HELP new Juvenile Beardie

[loljelloclowdz]

Get that sand out of there ASAP, if there’s ever something that shouldn’t be in there, it needs to come out immediately.

As for substrate, just use paper towels. It’s easy to clean as you just have to throw them away & they won’t eat them.

 

[torilynn14]

Hi guys,

I am new to owning a bearded dragon although my partner and I have owned other reptiles before. Substrate being the one thing I hadn't researched before hand, we took the pet store recommendation of getting calcium sand for his housing. However, after hours of researching I have found out that it is a definite NO No.

My question is: he has only been settled in his new home for about 18 hours. Should I let him adjust some more before removing the sand or go ahead and do it sooner rather than later?

I am tempted to do ASAP because she is also not very interested in eating yet and we wanted to try some crickets instead of mealworms, which means she may end up eating some sand if she does decide to eat the crickets? Would it be better to get her eating and take the risk of ingesting the sand for about a week, then change it?

Any tips for acclimating my baby beardie would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KarrieRee]

Please get rid of the sand ASAP-- you can use paper towels for now and then I would go w/ some textured NON adhesive shelf liner or some slated ceramic tile - something w/ texture so the dragon doesnt slip but not to rough to cause abrasions and you will need to cut it w/ a tile cutter so it doesnt get jagged edges --- please No meal worms for now --- you want a good staple feeder like crickets or dubia roaches and I would get those on line http://www.dubiaroaches.com --- make sure your dusting those roaches or crickets w/ calcium D3 5 x per week ONCE per feeding along w/ vitamins 2 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated --- please DO NOT listen to the pet store people anymore --- they often have no idea what they are talking about --- make sure you have the proper lighting - THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ------ NO coils for UVB No heat mats or rocks and NO sand of which you have figured out------ you want a long tube fixture like a Zoo Med or Sunblaster or Arcadia 24" for a 40+ gallon tank and a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia 12% bulb ---- if you need more help please ask the UVB's require certain distance and placement --- make sure your getting basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer - they should be 95-100 for a juvie / adult

 

[CooperDragon]

They're pretty good at adapting. I'd take the sand out and give the enclosure a cleanup. Then put something solid down in its place. Butcher paper or newspaper will work for the time being. Then you could replace it with something like non adhesive shelf liner that has a pattern you like. That is easy to clean up or cheap to replace as needed.

 

[torilynn14]

Thank you! We removed the sand yesterday and put some shelf liner on top of paper towels. I appreciate your advice.

 

[torilynn14]

Thank you! We removed the sand yesterday and put some shelf liner on top of paper towels. I appreciate your advice.

You bring up lighting which is another thing we are trying to perfect in the viv. Right now we have the heat lamp situation figured out, but still need to change the UVB lighting situation. I am looking online for what to get. What would you suggest for a 20 gallon tank with screen top. I've seen some of your posts about not using a screen...should we just remove it? Or can we leave it without it causing a huge issue for lighting?

I was thinking the Reptisun brand for lighting but I am unsure for strength of the bulb and distance from the tank.

Thank you so much for helping, I know you get these questions a lot. I just want her to be as comfortable and happy as possible.

 

[KarrieRee]

A zoo med 24" fixture w/ the 5.0 that comes w/ the fixture - use that place width wise on the tank till you upgrade the tank then get the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb place a piece of decor directly underneath the UVB 6-8 inches-- look on www.pangeareptiles.com for the fixture -

 

[torilynn14]

Amazing thank you, I just ordered. Hopefully we should we back on track after such horrible pet store advice... Should have not expected large chain to know