I'm new! my beardie is 3yrs old..

[purpleangel]

Hi i'm Sam - my beardie is a male called Dave.I was a complete novice when I took him in after his PO could'nt look after him anymore. He was about 1 yr old when i got him, he wasn't in great condition, and he's had some health problems but recovered really well. He had MBD a few months after I had him, but i found a vet that specialised in lizards and we got him back on track.
His viv measures 3ft wide x 4ft high and 2ft deep. I use Reptiglo 10.0 and a 75w heat bulb during the day and use a 50w moonlight bulb at night. I found that this provided just enough heat for the night temp.
Dave has a great personality, he strops if you move things in his viv and when i used to take him to my friends to stay while i was on holiday he would sulk til i got back. He loves the Sugarbabes and Lorraine Kelly , he head bops and puffs his beard up whenever they're on tv.
He loves apricots, beetroot and passionfruit. I also found that physillium seeds added once a week adds extra roughage to the diet and helps to keep healthy bowel movement ( he was once very constipated for about a week, the day after he had these he was MUCH better! ) and he doesn't even notice them cause they're so small.
He also likes to go in the bath - his PO had bathed him so i continued with it and now he loves nothing more than swimming lengths of the bath.
I've joined up cause even though I've had him a while sometimes i could still do with some advice especially as i dont really know anyone that has beardies. I still can't get him to drink water properly. he used to drink from a dish with a bit of crushed berries in it, then stopped. Then he drank from a syringe but now very rarely drinks from it, Ive seen the vet who says he's fine but i still worry that i'm doing stuff wrong sometimes. I'm starting a degree in animal science and health management that covers exotic species, so will hopefully learn lots more and be able to pass the info on.

Well thats the big intro done, i look forward to chatting to everyone! :wink:

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Hi i'm Sam - my beardie is a male called Dave.I was a complete novice when I took him in after his PO could'nt look after him anymore. He was about 1 yr old when i got him, he wasn't in great condition, and he's had some health problems but recovered really well. He had MBD a few months after I had him, but i found a vet that specialised in lizards and we got him back on track.
His viv measures 3ft wide x 4ft high and 2ft deep. I use Reptiglo 10.0 and a 75w heat bulb during the day and use a 50w moonlight bulb at night. I found that this provided just enough heat for the night temp.
Dave has a great personality, he strops if you move things in his viv and when i used to take him to my friends to stay while i was on holiday he would sulk til i got back. He loves the Sugarbabes and Lorraine Kelly , he head bops and puffs his beard up whenever they're on tv.
He loves apricots, beetroot and passionfruit. I also found that physillium seeds added once a week adds extra roughage to the diet and helps to keep healthy bowel movement ( he was once very constipated for about a week, the day after he had these he was MUCH better! ) and he doesn't even notice them cause they're so small.
He also likes to go in the bath - his PO had bathed him so i continued with it and now he loves nothing more than swimming lengths of the bath.
I've joined up cause even though I've had him a while sometimes i could still do with some advice especially as i dont really know anyone that has beardies. I still can't get him to drink water properly. he used to drink from a dish with a bit of crushed berries in it, then stopped. Then he drank from a syringe but now very rarely drinks from it, Ive seen the vet who says he's fine but i still worry that i'm doing stuff wrong sometimes. I'm starting a degree in animal science and health management that covers exotic species, so will hopefully learn lots more and be able to pass the info on.

Well thats the big intro done, i look forward to chatting to everyone! :wink:

Hello and Welcome!! If I may suggest a few things! The reptiglo uvb is know to cause problems! I would recommend using the reptisun 10.0 uvb! Also if the night time bulb throws off lite I would turn it off as it may interrupt his sleeping habit!! They sell a ceramic heat element that throws off only heat and they work great! What are you using for the substrate? Also most beardies will get their water from their insects! By the way are you feeding insects? The bathes will help hydrate him! They will take water through the vent! You can also flood his veggies with water before you feed him! Also Are you using calcium and vitamins? If not I would suggest dusting his veggies and salad 5x a week with calcium and dust with the vitamins once a week.. Here is a very good link for you to check out! http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html .... Good luck and if you have any more questions just ask!!!!

