Need help with a new setup

[waiting4thebus]

Hi there, I'm new to this website and sort of new on owning a bearded dragon. I had two throughout my childhood but now many years later I'm thinking of getting one. I still have my old tank (30 gallon) and I'm thinking of using it until the beardie gets a bit bigger. Then I will upgrade to a 55ish gallon tank. I'm wondering where you bearded dragon owners get all your supplies from? Personally I used to go to PetLand but I am now against going there unless I absolutely have to. I don't mind ordering online for supplies, I just don't know of any websites so if you can help me out with some. What are some good practical tools that help you on a day-day basis with your bearded dragon? Example: Light-timers, poop scoopers... What shops/stores/websites do you recommend I can browse through to improvise viv enclosure setups? I was thinking of using reptile carpet or shelf liner. Any other advice/information/directories would be awesome and much appreciated. Thank you all!

 

[Zeusmybeardie]

1. U will want a reptisun 10.0 fluorescent tube and u will mount it inside the tank so your beardie can get 6-8 inchs away

2. Temps 105-110f u will want a digital thermometer with a probe 3. U can use news paper paper towel or tile as substrate

3. Calcium and vitamin powder u will dust the crickets with calcium 5x a week and vitamins 2x

4. Basking spot hide climbing things etc

5. U will not need a night light unless ur house goes under 65 at night

6. Never get ur beardie from a pet store U can get your supplies from pet stores just not the animal if not petmountain.com also u will want a feeding bowl or two and here's a website for veggies that will be offered every day all day

 

[Dooter]

I agree with everything Zeus said...

You can find your lighting fixtures at Home Depot (or any hardware store) for much cheaper than you'd find at any pet store, online or not. I saved quite a bit of $$$ with that. Pick up a few different wattages of incandescent or halogen bulbs (for basking) - different wattages until you figure out which one gives the correct basking temp. Also pick up a power strip and a timer while you're there.

I like www.bigappleherp.com for buying supplies online.

Good luck!

 

[Zeusmybeardie]

If ur American petmountain.com if your Canadian bigappleherp

 

[EccentricME]

For substrate (bedding) you do not want anything loose. So that means NO sand, wood chips, walnut shell ect. Pet stores will probably try to sell you these and say it is safe.

What is best is tile, repti carpet, non stick shelf liner, or even paper towel/newpaper. We use slate tile in our vivs it helps with filing nails and I think it looks nice.

Good for you researching before you get a dragon again. It's hard weed through conflicting information but I think this site is a great start!! :mrgreen:

 

[waiting4thebus]

Where can I get tiles for a cage? I can use the ones from home depot as well?

 

[ChrisMiller]

http://www.amazon.com for everything these days. Except for flexwatt heat tape and other stuff... I pick that up from The Bean Farm.

Big Apple Herp is just a bunch of overpriced junk from what I have seen. Quality alternatives are available on Amazon for a lot less and with my Prime membership I get everything in 2 days and with free shipping. It's to the point now where if it takes me longer than 2-3 days to receive an item, I won't even order from the company again. My first, last and only order from Big Apple Herp took over a week. Maybe I am spoiled, but when I need an item, I need it. Waiting a week + is not an option.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[IROCthisZ28]

If ur American petmountain.com if your Canadian bigappleherp

I think it is switched, being from the Big Apple myself I would say thats the NY American based one