New beardie owner! A few questions...

[Beardieonanadventure]

4 days ago I bought a baby beardie (named Mushu) from a Petco!

Recently Mushu has been "glass dancing" while I offer crickets and trying really hard to escape.

He/she will blink at the top of the cage when the lid is off and then it will acknowledge that my arm is a way out, then DART up my arm! It's really cute but somewhat scary as I've never taken Mushu outside it's enclosure.

Mushu is in a 20-gallon aquarium with 3 sides covered by papers. The substrate is repti-carpet and inside the cage is a log and a large tree branch leaning on the log for a basking spot. I have a bulb for basking and a reptisub 10.0 mini compact bulb which Mushu can be anywhere from 2 inches to 6 inches away from. I take out everything from her cage each feeding and dump in 6 crickets and Mushu usually eats 3-4 each feeding (I feed Mushu 2-3 times a day.) I'm on a phone so sorry if I've forgotten anything, please let me know what you think!

 

[CooperDragon]

It's not unusual for the little ones to glass dance. It can sometimes mean that they just don't understand the glass barrier and want to explore beyond it. It can also mean that there is a problem in the tank that they are trying to get away from. In this case, it's likely trying to explore. I do find an issue with your UVB light though. The compact bulbs have a VERY intense output right under the light in a narrow cone which can be harmful (think of the shape of a blowtorch). If Mushu can get 2-6 inches away from it, then it can become a big problem. I suggest switching that UVB light out and replacing it with a fluorescent tube which provides a much more even distribution of UVB across the basking area. This allows for better self regulation and is a much better option in my opinion. In a 20 gallon tank, a T8 ReptiSun 10.0 should be fine if you mount it about 6'' above the highest basking spot. When you upgrade your tank (you'll need a much bigger tank as he grows) I suggest moving to a T5 bulb and fixture which has an optimal range of about 12-14'' and is a better choice for larger enclosures.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. He sounds adorable . The reason why he is glass dancing is the compact bothers their eyes. I'd replace that with a reptisun 10.0 Tube. That is one of the most recommended uvb light on here.

 

[Beardieonanadventure]

Thank you both so much! I was reading a lot about that and was somewhat confused so thanks for clearing that up.

I have a double dome light fixture so should I return that and the UV bulb and get an individual basking dome?

Also, how many crickets should babies eat per day? Do they need veggies?

 

[CooperDragon]

I would use an individual dome for the basking light andthe tube/fixture for uvb right next to it.

Their appetite can fluctuate. Offer as many crickets as he wants in small batches in a 10-15 minute window a couple of times per day. I would provide a salad daily so he's used to it being available but he will likely prefer bugs for now as he needs the protein to support quick growth.

 

[kingofnobbys]

It's not unusual for the little ones to glass dance. It can sometimes mean that they just don't understand the glass barrier and want to explore beyond it. It can also mean that there is a problem in the tank that they are trying to get away from. In this case, it's likely trying to explore. I do find an issue with your UVB light though. The compact bulbs have a VERY intense output right under the light in a narrow cone which can be harmful (think of the shape of a blowtorch). If Mushu can get 2-6 inches away from it, then it can become a big problem. I suggest switching that UVB light out and replacing it with a fluorescent tube which provides a much more even distribution of UVB across the basking area. This allows for better self regulation and is a much better option in my opinion. In a 20 gallon tank, a T8 ReptiSun 10.0 should be fine if you mount it about 6'' above the highest basking spot. When you upgrade your tank (you'll need a much bigger tank as he grows) I suggest moving to a T5 bulb and fixture which has an optimal range of about 12-14'' and is a better choice for larger enclosures.

Good quality compact fluorescent globes that are designed to produce UVA and UVB are fine.

Keep in mind beardies in the wild are desert reptiles and experience extremely high UVA and UVB flux levels way higher than any compact UVB/UVA globe will produce.

Here (in Australia) I'd have to keep my beardies under their UVB200 13W globe for over a day for them to get the same exposure to UVB and UVA as they would if I take them outside for about an hour to run about in the sun.

I understand there have been issues in the past with CFBs but from my reading these issues are only a problem now with cheap no brand clones of the good quality brands like Exo Terra.
Buy quality and should be fine.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thank you both so much! I was reading a lot about that and was somewhat confused so thanks for clearing that up.

I have a double dome light fixture so should I return that and the UV bulb and get an individual basking dome?

Also, how many crickets should babies eat per day? Do they need veggies?

Worth considering an Exo Terra Mini or Nano compact reflector as an option (especially if you don't have a lot of height to play with in the enclosure).

PS : welcome to the adventure of owning and raising a beardie.

Might take a week or 2 for the little guy to adjust to and feel comfortable in his new home and with his new humans.

Do you know how old the hatchie is in WEEKS ? and perhaps put him in an empty cricket tub or empty plastic take away container, and pop him on the kitchen scales to weigh him ?

I'd weigh him regularly to keep track of how he's growing.

I started off my 2 hatchies on SMALL crickets at 6 weeks old (3 feeds per day of about 10 each , essentially a tub of crickets per day between them) + I was offering grated carrot, grated sweet potato, raw green peas and raw green beans all chopped fine in a food processor mixed with softened juvenile beardie pellets + coarsely torn bok choi greens offered fresh each morning.
I essentially fed them in separate tub and let them eat all the crickets they wanted each feed.
My two came home with me at about 8g each and were already eating their greens and veg daily.

If you want an excellent starter prey insect : small - medium silkworms (about 1" long) are hard to beat to give a baby - young beardie a great start in life.

They GROW FAST.

Mine are now nearly 3 years old and are both over 650g.

 

[Beardieonanadventure]

Thank you both so much! I was reading a lot about that and was somewhat confused so thanks for clearing that up.

I have a double dome light fixture so should I return that and the UV bulb and get an individual basking dome?

Also, how many crickets should babies eat per day? Do they need veggies?

Worth considering an Exo Terra Mini or Nano compact reflector as an option (especially if you don't have a lot of height to play with in the enclosure).

PS : welcome to the adventure of owning and raising a beardie.

Might take a week or 2 for the little guy to adjust to and feel comfortable in his new home and with his new humans.

Do you know how old the hatchie is in WEEKS ? and perhaps put him in an empty cricket tub or empty plastic take away container, and pop him on the kitchen scales to weigh him ?

I'd weigh him regularly to keep track of how he's growing.

I started off my 2 hatchies on SMALL crickets at 6 weeks old (3 feeds per day of about 10 each , essentially a tub of crickets per day between them) + I was offering grated carrot, grated sweet potato, raw green peas and raw green beans all chopped fine in a food processor mixed with softened juvenile beardie pellets + coarsely torn bok choi greens offered fresh each morning.
I essentially fed them in separate tub and let them eat all the crickets they wanted each feed.
My two came home with me at about 8g each and were already eating their greens and veg daily.

If you want an excellent starter prey insect : small - medium silkworms (about 1" long) are hard to beat to give a baby - young beardie a great start in life.

They GROW FAST.

Mine are now nearly 3 years old and are both over 650g.

I don't know his age and in terrified to let him anywhere out of his cage because I can feel when he's about to dart away.

Thanks for the good advice though, I'll note that down and try it!