Anyone here from Calgary? I want your beardie info!

[Ranvier]

"Bearded Dragons also need proper lighting. A UVB light is needed, with two options being available, Fluorescent strip bulbs or mercury vapor bulbs. These bulbs have variable ranges of UVB output; owners must ensure proper distance from bulb to the basking spot so the lizard can properly absorb the rays. Recommended ones are: Repti-Sun 10.0 compact bulbs as they are cheaper, and have a greater effect. Compact and coil bulbs are harmful to their eyes, but you can buy Repti-Sun 10.0 tube Fluorescent bulbs. They are about the same price and you can order them online cheaper then in a pet stores. Bulbs are typically replaced every 6 months[8]. Without adequate UVB the Dragon will develop Metabolic Bone Disease and not eat as much. A Dragon needs between 12 and 14 hours of daylight; much less or more causes problems with their circadian rhythms and makes them lethargic and sick." (Quoted from the wikipedia)

UVB helps them breakdown their calcium and actually use it properly, as well as helps prevent a ton of health issues, it's really hard to get them unfiltered sunlight in calgary, especially with the miserable weather we have been having lately! You shouldn't really rely on the sun for your main source of uvb though, hopefully that helps a little bit, I'm still pretty new to all of this myself, I would probably suggest posting on the main part of the forum and asking some of the more experienced users their advice.

Just watch her breathing, hopefully it will improve, treating respiratory infections is NO fun!

Yikes, that is hot, our apartment is all over the place for temperatures (until the summer at least, then we'll cook in here) and we have had issues getting and keeping the proper temperatures as well.

 

[Erica582]

We must live in the same apartment building. I have only put the heat on 3 times during the winter and Im dreading the summer haha.

I guess I'll go look in the smaller petstores for a uvb bulb. All I've found is those tube ones which are extremely expensive (I am an unemployed college student).

 

[Jasper's Mom]

The tube ones are the kind you need to get, unfortunately. The compacts and coils are no good and can actually harm your beardie. Petsmart usually has pretty decent prices. You need to buy a ReptiSUN 10.0 tube bulb. (Not a ReptiGLO.) http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752589

You can also order it from this site: http://www.petsandponds.com/en/reptile-supplies/c194883/p17064973.html I've used them before with good results.

It's a lot cheaper in the long run to buy a good bulb than it is to pay for veterinary care for health problems caused by bad UV or no UV.

 

[Erica582]

Ok thank you both.
I looked into it yesterday, looks like the tube and holder are about $70, which I cant afford now but hopefully in two weeks.
What is wrong with the coil bulbs? Is it too concentrated?

 

[Erica582]

Nevermind, I just checked on yahoo answers for that.
Eye damage? How are they allowed to sell all these products that are so harmful?!

 

[Ranvier]

That upsets me a lot also. I have been told by every pet store I have called (Including J&J's) that coils are fine. But then you find so much evidence to the contrary, and see it on the ER section of the forums, the pictures of beardies with their swollen eyes... ugh, upsetting!

 

[Erica582]

Aw I have not seen that! That would make me so incredibly sad. Im glad I have this website because I totally would have bought that since its cheaper.
How many beardies do you have Ranvier?

 

[Ranvier]

Just the one, he is a rescue that we have only had for a couple months though, so we are paying for all of his previous owners mistakes.

I've had some reptiles before, chameleons & crested gecko, nothing quite like this guy though. They are such amazingly little things.

This site has helped our little guy out quite a bit, probably even saved his life since we stopped his terrible medicine that was making him worse off after the responses we got in the beardie ER section.

How about you?

 

[Erica582]

Just Sebastian for about... 5 months now. We also had a chameleon but my boyfriend got laid off (hence no longer being able to afford anything) so we sold the chameleon and chose to keep the bearded dragon. I just cant imagine selling her, but Im getting worried because we obviously cannot provide her the things she needs anymore.

 

[Ranvier]

That sucks, I'm sorry to hear that.

Hopefully everything works out for the best and you can keep her!

I can't imagine parting with Todd, and we've only has him for a little while

 

[Erica582]

Well I dont know how you will feel about this, But I bought a coil bulb from J and J for UVB. Jim told me that he was involved in a study about which bulbs are harmful, and they found that some are but not all. He said some of the repti glo are ok but the repzilla (or something) are not. And the older bulbs give off uvb in too high of a concentration. He says he's been using them for 3 years and I can bring it in and he'll test it with a meter to see how much UVB it is giving off. I trust Jim, he has tons of bearded dragons so I got a small one.

 

[dawn8787]

now I have a 20 gal that needs an occupant!

20gal is fine for a baby, but it is way too small for an adult. Not to tell u what to do, just a thought.

 

[Erica582]

I know. Thats why I have it, because my beardie out grew it so I thought I could put a baby in it. But I cant afford that anymore

 

[Erica582]

What do petstores do with beardies that dont sell??

There's a baby beardie at the petland in westhills (signal hill), and it has been there forever. All the other beardies have been sold, but not this one. Because one of his front hand looks all mangled. It looks bit off, and it is all black and shriveled. I am afraid no one will love him What do you guys think? I am worried about it.

 

[Ranvier]

I worked in the crowfoot petland reptile department for a couple years. In my experience it would depend on the severity of the injury, if the reptile still eats and does not get sick they will usually just keep it in store until it does sell. It could also get a vet visit depending on how his foot heals.

Usually if it is there for a while without any interest they will move it to another store so a different group of customers can see it. Or at our store, an employee would usually grow attached and end up taking it.