New Dragon lover

[foolsgold]

Hey guys,
I've been looking at dragons for about 6-8 months, shortly after I got my family started on leopard geckos (have 5 now ). Well I've got mealies and dubia roaches going strong for my geckos and have been wanting to add a dragon to my reptile family. Posted an add on Craigslist asking if anyone had a dragon they were unable to keep anymore and got a promising answer back. The kid has the dragon but just moved in with his mother and she won't let him bring it from his fathers house and his father won't (can't?) care for it while he's gone. I'm not sure if I'm going to get the tank and set up w/ the dragon or not but I also have a 75gal TALL tank that I'm going to get for him even if he dose come with his own setup.
OK so here's what I know I need - Bugs (as stated I already have lots of them to my mother in laws displeasure lol), Greens (collards, kale, basically anything but lettuce), UV Light (ReptiSUN 10.0 going the length of the tank correct?), Heat light (one side of the tank temps 100-110F right?, cool side 85-90F), Water bowl, already have dust for the bugs, will be doing tile for the tank and building 'rocks' for hides and to climb on.... anything else? It's 4:30am so I don't THINK I've left anything out lol :lol:
Please feel free to point anything out that I've missed, want to do this right. Oh yah,what heat lamp should I get, what is the price on it? HA oh yah and I've as yet to say anything to hubby about the new guy *cringe* :lol: :lol: :lol: He spoils me though and loves the geckos so as long as I take care of the guy and he doesn't smell poop he's not gona mind.
Thanks for any help and advice you can give me,
~~~Shannon

 

[fresnowitte]

Hello Shannon & Welcome to BD.org!

Okay mealworms are not very good for beardies you might consider growing some super worms though. :wink:
The chitins outer shell is much to hard for beardies digestive system and the nutrition is not all that good. Here's a link to a nutritional chart for some live feeders;
http://www.feedersinc.com/insect-comparison/
Here's a link to a nutritional value chart to some beardie foods notice it is color coded as to how often it can, should, or can not be fed; http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

You may or may not need the waterdish as I know with mine they won't touch standing water an I found that it raised my humidity levels to high. I keep mine hydrated with baths and misting salads.

You need a good thermometer like a infrared temp gun or a digital probe thermometer.....not the stick on type that the pet stores sell as they can be up to 20* off and temps are very important.

Okay you mentioned the Reptisun 10.0 thats' good an if you need an additional light to raise the temps in your basking spot you don't have to buy an expensive basking bulb...a regular white household bulb will do the same for much less out of pocket. You don't need any extra heat at night unless your house drops below 65* then it's best you use a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) it puts out know light.

When you say you have the dust do you mean you have Calcium W/D3 and the Herpative multivitamin?

Good luck breaking the news to hubby. :wink:

Please do share pic's and keep us updated.

 

[foolsgold]

I have thermometers sitting around from my geckos. I do want to get a temp gun though just because they are fun to play with and an easy 'spot check' for the tank temps. The calcium I have is this http://www.superfoods.repashy.com/foods_ICB_Dragon.htm
Hubby's had a bad week at work and I'm cringing to break the news to him.... but I hate keeping secrets even more..... Well off to tell him now.... If I never post again say a prayer for me that I may RIP :lol: :lol: :lol:
Let me know what you think of that dust if you don't mind and thank you for the warm welcome Fresnowitte :wave: :wave: :wave:

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Hello and welcome!!!!!!!!!!1


Lance

 

[fresnowitte]

I have thermometers sitting around from my geckos. I do want to get a temp gun though just because they are fun to play with and an easy 'spot check' for the tank temps.

I love the temp gun with 8 viv's it makes my life easier an yes it is kind of fun to play with as a matter of fact I even carry an extra one around in my purse. :lol: If you have a Harbor Freight Tools near you they sell a nice little one for $9.99 which is a great buy. :wink:

The calcium I have is this http://www.superfoods.repashy.com/foods_ICB_Dragon.htm Anyone here heard of this/use this?

No sorry I've never heard of it I can check it out better in the morning though and see if I can't direct some of the sites experts on supplements this way. :wink:

I don't need to put containers of calcium in my tanks with this dust.

I'm a little confused by that last statement....there is calcium that you put into a container in the viv? :?

Heres is a link to a post about it on Allens forums http://www.forums.repashy.com/diets-live-foods-supplements/10446-reptilife-vs-calcium-plus.html

I'll check it out better in the morning when I'm thinking better. :lol: So I can get all the ratios right.

Hubby's had a bad week at work and I'm cringing to break the news to him.... but I hate keeping secrets even more..... Well off to tell him now.... If I never post again say a prayer for me that I may RIP :lol: :lol: :lol:

Good Luck! :wink: Are you still with us?

Let me know what you think of that dust if you don't mind and thank you for the warm welcome Fresnowitte :wave: :wave: :wave:

Your welcome an I'll get back with you on the dust in the morning.

 

[foolsgold]

For the leopard geckos I have with other supplements it is recommended to keep a small dish of calcium in the tank so the geckos have 24/7 access to calcium if they want to lick some up. That's not needed with the Calcium Plus.

I'll have to check out Harbor Freight Tools.... I BELIEVE there is one around here, if not I'm sure I can find something equivalent. Thanks for the tip.

