New member, first beardie with a couple of questions

[chucklehead]

Hi there folks

My name is Ian and I live in Hoddesdon, just outside of North London.

I've always wanted a reptile as a pet and have been doing research about it recently.

Anyways, I've taken the plunge and got myself 2 baby beardies!

I made the purchase from Millenium Reptiles in Bishops Stortford.

They are both female and are in the same vivarium. They are both about 5 weeks old and are around 2.5" - 3" in length.

The vivarium is 4ft x 2ft x 2ft and has a glass front. I have a tube reptile light and a heat lamp. The light is roughly 16" from the floor of the tank.

The temperature under their basking spot is 39c / 102f and 26c / 79f on the cooler side of the tank. I measured this with a digital thermometer.

The bedding is hemp. It looks like wood shavings but is very soft. The chap who owns the shop recommends it.

Does everything sound ok so far to you folks? I want to give the two girls a decent upbringing!

Many thanks in advance, hello to all

Ian

 

[steve cutler]

HI Ian and welcome,
I live in Doncaster and have 3 bearded dragons. You say that your bearded dragons are on wood shavings, this is not a good idea as it could cause impaction . Your best bet is to use paper towels for now and later you could use slate. This can be brought from any tile depot. You say your beardies are female, don't be to sure as they are only weeks old and is hard to sex them so early in life. May I ask what UV tubes you are using, and the make of them.
Welcome to this site you will find it very helpful as I did and still do
Steve

 

[dragondebs]

hi ian! welcome to the world of beardies. this is a great site. (ps. my fiance is from south port england!!) here is a list of the questions that will help us/you to know what we're dealing with. some you've already answered. your babies are so tiny!! they can be together for a while, but you will eventually need to seperate them when they start to show dominance over the other. but your viv is the perfect size recomended for one adult bd. are you sure they are both female? it's my understanding unless a vet (and even then it can be wrong) has sexed them you can't tell until they are older. two females may be able to live together for longer. temps look good. i hadn't thought of hemp that's a good idea, but the crix may hide in it and if they lick or eat it as they catch food it may cause impaction. (you know that the crix should be no bigger than the space between your bd's eyes? sorry if i'm preachin to the choir.) eventually i think most people use tile. it wears down their little nails, cleans really easy. this is a great site. i'm still learning something new. congrats again! any name ideas?
do you have any pics?!?

How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What is the sex of your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you bath your dragon? How often?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done?

 

[chucklehead]

Hi guys

Really appreciate the replies so quickly, it's good to know there's some helpful folk out there!

The light is made by 'Hobby' and is simply called 'Reptile Light.' It is 1 metre long and is 30w. It says it has UV-A 30% and UV-B up to 8%.

The guy who I purchased them from has been a reptile breeder for over 15 years and picked them out as female. He said he can't 100% garauntee that he is right, but if I wake up one morning and the tank has got like Fight Club because they are male, he'll swap them for me!

How old is your dragon? 5 weeks
How long have you had your dragon? 2 days!
How long is your dragon? 2.5" - 3"
What is the sex of your dragon? Female
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 4' x 2' x 2'
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? hemp
Do you use UVB lights? Yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? Fluorescent bulb
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? Hobby Reptile Light, 30w
How old is your UVB bulb? 2 days
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 10" if they climb on a log
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? I have a 250w 'Heat Dark Spot'
What are the basking temps? 102f
What is the cool side temp? 79f
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? Digital with wire probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? On the log under the heat lamp
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? No
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Crickets, kale, grated carrot and turnip (I've only had them 2 days remember!) I have yet to actually see them eat.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? I put crickets in the tank around 8am and some are still hopping around when I get home at around 7pm. They have a fresh bowl of greens which has been untouched
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Yes, with veg
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? Yes, it is called 'Nutrobal'
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? Neither have pooped yet
Do you bath your dragon? How often? Haven't done yet, but would like to
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? Haven't yet, but I have bought a mist sprayer
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? Yes, 2 females in total
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? No

As you can see, the answers are in bold to make it easier. Thanks again for your help folks!

 

[chucklehead]

By the way, I'll post a pic or 2 asap!

 

[dragondebs]

it sounds like you are on the right track i think. i'm not sure about distance from the bulb. it may be to far, but someone else might know more. i have a reptisun 10 and it sais the rays go down 20 inches. but the tank isnt' that tall. ( i have a 20 gallon) i'm not sure about the brand, but yours should be good. beware!!! dont' leave the crickets in with them. they will actually start to pick on him. they will pester the babies and will nibble sores on them. the generall rule is give them all the crix they'll eat in 10=15 mn and then take the rest out. your feeding schedual looks good. sometimes they may go thru relocation stress. it may be a week or so even before they get settled in. just keep offering. i have had a battle with crix from day one. right now i am seriously thinking tile because he cant eat what he cant find.
you dont' have to wait to give them a bath. elliott will sometimes eat more after his bath and i've let him warm back up. 10-15 minutes in warm water (not to hot, like for a baby) also it makes it easier to shed and poo. they also get moisture from it.
i can't wait to see your little ones!! your already a good daddy!