Few questions(first time owner)

[CloudyCat]

Hi everyone! I'm bringing home a baby bearded dragon in a few days. I own a 7 year old corn snake (her name is Simone, they will not be in contact at any point of time), and I've watched my friends bearded dragon before(but I've never owned one), so I have some experience with reptiles. I have the tank all set up and I have a couple questions. I want to provide the best care I can for my beardie! I've done my research. But I keep finding all sorts of different answers to these questions and I want to get it right.
How many hours of sunlight does a beardie need a day? I travel a lot, frequently for three to seven days at a time. So I have a question. How many hours of sunlight does my beardie need if s/he doesn't have his/her UV bulb? I plan on taking him/her on at least some of my trips and I won't be able to bring her UV bulb, but I can bring her other light.
I have the Arcadia D3 12% UVB bulb. Do I need to buy calcium with or without D3?
How often should I replace the UVB bulb if I have the Arcadia D3 12%?
Can I hold my bearded dragon during shedding and brumation?
Should I purchase multivitamins? Or a multivitamin powder?
How often should I give the multivitamins to my dragon/how often should I dust his/her food in the powder?
How often does my dragon need calcium dustings on their crickets?
How often should I bathe my dragon?
How many times a day should I feed my dragon, depending on age?
Will my dragon always need calcium dustings on his/her crickets?
Here's a list of what I have for the dragon:
Calcium powder with D3
Temp gun
A basking platform
Food dish
A hide
Spray bottle for misting
CHE light (it gets very cold at night in the winter)
12% Arcadia UV bulb (
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/ )
Basking light ( https://www.amazon.com/Bulbrite-100A-RS-Incandescent-Service/dp/B0030AYFEE/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=beadratan-20&linkCode=w0&linkId=NZSLPST6KSAOUVT5&creativeASIN=B0030AYFEE )
I have an emergency kit that includes:
Gauze, instant hand warmers, medical tape, Neosporin, popsicle sticks (for splints), and commercial dragon food.
Sorry for all the questions. I just don't want to mess up! I'm so worried I'm going to do something wrong! I can include photos of my setup if you want.
I hope I posted this in the right forum. I'm still new here.
Thank you for any answers!! This website has been sooo helpful so far!

 

[CooperDragon]

I'll try to answer all of your questions the best I can. Please let me know if I forget to address something.

I leave my lights on a timer and they are on for about 14hrs a day.

When you're traveling, if you can provide a few hours of sunlight across the day it is helpful. An adult can go longer than a growing dragon without sunlight. I suggest picking up a 100w MegaRay mercury vapor bulb and a clamp lamp fixture and adjustable lamp stand. That will let you build a basking spot anywhere you go, providing heat and UVB. The bulb should sit about 10'' above a basking area which can just be a small fleece blanket or towel on the floor. I also suggest a carrier to provide a secure spot for your dragon when you're traveling. This can be used in the car and also as a hide/place to sleep in a hotel or at your destination.

Using the T5 Arcadia 12% set at 12'' above the basking area you should use plain calcium without D3. I use Repashy Supercal NoD. I would offer Repashy Supervite dusted bugs instead of calcium dusted bugs once or twice per week until he is old enough to get lots of vitamins from salads as he is full grown. Bugs should be dusted in a light, even coating of supplement (either calcium or vitamin) at every meal.

You can hold your dragon during shedding but it's not worth the stress if it appears stressful to him. Just let him be if he's not having it during a shed. If he does brumate, leave him be except to offer some water and take a weight measurement every couple of days. Brumation shouldn't happen until he is an adult and not all dragons brumate.

Baths aren't necessary unless your dragon is soiled or smelly. Some of them like baths and some don't. If your dragon enjoys a bath you can provide as many as you want. If they seem stressful, I would limit them to only when necessary.

A young dragon should get a couple of bug meals per day. At around a year old or when their growth starts to slow, go back to one meal per day and eventually to a bug meal once or twice per week by 18 months or so. It's a gradual transition. You'll want to dust bugs whenever they are offered. Salad should be offered daily as well. A young dragon may ignore salads but it's easier for them to adjust to it as a primary food source if it's already familiar. An adult should have a salad every day, as much as they want. Rotate what you offer depending on what's fresh at the market. I like to reference this list for ideas http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html. Leftover salad can be fed to your bugs. Roach colonies eat veges readily.

You may want a bottle of F10SC to have on hand to use as a disinfectant. I recommend that or a steam cleaner for the most effective sanitization. I suggest adding an activated charcoal kit to your emergency kit http://www.bug-de-lite.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=Charcoal_Kit It's great to have on hand in case your dragon ingests something harmful. I keep one with me wherever my dragon goes.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Cloudy, I'm a very slow typer so as I submitted this I see that Cooper already wrote a mini novel so mine will be part two. You'll be excited to get your baby when the time arrives I'll answer some Q's but might forget something with the long list, others will chime in. A good basking log is a staple piece of cage decor. A log is much more natural than a flat platform. Feed babies 2-3X a day with a good number of insects [ 15-20 per feeding, no need for more than that ] and offer a small bowl of chopped /shredded greens like turnip, mustard , collard [ collards are tougher than the others ] Vitamin powder 1-2X a week very lightly . Calcium powder 4-5 days a week on one meal very lightly. As they get older 2X a day feeding becomes one meal of bugs which can be as they approach the 15-16" mark. Adults only need calcium 2-3X a week unless it's a female developing/laying eggs, then increase back to 4-5 days lightly.

Misting is really spraying the dragon for hydration by aiming a gentle stream at his head . I raised many clutches that I bred myself, all babies drank from the spray bottle. Baths only if he enjoys it and only for 10 minutes at a time. I never soaked my dragons unless they were dirty and/or having a rough shed.

You can handle during shedding, should not handle during a deep brumation when they are truly fast asleep. No need to weigh them too often, once every 3 weeks will be fine if they're sleeping. Other than during brumation [ when lights can be shut off ] lights should be on for about 14 hours a day , I raised lots of healthy beardies that way .

Be sure to post pics of your set up + your new baby when you get him/her. Mind if I ask where you're getting it + what size it will be ?

 

[CloudyCat]

Thank you both for your replies!!

I'm getting the dragon at the local pet store. I know the people who work there. I'm not positive on the size but I think the dragons they have there are 7-8 inches?

I'll make sure to post pictures of my new baby and his/her setup when I get him/her!