Dragon setup

[saxondragon]

Hello, I just got done setting up the new home for my new dragon, Saxon.

Since I'm new and have many things to learn I want feedback on the setup and see if there anything else I need to get. I had advice from the pet shop, and they certainly helped me, but it's always good to get more advice from other beardie owners from what I'm reading.

I'll try to include everything that I can think of.

Name: Saxon
Age: About 2 years
Sex: Male
Type: (not sure if official wording) But he's not colorful as some pics I've seen.

Tank:
40gal
ZooMed Desert White Repti Sand
Tree branch for climbing
Red/purplish stone for basking and shelter
Plastic model rock water dish (not big enough for him to lay/sit in though, tank too small for size I wanted)
Glass food dish
Exo Terra 125W SolarGlo UVB, UVA blub (I was told this was an option for 2 in 1 light combination.)

Food:
Rap-Cal Adult BD Food (long pellets?)
30 crickets available
T-Rex Dragon Dust Veggie Maintenance Formula (told to dust veggies with it)
T-Rex Dragon Dust Insect Cricket Balancer (told to dust crickets with it)

Feeding routine I was advised on:

day 1 veggies with dust
day 2 day off
day 3 crickets
repeat the 3 days

Though I think I am confused on this part. I asked when Saxon ate last, it was Saturday. I was told to let him relax in the tank for a few days before feeding him. Though I did put some Rep-Cal food in the dish with sprayed with some water (per instructions on jar).

Cleaning instructions:
Changing water daily
Sift sand or use net to get poop and clumps out daily
I plan on bathing him daily also, since his water dish wasn't big enough for him.

Pictures of Saxon's home.

Any advice would be appreciated on how to make this better.

I'm in the process of buying a house, so in the future I want to upgrade his tank. I may have an opportunity to get an 80gal, though if not, I'll at least get 55 or 60g. The water dish will be where he can lay in it comfortably. I also like the idea of not having sand covering his entire tank. But want to offer some sand to him.

 

[vickson420]

Hi
Congrats on the new beardie!First few things I would change.Most important reptile sand is dangerous.It carries a big impaction risk as well as issues with calcium intake.Ditch it and go for either plain fine childrens playsand or a siloid substrate like slate tile,non adhesive shelf liner,papertowel or reptile carpet.The solar glo is a decent MVB bulb just make sure that you beardie cant get within 12 inches of it as any closer would pose risk of damage due to the high uvb it emits.As for feeding sald should be offered everyday without fail.Here is a good link to acceptable veggies:
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html
As for the vitamins I am not a fan of the dragin dust as it nevers seems to balance out correctly with calcium and vutamins.I would switch it out for repcal calcium(no d3 for MVB bulbs) and herptivite by repcal.Tank size is ok and as a matter of fact better then a 55 because it is height and floor space is what they need so when you do upgrade make sure your going with more floorspace then height.As fro the pellets they are fine to add as a supplement to diet but should never replace veggies or protien and for his age he should be eating 25-50 feeders per week and if your feeding crix then I would go to 50 as the 25 is for larger feeders like supers.

Forgot to ask what are your temps?How are you measuring them and where?

 

[saxondragon]

Thanks for feedback.

Slate - will do, but it'll have to wait until new tank. Until then I'll find child playsand and go get it next weekend.

Solarglo - it's not within 12" and I moved it another inch over just to make sure his highest point isn't too close. I haven't seen him climb the branch yet, so I'm not sure if he can get to the highest point yet actually.

Food - Feed salad I will get them tomorrow. I'll stick to the basic and move on slowly. Need to learn my dragon's likes/dislikes. Feeders - later in the week I'll pick up more crickets. But how many at one time do I feed him? (Or should I post this specific question into another forum area?)

Temperature - I was never told to measure them so I don't know. I'm learning by reading that I need to though. Digital is the best correct? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can pick something up in the next day or two. Will he be okay until then? We keep our house temp above 65F and I'll keep his lamp on during the day.

And his next tank will definitely have more floor space. In the new house, I'm hoping to let him run around an extra room that will be my "library" so he will have full access. I'm viewing the other pics of enclosures and getting some ideas. Basking spots around room, access to his viv (viv is his enclosure, yes?), and hopefully a particular spot that I can use for his feeders. I have a hatred thing with bugs/slimy things, but I'll survive for my dragon.

