New Beardie Owner!

[BreezyBeardie]

Hello everybody! My name is Brianna I am so excited to have stumbled upon this board! I just adopted my first beardie baby!

I have the tank all set up except for a few minor things that I want to change up. It's a 20 gallon tank for now because I bought the "kit" from Petsmart that had all of the bulbs and things that I needed and it saved me money. (I work there, so I also got an employee discount as well). I know I will have to upgrade to a 40 gallon though. They said in about a year? Yes? No?

I tried learning as much as I could from the pet care associates at Petsmart, but I also wanted to look online for other people with personal stories as well. And when I stumbled upon here, it was JUST what I was looking for!

I have read many of the discussions in order to truly understand how to set my tank up, lighting, feeding, etc.

Just ordered my first order of Reptiworms because I saw how many of you love them and I can't wait to receive them! I got crickets for him and he still seems a bit shy since I only got him about 3 days ago. Sometimes the crickets will walk right past him but he is too busy looking around and exploring so sometimes I will just place him right in front of a cricket and then he goes for it!

He loves to be held which I am very happy about. I tried starting him on some veggies as well but I don't think he touches them! He just basks all day long, I still think he is getting used to the environment. But I really think that the worms will be perfect for him since I can just put them in his feeding bowl with the veggies and he can go to town . The pet care workers at Petsmart have been telling me that mealworms are okay for the juvenile beardies and I have learned from so many of you on here that they cause so many problems and are not digestible for the youngins. That was the biggest thing that I have learned on here so far because I was about to buy some mealworms today because I thought he will like them better than the crickets. And then when i discovered the Reptiworms and how healthy, nutritious, and more importantly SAFE they are for him, I was so excited!

I attached a few pictures of him but I haven't yet chosen a name (as you can tell). I wanted to wait until I can tell the sex but that won't be for awhile. Anyone have any good names that would be good for either sex? Ideas are much appreciated!

Well I just wanted to introduce myself and my excitement with all of you and just say hello!

If anyone has some noob advice that they want to share, go ahead. I want to learn everything I can so that he is happy and healthy.

-Brianna

OH, and PS, I will post pictures of my terrarium after I get the last finishing touches put on ;-).

Sleeping like a cutie.

And last but not least, my most favorite accessory.

<3

 

[mommisgurl]

Haha welcome.! :wave:
My name is also briana,and I also work at a petsmart xD How funny.! Just got done wearing that green 'adoption' shirt too lmaoo

One thing I learn from working there is that some things that work does isn't really the absolute best for the babies..so I suggest going off of things here in this forum..from people who have gone through everything there is to,and want to share and help others

I also have learned from customers that the kit we sell isn't really that good as far as the bulbs..they either burn out in a few days because they are cheap,or they don't get the temps to where they need to be..so I really suggest getting a temp gun,as well as new bulbs..those ones just won't do it for you..
You can get away with a Zoo Med basking bulb 50w- 75w for the 10 gallon it comes with. You shouldn't need any night heat unless your house gets below 65 at night..they need the drop in temp at night. What kind of uvb are you using.?

Once again,welcome.! And if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask.!

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Omg wow that is toooo funny!! Haha.

But as for the bulbs, it comes with the Reptisun which everyone seems to be saying is the best for UVB? I hope so! I wouldn't have bought the kit if the bunks were junk :-/.

EDIT: this week I am getting the AcuRite temp/humidity tester. So I'll know the actual temps soon!

 

[mommisgurl]

Ahhh I must be thinking of the other desert kit we sell too..
The reptisun is the best possible uvb bulb you can get..can't go wrong with that keep that..what stuff comes in that kit.?

 

[MNBeardedDragons]

What a cutie!

Figured I'd make my greetings here as well!

For feeding veggies we got lucky, our girl LOVES shredded carrots - we have one of those little 'slap chops' that we use to make a small bites salad (Carrot, Kale and Turnip greens most days) and a raspberry once or twice a week. But it seems some are just picky eaters!

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Ahhh I must be thinking of the other desert kit we sell too..
The reptisun is the best possible uvb bulb you can get..can't go wrong with that keep that..what stuff comes in that kit.?

Yeah it's actually called a Bearded Dragon Starter Kit. So like I said it's a 20 gallon tank including; Reptisun bulb with a hood, a lamp that holds 2 bulbs including the red night heat bulb (which I won't use until winter possibly) and the basking bulb, dry beardie food, calcium powder, 2 feeding bowls, reptisand, stick on thermometer, anddddd I think that's it?

