Hi!
Its a great idea getting your son a beardie, they are great pets and very loving,
Are you getting him a baby or an adult?
babies take alot more care and money, eating twice a day eating anything from 30-70 crickets a day... and veggies daily
Adults will eat more veggies having 70:80 diet, veg-crickets...
This is a great site for what veggies you can feed and what you carnt
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html
Adults are alot more docile and calm, babies are full of energy..
If you get a big tank to start off with,( you can always put a divider in at first) but getting a big tank will save you from buying a bigger one later on in life..
But NEVER house beardies together..They don't like the company...
As for inside the tank, Repti-sun 10.0 (Arcadia 12% if your in the UK) are the best UVB, Tubes are best, coils are not good.
As for the basking spot, you really need to test the different Watt bulbs to get the perfect temps..
babies like it hotter at the basking spott 104-109 at the hot side, adults like it a little cooler 99-104 and the cold side for both about 80 or so..
Try and get a high quality thermometer with a probe ( there more accurate)
Never use heat matts/heat rocks they can not feel heat from underneath so can easily burn them selfs...
As for substates, Never use anything loose, the risk of your little one eating it is too risky, and will cause impaction if eaten..
tile,shelf liner or repti-carpet is a good option... very easy to clean
I
bathe mine every 2 days so they can go to the toilet and
hydrate them self`s..
Its also never a bad idea to check for local vets in the area...
also getting hold of calcium and multi vitamins to dust the live feeders with is a very good idea...
i can't really think of much more ahah
Hope i helped
Olivia x