Hopefully a new beardie daddy today!

[Feyotter]

Hello everyone. Hopefully I am going to be a daddy today to a 2 year old male beardie! I'm making a trade today - my $500 drone for the beardie and cage and supplies. I realize that that might be a bit of an unequal trade, but he still seems willing to do it. Ha, ha. Seriously, I've been wanting to adopt a beardie for a while and this seems like the best bet, better this than Petco or Petsmart. I've heard some questionable things about their beardies and even the info they give out.
Here's what I think I know about the bearded dragon in question:
2 years old
Male
Eating very well
Bought from the Hamberg reptile show
Not aggressive at all
Pics look good
In a 40 gallon tank/cage
Is kept on reptile carpet
The only thing I've found out that wasn't the best was the uvb bulb isn't a tube, but a coiled bulb. I plan on replacing the bulb with a 10.0 tube as soon as I can - probably Friday.
Unless he has the following I plan to get them on Friday as well: CHE (I know I don't need it now, but I will eventually), a laser thermometer to take temperatures all through the tank very easily, and a scale in grams to weigh the beardie. I'm also going to order some Dubia roaches and super worms.
If any of that is unnecessary, or if you can think of something I've forgotten, please let me know. Also, any advice based on what I have above would be greatly appreciated. I've done a lot of research and "stalking" on here, but I have zero experience with beardies. I've had many other reptiles and amphibians in my life (but not in about 30 years), but never a beardie.
So, I hope this isn't too long or boring because I plan on being back with pics and events of my new little guy if you guys will have me. Thanks for listening!

 

[MichaelO]

Hi Feyotter the only thing I would say (being a newbie myself) is when your new beardie is coming into a new home they may act a little strange or stressed out. If this is the case don't worry too much about it. If they come to you and let you handle them then great but if they don't give them a little time to adjust. I got lucky with Finn she didn't seem to have any problems she just wanted to know her hopper supply was still there lol. This site has a lot of good advice on it but if you can't find what you are looking for ask the question.

And welcome to beardie parenthood.

 

[Feyotter]

Hi Feyotter the only thing I would say (being a newbie myself) is when your new beardie is coming into a new home they may act a little strange or stressed out. If this is the case don't worry too much about it. If they come to you and let you handle them then great but if they don't give them a little time to adjust. I got lucky with Finn she didn't seem to have any problems she just wanted to know her hopper supply was still there lol. This site has a lot of good advice on it but if you can't find what you are looking for ask the question.

And welcome to beardie parenthood.

You're absolutely right. By the time I got home and got the tank set up he was a bit miffed. He wasn't aggressive or anything like that, but after I set him on his log his beard was a bit puffed out and about half black. Poor guy is certainly stressed out. Unfortunately the person I got him from neglected to include certain things like the repticarpet, a thermometer of any kind, or worst of all, any food! I stopped and got him some crickets and will get some fruits and veg tomorrow morning on my way home from work. I do have some water in a bowl for him, but I was wondering if I should give him some crickets now or wait till he is less stressed. Not sure how strong the heat bulb is and I don't know how effective the aquarium thermometer is so I hope the former owner/parent had a strong enough bulb. When I get the real thermometer on Friday I'll find out if he was being kept at a healthy temperature or not.
Oh, and thank you for the advice and the welcome!

 

[Feyotter]

Update

I wasn't sure if I should toss some crickets in the cage as he was already stressed, but I decided to when I walked by the cage with the cricket keeper and Beebee (new name - bb for big boy) went a little nuts trying to get them. So I tossed about 10 in and he chased them all down and gobbled them right up. I can't wait to get some dubias so I can try to hand feed him. In the meantime, hopefully the greens I get tomorrow will be just as well received. I'll try many types of greens because I am aware he should get 80/20 greens/meat. Any advice as to the best fruits and veg would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's a good sign that his appetite is up! Hopefully he'll settle into his new home quickly. Having a temp gun will help you quite a bit with managing the temperatures in the tank which is important. As an adult it's best if you can provide him with mostly salads. This is a good list to reference when you put salads together. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html 2-3 items from that list is usually good. Just rotate depending on what you can get fresh at the store to keep things interesting and provide him with the most varied diet possible. It may take a bit of trial and error to find his favorites, but you can usually give the extras to the bugs and they'll eat it up.

 

[Feyotter]

Thanks CooperDragon! That list was just what I was looking for! Beebee will be eating well!

 

[Feyotter]

This morning when I got home from work I immediately turned on his lights and went to cut up his fruits and veg. I was going to take him out but all I did was look at him and he puffed out his beard which turned about half black. I moved my hand toward him and he opened his mouth. I decided I would not take him out and instead would feed him to show that I was a good guy. I gave him a salad of collard greens, endive, carrots, acorn squash, cucumber, strawberries, and cantaloupe. He went right to it and loved the greens and strawberries the most. I figured that after a few days of nothing more threatening than feeding him I would try again. Any suggestions as to whether this is a good plan or should I do something else entirely?
Two other things to throw in the mix. Right now he is in a 40 gallon tank, but he seems kinda squished to me. I have a 55 gallon tank that I am not using that has a screen top (and even a stand) and was thinking of moving him to that. I realize that I will have to get a stronger heat bulb and two uvb tubes to go from end to end and a bigger ReptiCarpet, but would I need to get or do anything else - or is this a bad idea altogether? The alternative is that I save a little and get one of those cages that the front opens so that he can come out without a big hand coming down from the sky to grab him. The only problem with that is I haven't seen one of those readily available larger than 40 gallons.
And finally (for now - I am a bit long winded, aren't I?) I have two dogs, one big, one small. The big one, Max (a Shepard) is always walking past the tank which is at eye level for him because it's on a table in the dining room between the living room and the kitchen where his food and water is. Max could care less, but I wonder if maybe Beebee does care and it's contributing to his black beard? My solution is to move him to a corner of my living room where I mostly am, but Max would rarely walk past it.
I know this is a lot, but I really want what is best for Beebee so he can be happy and healthy and so that (as pathetic as it sounds) he will like me. So, any advice, suggestions, tips, etc... would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again and sorry for my running at the mouth again!

 

[MichaelO]

I don't see an issue with the new tank as long as the temps are ok. Just don't go in to fast so he can see you coming.
I have a Collie called Molly and our tank is at her eye level. When I am feeding Finn or stroking her in her tank Molly comes over looking some love to (she gets jealous lol). At the start Finn would have backed away but after a week or so she was fine. I would never leave the 2 of them in a room alone with Finn outside her tank but while up at the caravan she was running around on the seats with Molly lying on the floor. The next thing was Finn had launched herself onto Molly's back and was riding her around the caravan. Molly is a very good natured dog (we rescued her from the pound) and it didn't seem to bother her. But like I said just in case I wouldn't leave them alone.

 

[Feyotter]

Here's a couple pics of Beebee. Not having seen him while he was growing up I can't tell if he's happy or not, but I hope he is.

Tank is in process of having some items replaced (namely the heat bulb and UVB light), but if anyone has some ideas how his life could be improved, please let me know. I would especially like to know how often to bath him, and how often to handle him.
Thanks!

 

[MichaelO]

I like to bath Finn twice a week as she loves it in the bath. From what i have read not all beardies like the bath. I think it helps when she is shedding and as you can see she is nice and colorful.

I also like to handle her as often as she will let me. if she is basking I tend to leave her in peace and open her viv. If she wants to she will come out herself which she does most of the time.