Hey guys, I'm new to this forum (and the hobby). I've been thinking and researching about beardies for a while now and finally decided to commit. I bought one of those 40 gal tank bundles that they sell at Petsmart (comes with the double dome lighting, sand which i don't plan on using, and the uvb bulb and hood). I'm also planning on buying some other things for it like a hammock, some logs and possibly a waterfall (not to sure about that yet). I plan to use paper towels for now since i want to raise it as a baby. I have a couple of concerns though and want to get them sorted out BEFORE i go buy a baby beardie.
1. Is a 40 gal tank way too big for a baby? if so, what would you use to block off half of the tank until it grows big enough.
2. My biggest concern. I work almost every day from either 10am - 5pm or 5pm to 12am midnight (its always random). What do you guys recommend i do in terms of feeding with this kind of schedule? There are some day where i literally work the entire day but thats usually only a once a week every other week type deal. I know they must be fed every single day so I do not want to mess up their diet just because i'm not available to feed them. Is there a way to bypass this? Maybe leave them food BEFORE i leave for work early in the morning or something? Please tell me what you guys recommend i do for this.
3. Their food source. I plan on buying crickets from the shop every 2 weeks (like maybe 300 crickets every 2 weeks or so.) I've been told babies don't normally eat more than 8 - 10 crickets a day, but of course this is not always the case. I also plan on buying them phoenix worms for variety. Now, as with my second concern, could i feed them live insects while having a dish full of veggies available for them every day? Just in case i'm not home to feed them their insects, they can eat those veggies if they get hungry is what I was thinking, but again i'm not entirely sure.
4. When i finally do decide to buy a beardie. Do i just buy one from petsmart/petco or should i get it from a breeder, and if so....who do i go to?
Please help me out guys
1. Is a 40 gal tank way too big for a baby? if so, what would you use to block off half of the tank until it grows big enough.
2. My biggest concern. I work almost every day from either 10am - 5pm or 5pm to 12am midnight (its always random). What do you guys recommend i do in terms of feeding with this kind of schedule? There are some day where i literally work the entire day but thats usually only a once a week every other week type deal. I know they must be fed every single day so I do not want to mess up their diet just because i'm not available to feed them. Is there a way to bypass this? Maybe leave them food BEFORE i leave for work early in the morning or something? Please tell me what you guys recommend i do for this.
3. Their food source. I plan on buying crickets from the shop every 2 weeks (like maybe 300 crickets every 2 weeks or so.) I've been told babies don't normally eat more than 8 - 10 crickets a day, but of course this is not always the case. I also plan on buying them phoenix worms for variety. Now, as with my second concern, could i feed them live insects while having a dish full of veggies available for them every day? Just in case i'm not home to feed them their insects, they can eat those veggies if they get hungry is what I was thinking, but again i'm not entirely sure.
4. When i finally do decide to buy a beardie. Do i just buy one from petsmart/petco or should i get it from a breeder, and if so....who do i go to?
Please help me out guys