Beardies on the way

[tempusfugit]

Hi,

I'm picking up a bearded dragon tonight. He's a 7 month old red citrus tiger, I'll post pics tonight or tomorrow, he's definitely more citrus than red though. I'm new to bearded dragons, but I've had dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, hamsters, rats, and my brother at one time had over a hundred scorpions, centipedes, and tarantulas - in my room. Anyway, while I'm comfortable caring for animals, I wanted to make sure I had everything down. I've been picking out supplies(hooray craigslist and closing pet stores) for a bearded dragon I'm picking up in 2 weeks to a month - he/she is going to be a red leatherback.

The citrus is coming with a 3x2 critter condo, lights(even an extra reptisun 5), and basically a full set up(I have yet to see the full set up - I'll post more details later)

The leatherback is going in a 10 gallon when its a baby, and I already have a 4x16x16 glass terrarium also. So far I have(this is just stuff I've purchased, not the stuff coming with the citrus)-

-2 dome clamp lamps
-25 W reptiglo
-15 W reptiglo
-25 W nightglo
-reptisun 5.0 and 10.0 on the way from amazon(they're having a pretty good sale btw - 43 for both)
-cut out log tunnel/hide
-2 rock type food/water dishes
-2 small driftwood pieces

To do still -
-carpet for both cages, I think the citrus is currently on pellets of some sort.
-I need basking rocks for the leatherback
-bigger driftwood when I transfer the leatherback to the bigger cage
-thermometer/humidity

I was thinking about going to pick rocks instead of buying basking rocks - is this not recommended? Is there a specific material they make basking rocks out of to keep a good temperature? If I get my own rocks, I would imagine type and color matters for basking - a dark granite is going to get a lot hotter than light sandstone, I'm guessing too hot in fact.

On the lighting, I picked up the nightglo and reptiglos for 2 bucks each at a pet store that was closing. Most people I've talked to are saying they are worthless for bearded dragons, just use the reptisun.I'm thinking they might be enough heat for the 10 gallon anyways. Also, I've heard a lot of people recommending the reptisun or uvb light be the tube light, instead of the dome. I bought the dome ones, I'm not sure what the citrus is coming with.


I guess it will probably be easiest to post pictures of the citrus cage when I get it, and get critiques on that, and then build my cage around that, but I wanted to get as much info as possible before I get my dragon tonight.

Any other info - I live in socal, its 95 today, I think I might have more trouble keeping them cool than hot. I already have a pretty good vet and they treat beardies.

 

[tempusfugit]

2 more points.

I also have a 75w philips flood light, I thought I couldn't use it but after doing some more reading it seems like it might be a suitable heat/visible light.

And also upon more reading here, I'm considering slate instead of carpet... decisions decisions..

 

[tempusfugit]

There he is :mrgreen:

More pics and pics of the cage coming tomorrow. I'm beat and gotta work early

 

[tempusfugit]

So the cage is a 3x2x1. It is solid on 5 sides. The front is two glass panes. Its a critter condo. It has a light mounted on the ceiling, and the nightglo/dayglos hang down pretty far. Probably only 8 inches from the bottom of the cage. The heat light that was in there broke when the guy selling it to me was showing me how to change it. I kind of think any heat light mounted on the inside will be a little too close, I'm kind of thinking about cutting holes in the top to mount a dome heat light. Good news is it has a 24 inch reptisun running in the center. The back has 2 3 inch diameter vents on it, is that enough ventilation? The front glass panes aren't air tight at all, they just slide in tracks.

So, do I need to modify for better ventilation? And any suggestions on heat lights? Is there a super short heat light that will provide a good basking spot in just 1 foot without any risk of burning?? Or do I need to mount an exterior light and cut a hole?

 

[tempusfugit]

So we picked up a zoo med basking spot lamp - 50w. I took a IR temp gun from work, and we have a good gradient from 110 down to 85, that's perfect. Right under the light however is pretty hot, around 130-140 surface temp. Is that too hot, and we need to move the light up? Can i put the light on a dimmer or anything? Maybe some sort of heat shield under it? I turned the light off for now.

He seems really healthy. Ate 12 crickets and some collard greens and is already pooping. He ate a few small super worms too. He's fairly calm considering he just moved.

Should I post this somewhere else to get responses?

 

[Prouddragonmama]

Cute dragon love the color!!

 

[tempusfugit]

^^ thanks, he now has a name - Bowser.

and PS - I picked him up in riverside, at the community hospital. The past slaves had a human baby that was premie and it was most convenient to meet there. I'm from rancho cucamonga.

 

[Prouddragonmama]

Ha ha were almost neighbors! I'm in rancho all the time bass pro is my home away from home!! Love bowser! Was almost gonna be hunters name!!

 

[tempusfugit]

Trying a 25w basking light. Will report back with temps.

 

[tempusfugit]

More pictures, some under the UVB bulb - the last one in the album is my favorite, I love his candy corn spikes on the sides. I see a new color every time I look at him.. These are all cell phone pics, I need to get a real camera to take some better pics.

http://photobucket.com/bowserthedragon

Still working out the lighting.. The 25 is good on the pellets, but those are soon to be gone, I tried a rock to see about what slate is gonna get to, and it gets a little too hot after a full day.

I'm strongly considering building a base and cutting out about 2/3 of the bottom of the cage, essentially making a pit in the rear of the cage where the basking bulb is.