:mrgreen: I chickened out talking to hubby tonight :shock: LoL so ya I'm still with yall for a bit longer at least :lol: :lol: *sigh* I'm such a chicken! rofl

One more question (for this post lol) I want the UV bulb to go the length of the tank correct? I've got a 75gal tall tank I need to pick up this weekend (hubby doesn't know about that either :silent: ) that comes with a hood so I should just have to get the bulb. The kid I'm getting the dragon from said he had a uv bulb and *rocks* that will come with the tank. I hope he doesn't mean a heat rock :shock: but who knows. Still haven't got any pictures of the guy yet but was told his name is "Bubba" and my daughter promptly let me know he is going to be renamed rofl.
Edit: Oh and the kid has the dragon (he says it's 'about a year old') in a 20gal tank. Poor thing, can't wait to get him set up in that 75gal one lol.

 

[fresnowitte]

Sorry for my ignorance on the calcium the only reps I own are beardies. :roll:
I'll still look into the dust but personally I use the rep cal brand supplements.

Yes you want the Reptisun UVB to be the length of the tank. This is the best place I've found online to order one which is so much cheaper than trying to get one at the pet store if they even carry it.
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html

With a 75 gal you also have the option of using a MVB (Mercury Vapor Bulb) which simulates natural sun so it puts out heat as well. Just something to think about. :wink: (But then you'd need the calcium without D3)

Bock...bock...bock...bock Good luck with breaking the news to him. :wink:

EDIT:
Also I meant to mention if you end up needing to buy a fixture for the Reptisun you can pick those up at a hardware store as well for much cheaper than the reptile suppliers.

 

[Alix1378]

welcome looks like you have mostly everything covered

 

[fresnowitte]

Okay I looked over the information posted in the link you provided.....

Here's the basic information that was posted in that link;

Facts:

This product is licensed by T-Rex Products and marketed as "Calcium Plus ICB" It has also been labeled as a species specific product for marketing purposes, but they are all the same thing. (examples: Bearded Dragon ICB, Tree Frog ICB)

Analysis:

Calcium 18%
Phosphorous 0 %
Protein 10%
Fat 1%
Fiber 2%
Vitamin D-3 48,000 IU/KG
Vitamin A 480,000 IU/kg
Beta Carotene 1,000 mg/kg
Choline 12,000 mg/kg
Vitamin C 5,000 mg/kg
Vitamin E 2000 IU/kg
Vitamin B1 80 mg/kg
Vitamin B2 160 mg/kg
Vitamin B3 1,000 mg/kg
Vitamin B5 300 mg/kg
Vitmain B6 120 mg/kg
Vitamin B12 1 mg/kg
Vitamin K 60 mg/kg
Biotin 4mg/kg

Here some information on Rep Cal herpative I'm still looking up the percents & ratios;
http://www.repcal.com/supp.htm

What concerns me is this......

Dosage
We ask that you mix Rep-Cal with our vitamin supplement Herptivite. If we premixed the products, the "beadlets" of beta carotene in Herptivite may possibly be damaged during manufacturing by the calcium in Rep-Cal.

I've always been lead to beleive and this is also what I've been told by Dr. Wentz one of the Herpetologist/Scientist that formulated the repcal with bearded dragons in mind...is that... premixing calcium with a herpative that contains the much important Beta Carotene is not good...should never be premixed in advance. Calcium and Beta Carodene should be mixed only when ready to use.
The calcium content in the repcal is a minimum of 35% with a maximun of 40% where the brand your talking about is only 18%.

Also the D3 levels are much different the repcal has 400,000 IU/kg where as you see the brand your using is only 48,000.

 

[foolsgold]

Well just thought of another question and I don't know where else to put this so here goes....
How do I transport the little guy? It's about an hour drive from where I'm picking him up to my house. I know with leopard geckos you pack them in deli cups w/ moist paper towels so they don't get bounced around. I have been reading the site over and have found many posts with reference to 'snuggies' for the dragons so I was thinking get a dish towl, wrap the dragon up in it and put him in a cloth draw string sack for the trip. Found out he is less then a year old, the guy said he was about 8inches so that would be what? about three months if if he was up to the right size for his age? I asked last night how old he is and haven't heard back from him as of yet.

 

[fresnowitte]

I would use a small pet carrier, or the plastic critter carrier or even wrapped in the towel or blankie in a cardboard box would work.

As for size an age it's just impossible to say...there are to many factors that affect there growth. But yes if he had come from a good gene pool with healthy parents of decent size...an he himself had been cared for properly his entire life then 3 months would sound right for that size. But you don't really know any of his background so you'll just never know unless the current owner knows and tells you...which would really be nice.

Psst! Have you broke the news to you know who yet? :silent:

 

[foolsgold]

LoL trying to do it tonight as I got to pick up a 75gal tank tomorrow for the little guy and I've already been told 'NO MORE TANKS!' when we got our geckos. Hubby wanted to take a
'nap' so he could stay up late but I don't think I'm going to be able to get him totally awake unless I go get some soda and nachos from the speedway up the street lol.

 

[foolsgold]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! Got up with hubby today and told him I NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM! as I've been trying to talk to him for the past 3 days lol.
I asked him 'So Babe, what you getting me for my birthday?' lol Told him about the dragon, told him about the tank and of course he said yes "BUT, this is the LAST animal brought into THIS HOUSE until we MOVE!" He's such a push over and I'm such a chicken and spoiled :lol: :lol: He really is a sweet heart!
So I go to get the 75gal tank today and next week I get my dragon WOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[theimmortaljedi]

New here and just saying hello! These Dragons are very luvable huh?

 

[zebraflavencs]

Congrates on telling Hubby ! Nice way to break this, honey your bd present is... a BD ! LOL !
We can't wait to see Bubba the birthday present !
Hugs and welcome to our "little" Family !
Janie.
slave to Yardley, Orion and Gemini !