Can you change a beardies setup?

[AustinMcIntosh]

My neighbor has offered me her bearded dragon because mine has died He is 2 years old and an OK size. My neighbor takes care of him but, she just doesn't know what she is doing. Yes, he is still alive but not taken care of properly.

-He has that red calcium sand.
-A red and blue basking lamp.
-There is no cool spot just a log in the center.
-He is RARLEY fed crickets.
-His diet consist of fruit cups and those pellets mixed with water.

My question is... Is it okay to change up his habitat and diet at this age?

 

[mickeysmomma]

I would say yes, especially with the conditions that he is in now.

I adopted one at 1 year old, and had to change everything. She is doing great.

I would suggest a vet visit....I took mine when I first got her. And, thank goodness I did! She was full of sand in her belly, had coccidia.

Please take him!!

 

[AustinMcIntosh]

I plan on buying a reptisun 10.0 and a 100 watt halogen bulb. I haven't decided on the substrate, i want tile but depends on how cheap I can find it and where. His log will be moved to the left side of the tank and he will be getting a digital thermometer. Crickets will be daily along with some collard greens and bok choy.

 

[mickeysmomma]

so, you think you will def get him?? :?: :?:

 

[AustinMcIntosh]

Yess

 

[lizardgrrl]

You can and should change your beardies setup if you find what you are doing isn't meeting their needs. Some beardies hate change, and will react with varying degrees of relocation stress, but most are fairly adaptable, or even enjoy seeing something new. The Reptisun 10.0 tube light is excellent, although I simply use standard incandescent bulbs for daytime light and heat, and a CHE if I need any extra nighttime heat. At two years old, your beardie will not need crickets daily. Adult diets should be 80-90% veg and fruits, 10-20% protein. Crickets, or other feeders can be fed in very small quantities daily, or a larger quantity once or twice a week, but should not equal more than 20% of the total diet. An adult eating higher levels of protein is at risk for diseases like Fatty Liver Disease or gout. If the pellets are the RepCal, they are well balanced, and will work as a staple, although fresh and varied produce is better. I believe the RepCal pellets were formulated by Dr. Wentz, and if i have this wrong, please let me know. If the pellets are not RepCal, I cannot recommend them, simply because I have no info on them. Fruit cups?!? UGH!!!! The best source on the web for what you can or cannot feed a dragon, along with the nutritional info, is http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html For substrate, I have various combinations of tiles, slate and paper towels, all easy to clean up. I hope this helps, and good luck with your new dragon!!!!!

 

[Gail]

I've found tile really cheap at the habitat for humanity restores. You can find one close to you at http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx or just go to wal mart and get some non stick shelf liner until you can find the tile you want.