I put the dry food in the tank but he hasn't touched it, like I said though he hasn't really touched much. Of course I will never touch the sand so I just have that to the side for now until I can do something with it that doesn't have to do with my beardie. And the stick on thermometer is there but just so unreliable so I'm getting the AcuRite at Home Depot tomorrow.

 

[BreezyBeardie]

What a cutie!

Figured I'd make my greetings here as well!

For feeding veggies we got lucky, our girl LOVES shredded carrots - we have one of those little 'slap chops' that we use to make a small bites salad (Carrot, Kale and Turnip greens most days) and a raspberry once or twice a week. But it seems some are just picky eaters!

That's awesome! I really want him to start on the salad. So when my reptiworms finally come, I will throw them in so that salad moves and maybe he will eat everything!

What else are you feeding yours when it comes to live food?

 

[MNBeardedDragons]

My beardie is getting small crickets, 1 - 3 waxworms a week and 1 - 3 mealworms per week (we do check to make sure she's digesting them fully, she prefers them over the waxworms, sometimes refusing to eat crickets or waxworms. The booger. She's eating about 10 to 20 crickets per day and her 'salad' mostly. Salad includes Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Mustard Greens, Kale, Carrots, (once per week either raspberry, blackberry or mango). Lots of variety or she'll just pick out the carrots if it's the same more than a few days in a row.

 

[diamc]

But as for the bulbs, it comes with the Reptisun which everyone seems to be saying is the best for UVB? I hope so! I wouldn't have bought the kit if the bunks were junk :-/.

Is the Repti-Sun a compact/coil type or is it a long tube? I suspect it isn't the long tube as the other types usually come with the kits. Unfortunately, the compact & coil UVB's aren't good, no matter what brand they are and can cause all sorts of health problems.

 

[BreezyBeardie]

But as for the bulbs, it comes with the Reptisun which everyone seems to be saying is the best for UVB? I hope so! I wouldn't have bought the kit if the bunks were junk :-/.

Is the Repti-Sun a compact/coil type or is it a long tube? I suspect it isn't the long tube as the other types usually come with the kits. Unfortunately, the compact & coil UVB's aren't good, no matter what brand they are and can cause all sorts of health problems.

It's a coil.... How in the world does that cause problems? UGH!

 

[diamc]

I was sorry to have to tell you that but I figured I should mention it rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. Here's some info about the bulb as reported by Frances Baines who tests all the UVB bulbs and then reports the results.

ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamps

The report we have submitted to ZooMed contains details of a total of 20 incidents, involving 40 animals, which have developed symptoms of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis as a result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Of these, 18 incidents were associated with the use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamp and two were associated with use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 Compact Lamp. The details of these cases are summarised in the chart below. 7 cases were reported by the veterinary surgeon who examined them (MB) and details of a further 13 cases were reported by the reptiles' owners (and collated by FB).

A summary of all these cases is given in the following table.
The estimated UV Index at the basking spot was calculated from the actual lamp, when that was available, or in all other cases, from data from one of the new sample lamps after 1 - 2 hours burn, at the same distance and in a similar fixture.

Here's the link to that particular info: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-cases.htm And, here's the link to her website: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm She is in the process of posting a whole new set of testing results.

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Wow okay where do I get a non coiled light from?!? Oh no I'm freaking out. I should just leave it off tomorrow until I pick up a new one....I know Petsmart doesn't have them.


EDIT Is this okay/what I want for the UVB then? http://www.petco.com/product/6352/Zoo-Med-Repti-Sun-50-Fluorescent-Lamps.aspx
CRAP the small one is only an online exclusive..... I don't want to wait too long to get one. Where can I go and what length should I get for my 20 gallon tank? 15 or 18 maybe?

 

[diamc]

The 5.0 bulbs aren't strong enough for bearded dragons. This is the one you want: http://www.petco.com/product/102889/Zoo-Med-Reptisun-100-UVB-Bulb-for-Reptiles.aspx?CoreCat=certona-_-ProductListTopRated_Reptile_3-_-Zoo%20Med%20Reptisun%2010.0%20UVB%20Bulb%20for%20Reptiles-102889

 

[BreezyBeardie]

The 5.0 bulbs aren't strong enough for bearded dragons. This is the one you want: http://www.petco.com/product/102889/Zoo-Med-Reptisun-100-UVB-Bulb-for-Reptiles.aspx?CoreCat=certona-_-ProductListTopRated_Reptile_3-_-Zoo%20Med%20Reptisun%2010.0%20UVB%20Bulb%20for%20Reptiles-102889

Okay great. I ordered the 5.0, then learned I need the 10. So I just ordered the 10 today from Amazon, and when the 5.0 gets here, i'll send it right on back. Thanks!