Help! My Bearded Dragon Questions

[HuberNS92]

Aw, thank you! And yeah, the sand does look nice. There are some nice sandy colored tiles out there but I went with slate when I couldn't get the size I wanted in the sandy color. I bought mine at Lowe's but any home improvement store should have it. Make sure to measure your tank from the inside since the inside measurement is slightly smaller than the size they're sold as (36x18 = 35.5x17.5 on the inside for me). Any tile that is slightly textured or stone is a good choice so they get a grip on it. I got slate since it has lots of different colors and looks really snazzy.

Some beardies do live on sandy beaches but the outback, where the central bearded dragon (what most pet beardies are) lives, is more of a scrubland than a true desert. The ground is usually a hard-packed red soil because it is so dry. There are little scrubby bushes and trees so it's sort of like...if you've seen the savanna in African but with bare soil instead of grass. Any loose soil is very, very fine.

Some owners use sifted play sand (they sift the larger pieces out) with their adult beardies but it can be a pain since you'll have to replace the sand pretty often. Adult beardies are less likely than the babies to lick the substrate (beardies lick to explore their environment). Adults also like to dig so they're going to get sand in their veggie dish and they need to be fed in a separate container. I've seen some owners do half tile and half sand or tile with a dig box so they get a place to dig.

Hmm I really worried about the size of my dragon! Why hasn't he grown nearly as much its crazy!? Not even a foot long and hes about 8 months old I don't get it. Could the feeding of been that much of a factor. Crap haha. You think he can rebound from this?

 

[Fuzzyviper]

It was probably the feeding but some dragons grow slower than others and some just don't get as big. He's only 8 months old so he's got plenty of time to keep growing. He will likely keep growing even after he turns 1 so he's got several months to grow and grow. Feed him as much as he can eat and he's start growing for you. It's hard to notice them growing since we see them day to day so you can take weekly length measurements or weights to see if he is growing. I'm sure he'll grow into a healthy adult.

 

[HuberNS92]

It was probably the feeding but some dragons grow slower than others and some just don't get as big. He's only 8 months old so he's got plenty of time to keep growing. He will likely keep growing even after he turns 1 so he's got several months to grow and grow. Feed him as much as he can eat and he's start growing for you. It's hard to notice them growing since we see them day to day so you can take weekly length measurements or weights to see if he is growing. I'm sure he'll grow into a healthy adult.

I very much hope so. I won't be feeding him at all next week! Is that okay? I figured since he is a lizard and all. I'm going on vacation and was going to leave him here for one week. I'm feeding him till his little heart is content now though.

 

[Fuzzyviper]

Do you have anyone that can watch him for you? He does need to be fed. I'm leaving for about 4-5 days and I'm going to make up some containers of feeders for each day so my mom can just toss them in and doesn't have to touch the roaches. Will your roommates be home? The only other thing I can think of is leaving him a dish of waxworms but the problem is that they might escape the dish if it isn't high enough. If you know anyone willing to watch him, I'd just make up daily cups of insects and have them give him one each day.

 

[HuberNS92]

Do you have anyone that can watch him for you? He does need to be fed. I'm leaving for about 4-5 days and I'm going to make up some containers of feeders for each day so my mom can just toss them in and doesn't have to touch the roaches. Will your roommates be home? The only other thing I can think of is leaving him a dish of waxworms but the problem is that they might escape the dish if it isn't high enough. If you know anyone willing to watch him, I'd just make up daily cups of insects and have them give him one each day.

Oh crap I guess I will then. Here is the thing though. I thought that maybe it'd be a good idea to keep in my basement because he is accustom to that environment. Moving out to the garage would probably induce some stress. I'd have to so the person taking care of the house could feed him. Is it worth it?

