my lovely new beardie!

[BobbysOwner]

Hello, my boyfriend and I got our new beardie there on Friday so we're now new owners to 18month old Bobby we got him from a friend of my boyfriends family who, unfortunately didn't have time for him anymore due to just having had a little baby. I've done all my research and things to know, but I'm still a bit nervous incase I've missed something or I'm not doing something right any hints and tips you have would be greatly appreciated

 

[Beardienatic]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Feel free to ask any questions, if you want you can just post your set-up and we can see if it's good (lights, temps, enclosure, food, etc.) I'm sure you will be having lots of fun with your new family member!!

 

[BobbysOwner]

Bobby has a 4x2x2 tank, I think that's the perfect size for him he seems to enjoy running up and down it and jumping at his glass haha our local reptile store does mostly lizards and says he's been raising beardies for over 10 years, he gave me a tub of locusts to feed him, a packet of calcium to dust over them before I begin to feed him, and his two bulbs are a 100watt basking light and a long uv strip light I think it says 10% on it, is this all okay? I'm so nervous of doing something wrong for him

 

[CooperDragon]

4x2x2 is a great size and should serve him well. The bulb and UVB tube are the proper lights. The UVB tube needs to be replaced periodically because it's output will diminish over time. About 6 months for a T8 bulb or a year for a T5 (skinnier, higher output) bulb is a good rule to go by. Do you have a good thermometer to measure temperature? Having accurate temperature readings of the surfaces in the tank is important. An IR temp gun or a digital thermometer with a probe are your best bets.

At 18 months he should be migrating to a primarily vegetarian diet so I'd provide a salad for him daily with some nice dark greens along with things like squash and other vegetables and maybe a bit of fruit. Provide as much variety as you can to ensure he's getting a balanced diet. Offer the locusts every other day or every third day for 10 minutes all he wants to eat. I like to reference this site when I put salads together http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Please post photos of your setup and your new buddy. I look forward to seeing him and hearing more about him. Please don't hesitate to ask any further questions you have as well.

 

[BobbysOwner]

He's just had his heat bulb replaced so he's loving his basking spot, what do you think about misting him? I read once a day but the reptile shop said every 4-6 weeks? I have been trying him with salads and fruits but he only ever seems to eat the rocket and nothing else :/ he has a thermometer build into his tank and one that says hydro too I think his top one is just over 90f and his other is 40 I've read it should be 105f but the temp never seems to rise I think I might replace his uv light tomorrow and see. I haven't got the hang of this site yet I'm not sure how to post pictures

 

[CooperDragon]

Misting is OK but I prefer to put them in a shallow bath of warm water or use a dropper to put some water on their nose for them to lick up. That can be done daily but isn't necessary at that frequency.

I suggest picking up a digital thermometer with a probe or an IR temp gun. Something like this http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...s-501/komodo-infrared-thermometer-342124.html or this perhaps http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...rs-501/komodo-digital-thermometer-290905.html
It's important to get the temperatures just right so a good thermometer is worth the investment. The basking site should be at 38-43C and the cool side should be 24-27 or so with a nice gradient between.

Be patient with the salads, that can take quite a while to switch them to if they aren't used to it. Rocket is fine for now. Try a bunch of things and see if you can stumble upon a few things that he enjoys. Give it time.

You can upload photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and then post them using the XIMG button.

 

[BobbysOwner]

Any salads and fruits you recommend trying him with? His loves his locusts! I like to give him a wee mist every 3-4 days he seems to like it he sits with his eye closed while I do it then runs about all hyper haha I'll definitely look into getting a decent thermometer for him I just not sure about him only eating rocket and locusts though he's going to need more

 

[CooperDragon]

As long as he's digging into the rocket and locusts that's fine for now. I've had good luck with different kinds of squash and pumpkins cut up into little worm like slices, chopped green beans, strawberry tops, celery leaves, other dark greens. I'm not sure what you have available in your area that is on the list I posted earlier but it's a good reference. Variety is key though so if you have something that's readily available, give it a try and see if he'll go for it. Does he lick the drops from his face when you spray him? You might try just dripping water on his nose and see if he'll lick it up that way.

 

[BobbysOwner]

I tried some chopped up apple last night but he never even tasted it is chopped celery okay to try him with? He was acting quite odd yesterday I'm not sure if he's just got used to where he is or he was scared but I had him out for a few minutes and when I put him back in he was running up an dien his tank like a nutter, and when I let my little brother In law ( hes 5) pet him he seemed real on edge about him petting him? Me and my boyfriend took him out a few hours after that an he was running about hyper an jumping like very active I'm not sure if it's normal an he's playing or ge was frightened? I'm in Northern Ireland but we get most fruits and veggies. No he just sits an let's me mist him then patters about. Every picture I've seen in here if other people's beardies they seem to be pretty much the same kind of colour, have the a variety of colours they can come in? Bobby is completely different

 

[CooperDragon]

Celery is OK once in a while but doesn't offer much. If you can get your hands on some squashes it may work best based on what I've seen. It sounds like maybe he just had energy to burn off and was acting up a bit. If they're frightened they usually either back off or they'll flare their beards and open their mouth in defense. When my guys acted like that I'd just let them out for a run around the house until they tired themselves. There are lots of different colors they can come in. Some are yellow, some are orange, some are kind of in between. Lots of different patterns etc. It just depends on their breeding.

 

[BobbysOwner]

Cooked or uncooked squash? We have him out about 3/4 times a day sometimes he's active other times he just lays there. Bobby is like the usual beardie green but he's dark spots on his back and his beard is orange we just introduced him to our two kittens today haha

 

[CooperDragon]

You can offer it cooked or uncooked. I usually offered yellow and green squash uncooked and sliced into small worm shapes.