I'm Mark

[ElectricPaladin]

And my dragon doesn't have a name... because technically he/she isn't mine yet .

I'm a first time herp owner (though as a science teacher I take care of two turtles and a snake), so I'm doing this the slow and careful way - something I'm sure a board full of beardie enthusiasts will appreciate - researching the cost, the best equipment, and so on. I just finished the decision making process and now it's a matter of getting all the equipment in place and buying the actual critter. I met Petsmart's beardies, and they seem active, alert, and healthy. I should probably be bebeardied by some time next week. I've been lurking for a couple of days now, though, and I couldn't wait to make my introduction.

So, hi. I'm a 27 year old middle school science teacher/fantasist who lives in San Francisco with his wife of a month and a half. I've always liked reptiles and lizards, and I can't wait to get started on this adventure.

I'll post later with some pictures of the setup and, when possible, my new pet!

 

[Livey]

hello and welcome

 

[ReptiMama2]

Hey! Welcome to the board! There are lots of friendly people here to help. They have helped me a lot! I teach Science too, High School Bio. and P.S and I have a Ball Python. Hope to see pics of your new beardie soon

 

[nair88]

hi mark! :wave:

 

[Twobeardieguy]

:wave:

 

[ElectricPaladin]

Ok. I just got back from Petsmart with $285 worth of stuff, but no lizard. Damn, but the startup costs for this endeavor are high (though not as high as I'd originally feared).

At first, it doesn't look like much.

Some unboxing, snipping and cutting, and rearranging later, we're getting somewhere.

And finally, an enclosure fit for a lizard (I hope):

Now, all I need is something to live in my enclosure, and I'm all set :-/.

Before I go, any comments on or questions about my setup?

 

[beardie parents]

Every thing looks good. I'm not sure of the size of the tank, but if it's 36" long X 18" wide (at the bottom) you should be good through adulthood. The uvb you bought isn't a good one. You can use the fixture but you need to replace their uvb to the reptisun 10 tube which you can find cheapest here: http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/11442-504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html The reason for changing the bulb is that the zilla bulbs are notoriously bad and cause real problems for the beardies, causing eye PKC problems, where they don't open their eyes and then don't eat.

 

[nair88]

i agree with beardie parents. everything looks good except for the uvb bulb. what are you using the fixture on the right for? is it a che?

also, i'm curious - what's in the instrument case behind the tank?

 

[Gragrac]

Just wanted to add, you can put a ReptiSun in that fixture, just make sure you take off the plastic covering up the bulb. The plastic blocks pretty much all of the UV from passing through. Not sure what kind of genius designed that thing. :roll:

 

[ElectricPaladin]

I'm not sure of the size of the tank, but if it's 36" long X 18" wide (at the bottom) you should be good through adulthood.

Yep. 36" x 18" X 16".

The uvb you bought isn't a good one. You can use the fixture but you need to replace their uvb to the reptisun 10 tube which you can find cheapest here: http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/11442-504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html The reason for changing the bulb is that the zilla bulbs are notoriously bad and cause real problems for the beardies, causing eye PKC problems, where they don't open their eyes and then don't eat.

I'll place the order and replace the bulb as soon as it arrives. I'm probably not going to acquire the dragon until a week from Tuesday at the earliest, which should give the bulb time to arrive before the dragon does, or at the very worst, mean that the dragon isn't under a substandard bulb for longer than a few days.

i agree with beardie parents. everything looks good except for the uvb bulb. what are you using the fixture on the right for? is it a che?

That's an infra-red heat-emitter for night-time heat... or at least it's meant to be. It turned out to actually be a red light bulb :?. Anyway, it produces too much actual light for my wife to sleep through (and it would make it look like my dragon sleeps in hell), so when I go back to the pet store for plug-in timers (which I forgot) I'm going to pick up a ceramic heat emitter instead.

also, i'm curious - what's in the instrument case behind the tank?

Tenor sax. The little thing above it is a flute.

Just wanted to add, you can put a ReptiSun in that fixture, just make sure you take off the plastic covering up the bulb. The plastic blocks pretty much all of the UV from passing through. Not sure what kind of genius designed that thing.

And pry off the plastic. Check!

 

[nair88]

That's an infra-red heat-emitter for night-time heat... or at least it's meant to be. It turned out to actually be a red light bulb :?. Anyway, it produces too much actual light for my wife to sleep through (and it would make it look like my dragon sleeps in hell), so when I go back to the pet store for plug-in timers (which I forgot) I'm going to pick up a ceramic heat emitter instead.

good idea. just like your wife, your dragon wouldn't be able to sleep under the red light very well either ;-) one thing to think about though is that as long as the night time temperature doesn't go below 65 degrees, you really won't need to turn on the che. it's good for dragons to have slightly cooler temperatures at night. still, a good idea to have one just in case.

speaking of temperatures, i just thought of something else. i didn't see a thermometer in there. you really should get a digital thermometer with a probe. walmart actually sells a really good one for $12. you would put the probe directly on the basking spot and put the unit itself on the cold side so you can get readings on both

Tenor sax. The little thing above it is a flute.

awesome! do you currently play or does your wife or both?

 

[ElectricPaladin]

good idea. just like your wife, your dragon wouldn't be able to sleep under the red light very well either ;-) one thing to think about though is that as long as the night time temperature doesn't go below 65 degrees, you really won't need to turn on the che. it's good for dragons to have slightly cooler temperatures at night. still, a good idea to have one just in case.

speaking of temperatures, i just thought of something else. i didn't see a thermometer in there. you really should get a digital thermometer with a probe. walmart actually sells a really good one for $12. you would put the probe directly on the basking spot and put the unit itself on the cold side so you can get readings on both

I have a stick-on thermometer, a cheap little 7$ deal. According to my petstore people, my part of California (especially when I move to Oakland) is warm enough that I don't need to be too concerned about getting the temperature totally right, so I figured a fairly inexpensive, easy to use, stick-it-to-the-wall-and-forget-it thermometer would do the trick.

awesome! do you currently play or does your wife or both?

I do, though I'm quite rusty by now. I played sax from middle school through high school and piano from... seven, through high school. I stopped because I went to a really big music college (for an academic subject) and was ashamed of my meager talents. It's something I'm getting back into, though.

 

[nair88]

I have a stick-on thermometer, a cheap little 7$ deal. According to my petstore people, my part of California (especially when I move to Oakland) is warm enough that I don't need to be too concerned about getting the temperature totally right, so I figured a fairly inexpensive, easy to use, stick-it-to-the-wall-and-forget-it thermometer would do the trick.

well, they require a pretty specific temperature range on their basking spot in order to digest properly. you're right that you probably won't have a difficult time keeping it warm enough. in your case, it would be more the opposite concern. you don't want it to be too hot because your dragon may end up getting dehydrated very easily. it really is best to know a fairly exact temperature directly on the basking spot itself.

I do, though I'm quite rusty by now. I played sax from middle school through high school and piano from... seven, through high school. I stopped because I went to a really big music college (for an academic subject) and was ashamed of my meager talents. It's something I'm getting back into, though.

that's awesome that you're getting back into it. i'm a pretty avid musician myself - it's a huge passion in my life i play guitar and piano mainly, but i also dabble in the drums quite a bit. i love writing music too