Also you telling me I can't leave him for a week worries me about I fed him before...damnit haha

 

[Fuzzyviper]

They don't have access to the basement? As long as the regular tank is moved out and free from loud noises or drafts, he should be fine in there. I'd set him up at least a day before leaving just to make sure you can get his temperatures right and if he seems very stressed out, you could cover the back and sides of the glass with paper to minimize stress. He definitely needs to eat daily, especially since he is young and growing. I know it's hard when you find out you were doing something wrong but there's no use beating yourself up over it. He's getting good care now and that is what matters.

 

[HuberNS92]

They don't have access to the basement? As long as the regular tank is moved out and free from loud noises or drafts, he should be fine in there. I'd set him up at least a day before leaving just to make sure you can get his temperatures right and if he seems very stressed out, you could cover the back and sides of the glass with paper to minimize stress. He definitely needs to eat daily, especially since he is young and growing. I know it's hard when you find out you were doing something wrong but there's no use beating yourself up over it. He's getting good care now and that is what matters.

No access to the baement. Wow paper, I feel so stupid right now it's unbelievable. Similar environments. Okay i'll make sure to work something out. I'll be quite honest I do not know what temperatures his tank should be. I got a starter kit so everything was worked out for me. Now i'm getting a new tank and a little lost. I'm sure my garage is fine though he will be getting heat from the light?

 

[Fuzzyviper]

His basking area should be 105-110 degrees with the light 6-8 inches away from him. The cool side should be around 80-85. Temps on both can go down to 65 at night so you don't need to heat him at night unless it's winter or you live somewhere that is permanently chilly. Yeah, his basking light will be fine for him since it's summer. If you find it getting too hot under the basking light, since garages can get pretty hot in the summer, switch the bulb out for a lower wattage household bulb and recheck the temps after about 45 minutes.

You can put the paper on the outside of the tank or the inside. Some people will put paper up on the inside if their dragon is seeing its reflection in the glass and stressing out over the "intruder." Outside will be fine since it is just to block out the view outside his tank.

New tanks can be a little frustrating, especially figuring out how to get the temperatures right in a larger area. The best way to raise or lower temperatures is to switch the bulb wattage of whatever you're using for basking. I'm using a white household bulb right now, myself. As long as it is a white bulb, household bulbs work and some will use the spotlight bulbs from home improvement stores, since they are a cheap alternative to the pet store basking lights. If you're using say, a Powersun or something that is a basking and UVB in one, it gets a little more difficult to change the temps without buying a separate UVB light and fixture. You would have to raise the light if it was getting too hot. What size tank did you get? I can show a picture of my current setup if you want to see how I've done mine.

 

[HuberNS92]

His basking area should be 105-110 degrees with the light 6-8 inches away from him. The cool side should be around 80-85. Temps on both can go down to 65 at night so you don't need to heat him at night unless it's winter or you live somewhere that is permanently chilly. Yeah, his basking light will be fine for him since it's summer. If you find it getting too hot under the basking light, since garages can get pretty hot in the summer, switch the bulb out for a lower wattage household bulb and recheck the temps after about 45 minutes.

You can put the paper on the outside of the tank or the inside. Some people will put paper up on the inside if their dragon is seeing its reflection in the glass and stressing out over the "intruder." Outside will be fine since it is just to block out the view outside his tank.

New tanks can be a little frustrating, especially figuring out how to get the temperatures right in a larger area. The best way to raise or lower temperatures is to switch the bulb wattage of whatever you're using for basking. I'm using a white household bulb right now, myself. As long as it is a white bulb, household bulbs work and some will use the spotlight bulbs from home improvement stores, since they are a cheap alternative to the pet store basking lights. If you're using say, a Powersun or something that is a basking and UVB in one, it gets a little more difficult to change the temps without buying a separate UVB light and fixture. You would have to raise the light if it was getting too hot. What size tank did you get? I can show a picture of my current setup if you want to see how I've done mine.

