictures to make sure I do it right when I can run out and buy that stuff). I will also shut off the heat emitter until the weather turns colder. I am going to go to a different store soon to find a probe (my Petsmart was out of stock of them today).
2.) I am worried about his diet, so I want to clear that up. I am not sure how old he is. He was bounced around a few owners before he was given to me, so his true history is unknown. I just measured and he is roughly 1 foot 4 inches. I wrote down the foods highlighted in green on that site and will start feeding him those things instead of his pellets. How much should I give him each day? Enough to fill my hand? Or...?
3.) Vitamins... I am very confused. What vitamins should he get and where do I buy them? The site you linked says that he should get multivitamins 2-4 times a week, and calcium 4-6 times a week. What would you recommend?
And the site said silkworms and phoenix worms can be fed everyday. Is that accurate? He won't get too fat from that if I do 2-3 a day like you said?

Thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!

 

[KarrieRee]

Okay, thank you! Now, a few more questions/clarify.
1.) I will remove the heat rock altogether and get one of those basking branches. Then, I will stick the UVB in the tank. Not sure if it can go over the hammock, because the tank isn't high enough for there to be 8 inches between the hammock and light, but I will place it near his basking spot. (I will send more pictures to make sure I do it right when I can run out and buy that stuff). I will also shut off the heat emitter until the weather turns colder. I am going to go to a different store soon to find a probe (my Petsmart was out of stock of them today).
2.) I am worried about his diet, so I want to clear that up. I am not sure how old he is. He was bounced around a few owners before he was given to me, so his true history is unknown. I just measured and he is roughly 1 foot 4 inches. I wrote down the foods highlighted in green on that site and will start feeding him those things instead of his pellets. How much should I give him each day? Enough to fill my hand? Or...?
3.) Vitamins... I am very confused. What vitamins should he get and where do I buy them? The site you linked says that he should get multivitamins 2-4 times a week, and calcium 4-6 times a week. What would you recommend?
And the site said silkworms and phoenix worms can be fed everyday. Is that accurate? He won't get too fat from that if I do 2-3 a day like you said?

Thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!

That is fine if you haft to put the UVB by basking side as long as he can get under it 8-10 inches w/ NO cover over the bulb --- you want it open or exposed--
He is an adult feed him as much salad as he wants - I dont know if he will even eat it - has he ever had it or eaten pellets all his life :bleick: mix your greens offer him like collard/ turnip collard / mustard etc... add some yellow squash or zucchini cut it up like in strips or thin cubes - you can add alot of different stuff to his salads --- he can be fed raw shredded sweet potato - fruits occassional - he needs to stay hydrated so you can either drop water on his nose or spray him wash his salads before serving --- that will give him moisture -- watch his poops they should be moist formed and dark and urate should be firm moist and white - dry and chalky looking hes dehydrated
The vitamins can be bought at the petstore I am using Jurassivite and then theres Reptivite as well I dont know what your petstores are carrying look for a vitamin w/ Vitamin A as Beta Carotene in it dust your insects lightly w/ the vitamins and Calcium D3 you dont want your insects looking like powdered donuts - you can use either ziplock bags or a old deli salad plastic container for roaches -- he needs the supplements 2-3 times per week so one of those dust w/ vitamins - silk worms are a good staple feeder --- so if you want I can give you some websites to order silk worms and super worms -- I feed both dubia and silk to my 1 yr old along w/ supers in his salad 3 every day - you can feed him his salad and add supers to it every day if you like just dont feed a huge amount of them other wise thats all hes gonna eat -- you dont want him hooked on them --
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Okay, so I should get Jurassivite or Reptivite, as long as they have vitamin A with beta carotene, and Calcium D3, and give all of that to him 2-3 times a week?

 

[KarrieRee]

Beta corotene as a replacement for vitamin A-- calcium D3 2 times per week and vitamins 1 per week - if he's eating his salads and you give variety off the list I gave you he will get his vitamins out of those as well-- it's picky eaters that need them - some people's dragons eat all their salads and some won't touch them hence we need to give on the insects cuz we know they will eat them
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Okay great thank you!
Lastly, I tried to stick the UVB hood on the side inside of the tank but it's only flat side is where the cord comes out of and where the on/off switch is, so there is no way for me to put it in there...

 

[KarrieRee]

Can you take the screen off or have it half on? It needs to have nothing blocking the UVB
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Okay, this is how I set it up. The top is no longer obstructing the rays of the UVB and the fixture is stuck on there with command stickies. I am slightly concerned with the gaps created by the top of the tank not sitting properly, but I think it is okay. What do you think?

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok gaps? Your talking about it falling in? Does it seem sturdy ? The basking decor should go directly underneath 6-8 inches - make sure you get a basking temp w/ a digital probe thermometer-- he's off to the side of that rock I am thinking the rock is too hot- please get another piece of decor for him--
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Yes it seems sturdy. And i will get a better basking decor, I am going tomorrow to buy it.

 

[KarrieRee]

And digital probe thermometer too that is a MUST!
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Yes!

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok good deal keep me posted
Karrie

 

[Grace28933]

Are these good vitamins and calcium to get?