Enclosure Choices & Questions

[fastfoward5k]

I will hopefully be getting my first Bearded Dragon at the Repticon Atlanta Reptile & Exotic Animal Show on January 10! :notworthy: :headbang: :lurk: :love10: :mrgreen: :bleick:

I have a few questions and need your advice for my planning of his enclosure. Please tell me your opinion on which I should do, and why you think so.

Cage
* Wooden Cage 50x27x25 150 gallon (http://atlanta.craigslist.org/for/898251230.html)
* 40+ gallon (long) aquarium
* 40+ gallon acrylic Big Apple Herp tank
* Build my own 4'x2'x2' wooden cage

Substrate
I will use paper towels until he is at least 10"
* Tiles-no grout
* Tiles-grout
* Reptile Carpet
* Natural Reptile Sand (not calci-sand)
* Alfalfa Pellets
* Washed Screened Playsand

Lighting and Heating
* Zilla Halogen Flourescent Combo Fixture with Daylight Full Spectrum Flourescent Bulb (12 hrs.), 75 Watt Blue Light (12 hrs.), 75 Watt Red Night (12 hrs.), and 25 Watt Black Night (24 hrs.)
* 100 Watt Mercury Vapor Bulb (brand suggestions?)
* 100 Watt CHE, Undertank heater, and ReptiSun 10.0 in Home Depot fixture

Decor
* Build fake rock structures, with caves, walls, stairs, basking platforms, built-in plants, climbing/shedding rocks, and hides
* Half log, driftwood, and basking branches

Thanks in advance!

 

[NegativeCreep]

Stay away form lose particle substrates. You can go ahead and put him/her on tile whenever, though. I don't like the idea of grouting the tile, as it takes away from the ease of cleaning.

The tank/enclosure will really be based on your budget! Get the best you can afford, that's my advice!

Stay away from the combo fixtures.. the are expensive, and dangerous. Also, nix the UTH, beardies don't feel heat from their bellies, therefore making them dangerous as well. Also, the black/red lights are not good for any animals. I just upgraded to a MVB, and I won't go back. I got the MegaRay and my little one's appetite and attitude has improved ten-fold. If you go with the florescent tube, get the ReptiSUN 10.0, it's the best and safest UVB tube out there.. stay away from compacts (but it seems like you may know that already!). You can add a CHE if needed, but they usually aren't necessary. If you use the MVB, you won't need a separate basking light, if you use the florescent for UVB, you will. A regular household bulb works just fine for basking lights.

Decor is one of the fun parts. This is all up to you. Desert style?? Mod?? What do you like? Lots of vines? Big rocks? Backgrounds? Eh.. that's all for you to decide! This helps to make your enclosure and your BD unique!!

Good Luck & Congrats on your up-and-coming pet!

 

[fastfoward5k]

Thanks for all that help!

I just want a little help picking out the cage I will do. My parents said they may buy the Bearded Dragon (just the dragon itself) for my b-day in January, and I will probably get supplies for the holidays. My cousin will give me his old 20 long for the starter cage from his BD. What cage would you suggest? Prebuilt, aquarium/acrylic tank, or make my own? Thanks!

EDIT: Oh and Mitch, your BCI, is gorgeous. I'd love a boa, but my dad is petrified of snakes, oh well, I'll have to wait until I move out... :roll:

 

[shermansmom]

I would go for biggest enclousure that you can afford. I prefer ungrouted tile because you can remove it to clean if needed. Also if you want to change it out for something else, you can very easily. Good luck with your future dragon. Here is a pic of Luna's home. It is 4x2x2. I still need to do some sort of background.

 

[NegativeCreep]

Thanks for all that help!

I just want a little help picking out the cage I will do. My parents said they may buy the Bearded Dragon (just the dragon itself) for my b-day in January, and I will probably get supplies for the holidays. My cousin will give me his old 20 long for the starter cage from his BD. What cage would you suggest? Prebuilt, aquarium/acrylic tank, or make my own? Thanks!

EDIT: Oh and Mitch, your BCI, is gorgeous. I'd love a boa, but my dad is petrified of snakes, oh well, I'll have to wait until I move out... :roll:

A lot of folks use the 40 gallon breeder tanks, which are ok. I have Esham in a 75 breeder that will be used, later, for our BD as her 'forever home'. 4x2x2 feet is the size an adult really needs. If you are capable of building an enclosure, that may be the best way to go. There are some plans online for a nice 'crossfire' enclosure, which can be fixed up really nice. You can do a lot of cool things to a custom cage. I would avoid acrylic...

Thanks. Mitch was a rescue from a teenager who could not longer keep him and wasn't feeding him well. He was under weight and size for his age, and his spine was visible. We began feeding him regularly and he's put on a foot already. He's a really nice guy, but I have personal issues with snakes as well! He's just a common or 'Columbian', but I think he's gorgeous too! I wouldn't give him up for the world, though.. now that he's part of the family.