 

[purpleangel]

Thanks for the advice. Here are a few more details - He is a bit a the small side due to previous health problems and measures approx 16inches.
He has a calci dust supplement everyday - he had mbd 18 months ago, had steriod injections from the vet and now has a good serving each day either from veggies or crickets. He also eats locusts and the occasional mealworm. His veggie diet is good. He wouldn't eat veg at all when i took him in, but now eats carrot tops, beetroot, broccolli, peas, sweetcorn, papaya, blueberries, grapes, apricots, dragonfruit and prickly pear fruit. Most of wich i grow organically hor him or source from organic suppliers.
I use play sand as my substrate, which is sifted before i use it, and every day when cleaning up after him.
The moonlight bulb throws off very little light and seems to suit him - the lights are staggered so its not an abrupbt end to the day and when it does come on within 10 mins he's off to bed.
Thankyou for advice concerning the repti-glo, I had a feeling this might be the case. I was wondering whether an mvb might be better suited to his large viv, Ive seen that they are better suited to large vivs whats your view on this?
Thanks again x

 

[zebraflavencs]

Here is a pictorial answer to the MVB question

The first viv is 49l x 49h x 24w.
The second is 49l x 39h x 24w.

You can see the bright colors and the bright lights. Worth it, if you can make sure that there is minimum 12" distance at the closest. You also should be aware that if you do go that route, burn the bulb in 4 days before using over the dragon.
This allows excess gasses to burn off ( and high temps) to settle before being the most marvelous lighting.
Janie. Shameless advertising

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Janie said it! MVB is the way to go! If the funds are there. Also try to steer away from the meal worms and more to super worms! Also if you would use tile or slate, it is much easier to clean up after they do their business! The sand thing is a very well debated subject here! LOL.. Some of us kind look at it as a little box! Well good luck, any more questions just ask!! O and we love pictures here!!!

 

[purpleangel]

Thanks guys for the info, its very gratefully recieved! Looks like MVB is what i need - its very hard to come across some of the bulbs that you guys use , they seem to charge ALOT more here in the UK, but I'm looking at whether I can get some shipped over.

Ive just registered with photobucket so as soon as I work out what I'm doing I'll post some pics.

Thanks again x

 

[purpleangel]

I'm just trying to get to grips with everything. I'm hoping these photos load so here goes:

 

[purpleangel]

Yea! first one posted! will sort out some more now i know how it all works.
Thanks for the advice guys - budget couldnt stretch to the MVB but a new reptiSun is on its way.
The questionaire sounds great please post for me X

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Awwww, looks like such a sweetheart!!!

 

[Staz]

Hello,

Welcome to the site Sam & Dave. As you have already noticed this site is great for help and advice, and also just to share fun and interesting beardie experiences. Dave looks adoreable, I am so pleased that with your help he recovered from his previous health problems. Where abouts in the uk are you based? It's hillarious that Dave likes lorraine kelly, my Jade's viv is opposite the tv but he never really responds to anything on it. Sometimes however when he lies down on his log the way he rests his head makes it looks like he has positioned himself for a relaxing evening infront of the box!! He does seem to like music though, is it sugarbabes music dave responds to or them on the tele? How interesting!

Look forward to hearing more about your little man and seeing more pix!

Staz & Jade

 

[newowner2]

hello and welcome p.s. we love pictures

 

[purpleangel]

Hi Staz,

Me and Dave live in Shropshire, bordering Wales.

I've never really tried to play him Sugababes music, will have to give it a go, but he definatley gets going when they come on the tv. He's a bit of a telly addict, I used to leave it on for him as he was in my room away from the other animals, and we noticed he would move to watch it when we went to bed and turned it on.

He now lives downstairs and socialises with everyone. He loves running about the house when the other animals are out, and depending on his mood will climb the stairs to the bathroom, so he lets you know when he wants a bath.

Thanks to everyone for welcoming us into the fold!

 

[purpleangel]

Dave says Hi !

 

[Staz]

aaaaawwww hello there dave!! Aren't you a cutie!