Will Bruce
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Welcome to beardie world--- most common mistakes are surface basking temps not taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- colored lights being used-- ceramic heat emitters being used for basking bulbs-- and UVB that is the most critical--- coils are used instead of long tube fixtures --- if you using any of this stuff please let us help you get the tank set up correctly or you will have a sick dragon and eventually a dead one --My name's Will and have just gotten a Beardie. So far, I've always been mostly a snake guy, and contribute regularly to Care Sheets | BALL PYTHON BREEDER UK
Bearded dragons are a whole other kettle of fish, though!
I would love to hear what the most common mistakes are that people make with Beardies? And what are things only long-term keepers would know?
Thanks!
You can use them but they are spendy--- you would still need the long tube fixture for UVB anyway-- the MVB's are tricky to use sometimes as the distance for the heat and UVB is compromised - the further away from the basking spot the less the UVB rays - then closer to the basking spot the heat is too hot -- so its like your sacrificing one or the other - it also needs to be unobstructed to get the UVB rays to what they should be as well --- I dont recommend them its better to go w/ just a regular clear solid bright white basking bulb and a good long tube UVB--Thanks, that's excellent! I guess that's all pretty logical stuff. I've seen those issues happen with uromastyx and other diurnal lizards too and I would definitely avoid. What's the opinion on all-in-one mercury vapor bulbs though? Why aren't more people using them?
Thanks BrandonI could spend all day making a list. Best bet is to just invest some time here reading and keeping up with active threads.
If you have specific questions though, feel free to ask.
My biggest one is in regards to diet. Too many people think that one single feeder insect is going to be better than multiple other options. Variety in the diet will always trump 1 single good food item.
Another one like Karrie mentioned is using a digital thermometer with probe end. Temperatures are arguably the most important aspect of a dragons health. Most people think that IR guns are the best thermometer, but that is usually not true.
-Brandon
I so needed to hear this! Thanks!Another huge one is this recent trend (last 5 years or so) to over feed growing dragons. So many people think you need to let a growing dragon gorge on insects 3 times a day otherwise you are starving it. Because of this, it's now common for 6-8 month old dragons to be fully adult size when the standard for a full grown adult used to be 1 1/2 - 2 years old.
Nothing good comes from a 6-8 month old dragon being adult size (unless you're a breeder... but that's a different discussion). And nothing good comes from a dragon over eating on insects.
-Brandon
So true, drop it on the nose, let it run down and they slurp it up - so important!
Big mistake on my part, was buying a 40 gallon tank.My name's Will and have just gotten a Beardie. So far, I've always been mostly a snake guy, and contribute regularly to Care Sheets | BALL PYTHON BREEDER UK
Bearded dragons are a whole other kettle of fish, though!
I would love to hear what the most common mistakes are that people make with Beardies? And what are things only long-term keepers would know?
Thanks!
Yup i made the same mistake, 10, 20 long 40 and finally 120. What an ***** i am lol.Big mistake on my part, was buying a 40 gallon tank.
If I could do things over again, I would have started with a 120 gallon...what a waste of money with the 40 gallon. Just my experience.
They grow too quickly to mess with a small tank.
I could spend all day making a list. Best bet is to just invest some time here reading and keeping up with active threads.
If you have specific questions though, feel free to ask.
My biggest one is in regards to diet. Too many people think that one single feeder insect is going to be better than multiple other options. Variety in the diet will always trump 1 single good food item.
Another one like Karrie mentioned is using a digital thermometer with probe end. Temperatures are arguably the most important aspect of a dragons health. Most people think that IR guns are the best thermometer, but that is usually not true.
-Brandon
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