Okay cool. I just got a 38X18 40 gallon tank at petco's epic sale. Also you will be glad to know that I got slate tile cut today. Oh can the roaches be kept in a small critter keeper? 50 of them? At least for the next week becaue I will be moving him into his tank when I return. 40 gallon tank set up with tile will be difficult to carry. Then I will move the roaches into the old tank. He's going to love his new tank! Just so annoying to me he might not get that big. I want him to eat mice occasionally.

 

[Fuzzyviper]

Your tank is the same size as mine. And I actually got the smaller pieces of tile cut for mine today too! The bigger ones were in and I had the back covered with paper towel. The roaches will be fine in that container. The bigger container is so they have room to put all the babies they will have. I think he's going to really like his new tank, for sure! And you should, if you really are set on wanting to feed him pinkie mice, only feed them extremely rarely since they can't digest the bones and meat (turkey, beef, chicken, etc) is not the best for them. A good protein treat for them is a little bit of scrambled or hard boiled egg once in a while. Make sure not to use butter or cooking oils when you make the eggs and do not give a lot at once, since it can upset their stomach if they eat too much.

 

[HuberNS92]

Your tank is the same size as mine. And I actually got the smaller pieces of tile cut for mine today too! The bigger ones were in and I had the back covered with paper towel. The roaches will be fine in that container. The bigger container is so they have room to put all the babies they will have. I think he's going to really like his new tank, for sure! And you should, if you really are set on wanting to feed him pinkie mice, only feed them extremely rarely since they can't digest the bones and meat (turkey, beef, chicken, etc) is not the best for them. A good protein treat for them is a little bit of scrambled or hard boiled egg once in a while. Make sure not to use butter or cooking oils when you make the eggs and do not give a lot at once, since it can upset their stomach if they eat too much.

Cool cool. You think that the roaches can till breed in that small container, even if just for a little? Meaning the week i'm gone.

 

[Fuzzyviper]

They probably won't do much while you're gone other than eat and maybe mate. It takes a little while for the eggs to develop so they'll be fine in there for the next week.

 

[HuberNS92]

They probably won't do much while you're gone other than eat and maybe mate. It takes a little while for the eggs to develop so they'll be fine in there for the next week.

They came today! My cricket keeper is just so small its hard to believe they can reproduce! But there are a lot in there. I'll set them out in the garage. How will I know when they lay eggs??? And is there a certain thing or part of the cage that I should set up for them to lay egg? Also, can I use a reptile light to heat the roaches??

 

[Fuzzyviper]

Roaches naturally don't like light so I'd use one of those stick on heat pads and keep them in a semi-dark place. The females keep the egg sack inside of their bodies so they give "live birth" to their babies. Females are the adults that do not have wings and she will plump up if she is pregnant. I'd suggest getting a large plastic container with a lid at Walmart or somewhere similar to put them in. Drill holes in the drop or cut the middle of the lid out and staple a screen to it. I got a 24 quart (6 gallon) container for around $5-$6 at Walmart for mine. Once they start breeding, they will need a much larger space than they are in now.

 

[HuberNS92]

Roaches naturally don't like light so I'd use one of those stick on heat pads and keep them in a semi-dark place. The females keep the egg sack inside of their bodies so they give "live birth" to their babies. Females are the adults that do not have wings and she will plump up if she is pregnant. I'd suggest getting a large plastic container with a lid at Walmart or somewhere similar to put them in. Drill holes in the drop or cut the middle of the lid out and staple a screen to it. I got a 24 quart (6 gallon) container for around $5-$6 at Walmart for mine. Once they start breeding, they will need a much larger space than they are in now.

Wat...are they very subtle wings? I didn't look that much but it appeared like none had wings? And cant they climb the sides of like a rubbermaid bin?

They're are very afraid of me. And they all piled on the bottom instead of climbing the cartons they're weird.

Btw when I went to petco I saw other dragons. The employee told me they were 5-6 months old, and they were a good two or three inches longer than mine and definitely thicker. It made me sad haha