new owner with tank questions

[Rodeogal96]

I am about to become the proud owner of a 18 month old female beardie.

I ordered a 90 gallon tank and am waiting for it to come in and would love help and ideas for setting it up!

I am curious if I can use wood and or bricks to create platforms with in the cage for better basking areas and hidding spots?

I have been hearing so many different things about substrates that I don't know what I should put in the tank?

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
~Jess

 

[deh05001]

You can use wood and bricks/tile to create different basking/hiding spots. It's all up to you and your creativity. Just make sure whatever you put in the tank is cleaned and sterile before putting it in (especially if you're getting bricks from outside your home). It doesn't really matter what you use for hides and basking spots so long as the temperatures are correct.

As for substrate , a lot of people including me believe sand is a no-no (any type of sand). Tile and non-adhesive shelf liner are good options. Some people use repti-carpet but it is a real pain to clean and can be difficult to lay flat in your enclosure.

I have two vivs and used tile for one and left over wood flooring (i think it's fake wood) for the other. It is so much easier to clean this way when they make a mess with going to the bathroom or with food spills.

I'm sure other people will comment but this is just what I know. Good luck with your new beardie!

 

[Vacren]

As stated above, sand is a NO. http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=132151

Any wood you put in the tank needs to be sanitized. To do that, put it in your oven at 250f for 2 hours. Do NOT use cedar wood products because they are toxic to most animals, especially to lizards.

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

Hello and Welcome! A few suggestions for your tank would be to make sure you purchase a reptisun 10.0 fluorescent uvb bulb (www.petmountain.com).. Definitely no sand... or any other type of loose substrate that can be ingested.. I have tile in mine but you can use paper towel, non adhesive shelf liner or the repti carpet.. And i recently found something new @ lowes it's called flexi tile.. Invest in several digital thermometers with probes...And one other thing make sure you don't use any type of light for night time heat.. The light will interfere with their sleeping patterns.. If you need a night time heat source I would recommend getting a Ceramic Heat Emitter.. Hope this helps!

 

[Rodeogal96]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I should be getting my tanks today and hope to set it up and have my beardie by saturday!

I will definatly need a night time heat source our house does get chilly...so a night time heat time is not a good idea?????

 

[Vacren]

Ceramic heat emitter is ok, or an under tank heater placed against the back side of the tank. It's NOT ok to put it under the tank.

Whatever you use, nothing that produces light.

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I should be getting my tanks today and hope to set it up and have my beardie by saturday!

I will definatly need a night time heat source our house does get chilly...so a night time heat time is not a good idea?????

Ceramic Heat Emitters are fine b/c they don't emit any light.. I was talking about the black lights or the red or blue lights that they sell at the pet stores.. Those aren't good to use.. and honestly I would stay away from the under the tank heaters b/c they are dangerous and can burn your beardie..

 

[Rodeogal96]

Again thanks for all the help, I want to do the best I can to set up my tank for a happy and healthy beardie

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

No problem Good luck!