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Zilla2025

Member
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Hey everyone, I'm new here and mainly just looking for information and advice. I currently just adopted 10 month old male dragon, Zilla. Full of personality and I've had him a little over a month. My brother got him when he was just a baby. But kids lost interest and they didn't have the time or so on for him. This is my first one and I'm like a new mom lol. The tank and everything was include. He has started the shedding process. Loves his collard turnip and mustard greens. Likes baby kale and arugula. Butternut Squash is by far his favorite. He's attached himself to a yellow cup I use to dust his crickets in. He's never really had any greens or veggies until he got to our home. He's photogenic and loves our dog Coco. Like I said he's my first
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xp29

BD.org Sicko
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Sinatra, Zsa Zsa, Stumpy, Lucy
Hey everyone, I'm new here and mainly just looking for information and advice. I currently just adopted 10 month old male dragon, Zilla. Full of personality and I've had him a little over a month. My brother got him when he was just a baby. But kids lost interest and they didn't have the time or so on for him. This is my first one and I'm like a new mom lol. The tank and everything was include. He has started the shedding process. Loves his collard turnip and mustard greens. Likes baby kale and arugula. Butternut Squash is by far his favorite. He's attached himself to a yellow cup I use to dust his crickets in. He's never really had any greens or veggies until he got to our home. He's photogenic and loves our dog Coco. Like I said he's my first View attachment 98483 View attachment 98484 View attachment 98485 View attachment 98486
1st off welcome to the forum 🙂
What a handsome dude 😍
Please feel free to ask about anything at all. Also please go over your lighting setup. Uvb and basking are the absolute most critical thing to get right. If you can, please post pictures of your lights and their placement. If anything is off we can help you correct it.
There are some pretty good guides on the home page also, if you haven't browsed through them, therevus some very helpful info there also 🙂
 

Sue E.

Gray-bearded Member
Beardie name(s)
Kai
Welcome to the forum! He is a cute little guy! Sounds like he has some nice healthy greens choices from you...lucky guy! Feel free to post anything about him, ask questions, share concerns. We love beardies here!
 

Zilla2025

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Thank you everyone. Here is Zilla's set up. Everything came with him. I just cleaned his tank.
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Zilla2025

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
I was iffy with the black mat but the carpet that we had even after washing seemed to hold a smell. Plus he's a very messy guy so any suggestions I'm open to. We are planning to get a bigger tank and different lighting. He does well in this set up so far. Has bonded with my husband who holds him while I do his tank.
 

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xp29

BD.org Sicko
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Sinatra, Zsa Zsa, Stumpy, Lucy
Thank you everyone. Here is Zilla's set up. Everything came with him. I just cleaned his tank. View attachment 98624 View attachment 98625 View attachment 98626 View attachment 98627 View attachment 98628
Zilla is a cutie 🙂
That compact uvb is very insufficient for a beardie (or any arid climate reptile for that matter)
He won't thrive under that bulb and it will eventually cause health issues. Please invest in a 24 inch long tube setup. The fixture is 24 inches, the bulb is 22 inches. The ZooMed high out t5 10.0 is a good option or the Arcadia pro t5 12% is a good option.
Also those stick on guages are highly inaccurate. The ZooMed digital probe thermometer is a great option it's like 7 bucks at petsmart.
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We can help you get the lighting adjusted once you have it 🙂
 

xp29

BD.org Sicko
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Sinatra, Zsa Zsa, Stumpy, Lucy
I was iffy with the black mat but the carpet that we had even after washing seemed to hold a smell. Plus he's a very messy guy so any suggestions I'm open to. We are planning to get a bigger tank and different lighting. He does well in this set up so far. Has bonded with my husband who holds him while I do his tank.
They can be very loving pets once they bond with you 🙂 they can be downright needy 😀
 

Sue E.

Gray-bearded Member
Beardie name(s)
Kai
Your mat is great! Here are the type of light and hood you need. (You can get this kind or an Arcadia 12% 22" long tube light (which will fit in the zoo med hood in the picture. Please get a bright white basking light and dont use the coil or ceramic heat emitter. They need the light as well as the heat but the coils are very bad for them, as xp29 said. Good luck with your very handsome Zilla!
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
Welcome to the forum --- what size tank is Zilla in? It looks really small -- you may want to upgrade that to a 120 gallon tank here really soon--- I can post websites for tank if need be - the UVB should be unobstructed either no screen or in the tank - or have the screen placed 3/4 on w/ the UVB on the end of the tank w/ basking lamp on the screen - distance for the UVB directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches
 

Zilla2025

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Zilla is a cutie 🙂
That compact uvb is very insufficient for a beardie (or any arid climate reptile for that matter)
He won't thrive under that bulb and it will eventually cause health issues. Please invest in a 24 inch long tube setup. The fixture is 24 inches, the bulb is 22 inches. The ZooMed high out t5 10.0 is a good option or the Arcadia pro t5 12% is a good option.
Also those stick on guages are highly inaccurate. The ZooMed digital probe thermometer is a great option it's like 7 bucks at petsmart. View attachment 98630
We can help you get the lighting adjusted once you have it 🙂
Thank you I bought one of the handhelds I check it with that as well and I will definitely get the digital one...and the new lighting...
 

Zilla2025

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Welcome to the forum --- what size tank is Zilla in? It looks really small -- you may want to upgrade that to a 120 gallon tank here really soon--- I can post websites for tank if need be - the UVB should be unobstructed either no screen or in the tank - or have the screen placed 3/4 on w/ the UVB on the end of the tank w/ basking lamp on the screen - distance for the UVB directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches
Definitely getting the new tank cuz I don't feel he has enough room as is.Everything we have my brother gave to me when he gave Zilla to us...please do on the websites
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
Definitely getting the new tank cuz I don't feel he has enough room as is.Everything we have my brother gave to me when he gave Zilla to us...please do on the websites
Here are some websites to shop all are 4x2x2 tanks
https://www.zenhabitats.com/products/4x2x2-reptile-enclosure-the-zen-habitat-3-0?variant=40699690057812
www.dubiaroaches.com
www.symtonbsf.com
48Lx24Wx24H Tall Extra-Long Deep Terrarium – Carolina Designer Dragons these are very heavy and I dont like the UVB / basking light set up - they are attached
I would really look over the specs of the tanks - find one that fits your budget and if you have questions call them -
 

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eating veggies.

relaxing near the window getting natural sunlight. looking at me like " can I jump?"
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Sir Henry the dragon
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