Needing help in setting up home for "Harry"

[bulllady]

Can someone please tell me what all I need to get the home for "Harry" to come home soon. We have a 55 gallon tank with glass lid for fish. So do I need a different lid.... I think I do? What else should I get to set up a nice home for "Harry"? We want to spoil him. So please tell me what is a must and what is a "spoil him" items. I don't want to go by a sales person at the pet store. Don't mind getting things online either.... if they are cheaper than what I can get here local.

Thanks for your help.....

 

[Toyguy]

The problem with most fish tanks is they are too narrow. You need at least 18" deep and 24" is better. The length and height are probably OK. Is Harry a baby or a full-grown beardie? You can expect him to be somewhere over 20" when grown, so a 13" fish tank isn't a very good fit.

The glass lid will have to go, as glass blocks UVB light, and a fully closed tank will likely be too airtight and way too hot. You'll need a screen top. You'll need a ReptiSUN 10.0 fluorescent tube UVB light and a fixture. Don't let the pet shop talk you into anything else. You will need some sort of a heat lamp to bring the basking area temperature up to around 105 degrees F. That should be on one side of the tank. The other end should be allowed to drop to around 85 degrees and is called the "cool side". For basking, you will want some sort of branch or ledge. Just be sure it is stable - a pile of rocks may not work well.

You'll need a substrate - non-adhesive shelf paper or floor tiles are good. No sand or other particulates. You'll need a good digital thermometer with humidity readout. You can get them at Lowes for around $12 with a wired probe. Run the wire to the basking spot, hang the unit in the cold spot and you have it all covered.

You may want a water dish - some use them and some don't. You may want a hide of some kind. Again, some dragons use them and some don't.

You'll obviously want food - crickets, repti-worms or phoenix worms. Meal worms are not good. Anything you feed should be sized about the distance between his eyes. You'll need a salad bowl, and the salad. Collard greens are good, squash, carrots in moderation. Plain lettuce is not good for them. You will also need ReptiCAL calcium powder and Herptivite vitamin powder. Dust the live feeders with calcium 5 times a week, with the vitamins 2x a week.

You'll need to give him a bath about every other day or so, so plan on a container for that. Then there's cleaning supplies: paper towels, disinfectant, etc. for cleaning the poop and the cage. Keep some hand sanitizer around for you, as they can carry salmonella in some cases.

As the weather warms up, you might want a leash and harness for him to take him out with you. And don't forget the initial vet checkup to make sure he's healthy and parasite-free.

Good luck and post pics!

 

[bulllady]

"Harry" is about 6 month old. We've not gotten him yet. We wanted to make his home ready for him first. As we knew that it has to be warm. When taking him home how do you keep him warm? We live in IL and right now it's still a bit nippy outside.

 

[Gragrac]

How are you transporting him? If in a car, just turning up the heat should be good. They can stand lower temperatures for a while, he should be fine.
The above advice is all good. Just wanted to mention to stay away from heat rock and heating pads, (Can cause burns) and 'night time' bulbs. (Can interfere with sleep.) They don't need any heat sources at night unless it drops below 65 degrees, then you can use a Ceramic Heat Emitter, which emits light but no heat.
For extra fun stuff, you can add a soft stuffed animal or a fleece blanket, many beardies love to snuggle with those.
Also, just wanted to give a thumbs up for trying to get accurate information.

 

[Bummblebee]

I have my two 8 month olds in there own 55 g tanks and my yr old in a 75 gallon tank Ill try and post some pics how I have mine set up
Ill say this I have changed several time learning from my own mistakes first I had things way to crowded I feel what all my beardies have now

Luna 8 month female UVB and Heat Source Log the width of the tank for climbing to hot side and cool side leves floor space open hot side has a log set up on the floor also cool side has food dish at night I put there pet beds inside and remove food dish

Torch has what Luna has plus a hammock

Rock'O has all this and a log he can hide in minuse the hammock

All three have ceramic tile the color of sand
Not pictured but I added Rocks me and my son painted with our dragons name on them in each tank made it look more comfy I also added green reptile carpet on the sides I put there food dishes so if some spills out it falls on the carpet and it can b removed and cleaned

Here is 75 g I have Rock'O in

Here is Torch's 55 g set up all three of mine have a bed like this for night time