New guy - tank setup.

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DarbX1605

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I'll make a longer introductory post at some point, however right now I have a few questions. Some of my questions may be redundant - however I have long been a keeper and breeder of Cichlids - and it has always been my experience that asking fellow hobbyists in the know yields better results than webpages and pet stores.

I've been doing some research BEFORE buying a dragon, and I have begun to set up the tank. The tank is a 20 Long for now - I already have a 55 acquired when the size demands it.

The base of the tank is ceramic tile. After reading about sand with Juveniles I decide to go with this - also because I just finished tiling our kitchen and bathroom and we have some left over - the stuff also just happens to be a natural earthy look that works great for a desert themed tank. I picked up a screen top, and from reading the propaganda on the boxes - purchased what seemed like the best bulb - a Repti-Glo 10.0. I'm now seeing from this forum that this was likely a bad decision and it will be returned tomorrow. I am hoping to pick up a Reptisun 10.0 if I can find it - otherwise I will be ordering online.

So far I have picked a digital thermometer and am waiting for the hydrometer's to arrive back in stock. I have also picked up a cave structure that is stone that can provide another basking spot on top, and shade below. I also picked up a water dish - however I have read that keeping water in their tank is a no-no - and I read that some people keep a small sand pit for the dragon's to "play" in - which was my idea in buying this.

For my setup - what do you all recommend as the primary heat source? I have seen alot of you prefer ceramic heat lamps. I looked at both the heating rock and heating pad - but common sense told me that they could burn themselves on this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am hoping to get the tank safe for inhabitants soon - I found a rather cute female in the local Petsmart tank that I would like to bring home before someone else does.
 

beardie parents

BD.org Sicko
Since you have the 20 long tank, you can use a regular house hold bulb, probably a 60 watt. I have a new baby I just got almost 3 weeks ago and I have that wattage in her tank to heat up the basking spot, it gets it hot enough while still keeping the cool side correctly. You should check the temps before you put the new one in because what the tank temps end up being depends on the basic temps in the room where you put them. You are correct, the Reptisun 10 fluorescent tube uvb is the best. The Mega ray is highly suggested, however, it gets the 20 tank too hot and you must get at least a 40 breeder tank to use one of them. Those that use the mega ray (and the maker of them, also) note that the uvb in them lasts for one year to 18 months. Just remember to change the reptisun 10 tube every 6 months as the uvb deteriates by then so it doesn't help much. I found that Redrock would somewhat loose her appetite a little when it was time to change it. When I got a new bulb, her appetite picked up.

About the 55 gallon tank you said you have ready, check the width of the tank as the ones I've seen are maybe 12" wide and beardies have a hard time turning around in that width of a tank when they are anywhere from 16" long to 22" long. I found a 60 gallon tank that is long enough and wide enough for beardies and, in my area, I can get it for $115 including tax.
 

DarbX1605

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Original Poster
So pass up heating rock and pads? What should I use for heat at night if I'm using a 60 Watt bulb to do the majority of the heating?
 

bigmac1

Juvie Member
DarbX1605":585c9 said:
So pass up heating rock and pads? What should I use for heat at night if I'm using a 60 Watt bulb to do the majority of the heating?
yes you should pass up the heat rocks and heat pads because bearded dragons cant sense heat coming from their stomachs only from above, and it will cause your beardie to burn his or her stomach. if your temps drop lower than 65 degrees at night you could use a ceramic heat emitter it put out no light and it just screws in like a light bulb.
 

DarbX1605

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Original Poster
bigmac1":0ebcd said:
DarbX1605":0ebcd said:
So pass up heating rock and pads? What should I use for heat at night if I'm using a 60 Watt bulb to do the majority of the heating?
yes you should pass up the heat rocks and heat pads because bearded dragons cant sense heat coming from their stomachs only from above, and it will cause your beardie to burn his or her stomach. if your temps drop lower than 65 degrees at night you could use a ceramic heat emitter it put out no light and it just screws in like a light bulb.

So far Ive never seen the temp drop below 70 - maybe I'll have to invest in a night heater come winter - but it's around 50 degrees outside the last week and we dont have the heat on yet.

Fish tanks make for great climate control :lol:
 

bigmac1

Juvie Member
then you dont need to heat at night if your house temp does not drop any lower than 65degrees.
 

DarbX1605

Member
Original Poster
I picked up my Dragon tonight.

After closer inspection of the little girl I was playing with last night, her feet had been pretty mangled. I ended up picking out the one who was not excited about being picked up, but settled down once held. I'm assuming it's a male at this point. He's definately got alot of orange in him.

He's a little skinny, but extremely active tonight. I gave him his basking spot and he's shifted around to different spots - but he's only came off the rock a couple times to chase his reflection in the glass. Seems quite content.

I'm off in search of the Reptisun locally tomorrow - if not it's being ordered online.

He's in the process of shedding at the moment - should I give him a misting or a soak tomorrow to help out?

I'm going to say he's around 3" long in body length - not including tail. I'm waiting to feed until tomorrow - but watching him tonight I dont think he'll be a problem child.

I named him Rufus.
 

bigmac1

Juvie Member
if he is shedding you can try giving him a warm shower to help out with his shedding. just make sure the water is not too hot,just luke warm.
 

NegativeCreep

Sub-Adult Member
DarbX1605":e40d8 said:
I also picked up a water dish - however I have read that keeping water in their tank is a no-no -

Keeping a water dish is not a no-no, but usually not necessary. Sometimes, it actually helps to keep up the humidity. We keep one, and Blaze seems to enjoy playing in it.

DarbX1605":e40d8 said:
For my setup - what do you all recommend as the primary heat source? I have seen alot of you prefer ceramic heat lamps. I looked at both the heating rock and heating pad - but common sense told me that they could burn themselves on this.

Well, it's not necessarily common sense. Beardies have a 'third eye' of sorts, where they feel heat, which helps them thermo-regulate from above. Snakes, regulate their heat from their bellies, so heating pads are great for heating their environments. :)

--Also, I would love to see your Cichlids. There is a thread in photo expressions to share your other pets.
I keep cichlids, but only 'small time'. They are incredible little creatures :)
 

DarbX1605

Member
Original Poster
NegativeCreep":f4335 said:
--Also, I would love to see your Cichlids. There is a thread in photo expressions to share your other pets.
I keep cichlids, but only 'small time'. They are incredible little creatures :)

I really need to take time to post in that thread - we have 3 dogs, 2 cats, fish tanks - and now Rufus. The only tank I have pictures online at the moment is my planted 45 tall. It's got 2 mollies being used for cycling - I'm putting Discus and German Blue Rams in it shortly.

planted3be4.jpg

planted1ur9.jpg


Ignore the bridge and sponge filters - theyre being used to weight down the centerpiece as it is not 100% waterlogged yet. The plants have grown quite a bit since this photo was taken a month ago.

Things seem to be going well. I picked up canned crickets as both pet stores near me are out of live ones. I dipped them in Rep-Cal and he's eaten 1 and half since I got home.

The other good news is he passed a stool while we were gone - so that doesnt seem to be a problem.

I picked up a standard 60 watt bulb for his basking spot as people recommended - however my temp gauge on the rock hasnt jumped over 90 yet - should I think about a 75 watt bulb or a lower wattage Halogen? He seems very content with his spot, but I'm wondering if he's really getting enough heat.
 
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