 

[vickson420]

Hi
The temps are one of the most important things because if they are too low he wont be able to digest and if they are too high he will get dehydrated so I would make it a point to get that digital thermometer WITH a probe first before anything else.They are fairly inexpensive ranging from 5-12$ depending on which one you get.
As for feeding I have found that offering the crix or feeder 2 or 3 xper week with adulkts instead of daily forces them to eat more of their veggies daily which is what the majority of their diet should consist of at this point so basically just find what works best for you and your beardie.As for containg bugs just make sure they are not left in the same tank with him because crix especially will bite and hurt him as well as possibly casuing parasites or infections.The most important thing in regards to salad is no lettuce.You want dark leafy greens like dandelions,collards,kale,escarole,etc.

 

[saxondragon]

Okay, I need some more help. I have two digital temp readers with probes. It's from Acurite.

The cool side is averaging 77-78 while the basking is only 92-95. I need to go to the store to get some more daily salad munchies so I can pick up another lamp clamp and bulbs. But I need to know which bulb to get.

Tank dimensions are: 36" L x 14" W x 18" H.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[AJay09]

for basking the light i use is a 100watt zoo med basking bulb i have a 36x18x17 and it keeps my basking from like 102 to 106 at the highest it maintains my cool side at a perfect temp i use a 36'' reptisun 10. for uvb

 

[saxondragon]

I will probably go to a two light set up when I get a bigger tank, but right now I have a 2 in 1 light. It's just not providing enough heat though. Is it still okay to have an additional basking light with the 2 in 1 light? This weekend I can get that stuff, but for immediate (and cheap, cheap solution) would it be possible to just use a house hold bulb?

 

[AndyAMP88]

I will probably go to a two light set up when I get a bigger tank, but right now I have a 2 in 1 light. It's just not providing enough heat though. Is it still okay to have an additional basking light with the 2 in 1 light? This weekend I can get that stuff, but for immediate (and cheap, cheap solution) would it be possible to just use a house hold bulb?

Household Lightbulbs are okay and work well. Try different wattages and check the temps.

 

[vickson420]

Saxon
does your Accurite have a probe?Are you resting it on the actual basking surface for 45 minutes before reading?Just judging by the cool end temps alone I dont think you need to switch the bulb maybe just make some basking height adjustments assuming you are using a probe and you did allow for proper time to read.If you still cant get it to work then just add a 40 watt household bulb next to the solar glo and it should put you where you need to be just watch the cool side temps.

 

[saxondragon]

Yes, I have a probe. I made it stay wedged slightly between limb and rock. Was that wrong? Should it be on the rock?

By the way, took out the sand and put in paper towels temporarily. That stuff was a mess to clean out. I had it everywhere just cleaning it, I can't imagine that being in my dragon's system! I'm going to tile. Should I grout and seal it? I prefer easy, easy clean up, does that include grouting and sealing or just having it down?

Will Saxon be okay if I'm unable to get his basking spot to above 100 until this weekend? I got it about 98-99 when I moved the lamp over more. I'm going to see if I can get some different rocks and limbs to build other spots. I want him to have a "real" hidden area, the current one he has is not really but a small shadey area.

Thank you everyone for the help. I just want to make sure I make good decisions for my little dragon.

 

[vickson420]

Yes, I have a probe. I made it stay wedged slightly between limb and rock. Was that wrong? Should it be on the rock?

By the way, took out the sand and put in paper towels temporarily. That stuff was a mess to clean out. I had it everywhere just cleaning it, I can't imagine that being in my dragon's system! I'm going to tile. Should I grout and seal it? I prefer easy, easy clean up, does that include grouting and sealing or just having it down?

Will Saxon be okay if I'm unable to get his basking spot to above 100 until this weekend? I got it about 98-99 when I moved the lamp over more. I'm going to see if I can get some different rocks and limbs to build other spots. I want him to have a "real" hidden area, the current one he has is not really but a small shadey area.

Thank you everyone for the help. I just want to make sure I make good decisions for my little dragon.

Hi
Ok so first yes he will be fine the temps are actually within acceptable limits of 95-110F.You didnt do anything wrong with the probe but I would just try it on the rock surface directly just to see where it goes,remember to leave it there for 45 minutes.As for the tile sealing and grouting is really up to you.I dont I find it easier as I can just take the one tile that needs to be cleaned out wash it off and put it back plus if you ever want to change your viv out for any reason or even your tile then you can.

 

[saxondragon]

Okay good. Thank you. And yes, last time I did make sure it was there for at least 45 minutes. Sorry I meant to mention that.

Good point about the tile. Definitely puts a different perspective on that. This weekend I'll go get some tiles. They probably won't fit perfectly. Width is just under 14", so I'll have some of it at an angle I've seen on other vivs.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Depending on where you buy the tiles, they can cut them to size for you, make sure you ask about that service, it should be free, too.
Janie.