First-time bearded dragon keeper...

[shawnmatthew]

Hey everyone, I wanted to introduce myself and my baby bearded dragon, Dreki. He is a Citrus German Giant x Chris Allan Red, and I just got him two days ago. He's had a great appetite, eating a ton of crickets. Looking to buy him greens ASAP.

I have recorded my first video of him and here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQMSA8v1Chk&feature=c4-overview&list=UUWEINS7Xm-iR8HepnL6rBbg.

I have one question. Do you have any tips for how to keep crickets from getting under the paper? Obviously I should do better at cutting it to size and keeping it flat, but are there better options? Would the carpet do better? I'm not really interested in sand but have considered tile.

Let me know if you have any tips, or if you watched the video and have suggestions. I'm sure as the days go by I'll have more questions, perhaps in regards to ordering alternatives to crickets.

Excited to get to know you all, and I am really enjoying reading the threads on this forum.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Yes tile is the best subtrate. Just my opinion though.

 

[breeyawnah]

Personally i don't think tile would be so comfortable for them. I use nonadhesive self liner. It is more attractive then your would think and it is not all to hard to clean.

 

[destiny1998]

Yeah I've use non adhesive shelfliner, but the roaches still could get under it. So I switched to tile and no more hiding roaches.

 

[lucyandbertha]

We've got some babies at the moment and I don't use any substrate as found crickets just got underneath paper, so we just left the tank without so it was easy to clean.

For the adults we have slate at one end and at the moment sand at the other and they sleep on both so must find them as equally comfortable.

We feed ours a mixture of brown crickets and hoppers. We also sometimes get calci worms.

Good luck with your baby!

 

[nursejones813]

We have an urban dragon tank. Lol! We have pergo wood flooring with a few tile reminants on top. The tile makes like a platform to raise his basking spot closer to his light. The pergo is really easy to clean.

 

[jacody]

Whether you use shelf liner, tile or slate the floor of the viv is still hard and is not uncomfortable for them.. shelf liner does hold bacteria, the slate and tile do also, but is much easier to keep clean and remove easily to completely clean the enclosure.. as for you wanting an alternative to crickets try repti or phoenix worms as a staple.. the nutritional value on both is great.. have fun w/ your new pet..

 

[shawnmatthew]

Do you use sand then?

 

[shawnmatthew]

Just ordered some Phoenix Worms! Ordered the smalls, hope they will be the right size. Tired of sorting through the pet store's smallest crickets (after buying) in order to get rid of ones too large.