New to the forum and new to owning a beardie

[AlexZander]

Any starter advice for a new young Beardie Owner? I've done lots of research on them before I got him, Jimmy, and I'm finding it a lot more stressful then expected. Just worrying everything is OK for him, etc.

At this point any advice is helpful!

Also willing to answer any questions about him to the best of my abilities, including his new home!

Thanks Again
Alex

 

[AlexZander]

And his Home 20g ZooMed starter kit (Suggestions 100% welcome)

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

He's super adorable. How is his mobility? All the photos are him lying down :lol: but he's super cute.

His setup looks pretty good, and just as a heads up, that 20g enclosure will need to be upgraded within just a couple months! When you do, I recommend switching out your UV bulb to a ReptiSun 10.0 T5 or an Arcadia 12% T5 bulb. It looks like you're currently using a compact bulb which will slow his growth.

It's also worth noting that the stuff that comes in those starter kits are generally crap, sorry to be blunt. I started with a Nat. Geo 29 gallon beardie kit for my first dragon and basically had to replace everything in the first few months and THEN upgrade the size right after. Basically, everything it came with is no longer used at all. The enclosure was great! ... but not for a dragon.

Be sure his basking spot is a nice and toasty 105F-110F for his growing beardie body! A nice temp along with good UVB will make his appetite healthy, and he should be eating upwards of 30+ appropriately sized crickets a day.
Please do not offer mealworms or superworms, regardless of what the pet store tells you. Other good bugs for them are dubia roaches, silkworms, and black soldier fly larvae for a growing dragon.
I would begin offering small "side salads" already to get him acclimated to veggies. Even if he doesn't really eat them, continue to offer them. Curious babies will still pick at it and some enjoy it! Good staple veggies are collard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, green beans, squashes, and bok choy. Shredding into tiny pieces and putting them in the middle of the enclosure floor encourages them to check it out and nip at it.

I know this was a lot of information but I hope it's helpful!
Keep us posted on his life with you

 

[CooperDragon]

He looks like a happy little guy. I like the way you've set up his tank. It looks really nice. I do suggest upgrading the lighting - the stuff that comes with the kits is pretty bad. I would pick up some digital thermometers to replace the dials too - they can be quite inaccurate. I would get one of these for the basking surface and one for a cool side surface so you can keep a close eye on the temperature gradient. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017N8W90/

For lighting, I think a T5 is a bit too powerful for that tank (they need to be about 12'' above the basking area) but a T8 tube with reflector fixture or a 26w UVB200 would probably be a good fit and should go right in the UVB fixture you already have. They need to be about 6'' above the basking area to be effective. You'll need to upgrade your tank soon anyway so I would save up to invest in a T5 for a larger tank. I would move him to that whenever you have it available. Building your own enclosure is usually the most economical way to go. I would plan on something like this (but using a T5 instead of T8 UVB tube) https://beardies.dreamwidth.org/2145.html

 

[AlexZander]

He looks like a happy little guy. I like the way you've set up his tank. It looks really nice. I do suggest upgrading the lighting - the stuff that comes with the kits is pretty bad. I would pick up some digital thermometers to replace the dials too - they can be quite inaccurate. I would get one of these for the basking surface and one for a cool side surface so you can keep a close eye on the temperature gradient. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017N8W90/

For lighting, I think a T5 is a bit too powerful for that tank (they need to be about 12'' above the basking area) but a T8 tube with reflector fixture or a 26w UVB200 would probably be a good fit and should go right in the UVB fixture you already have. They need to be about 6'' above the basking area to be effective. You'll need to upgrade your tank soon anyway so I would save up to invest in a T5 for a larger tank. I would move him to that whenever you have it available. Building your own enclosure is usually the most economical way to go. I would plan on something like this (but using a T5 instead of T8 UVB tube) https://beardies.dreamwidth.org/2145.html

Yea I got this tank knowing it will have to be upgraded soon plan was to use it for 4 months (when im moving into a bigger place) and uograde to the 40 or 50 depending on how fast he grows. The light bulbs have been replaced allready and the UVB one is a 5.0 coil so my hopes is to get one new bulb and socket for this tank that will hopefully fit the new bigger one in a few months... any suggestions as to that?? Thanks again!

 

[AlexZander]

He's super adorable. How is his mobility? All the photos are him lying down :lol: but he's super cute.

His setup looks pretty good, and just as a heads up, that 20g enclosure will need to be upgraded within just a couple months! When you do, I recommend switching out your UV bulb to a ReptiSun 10.0 T5 or an Arcadia 12% T5 bulb. It looks like you're currently using a compact bulb which will slow his growth.

It's also worth noting that the stuff that comes in those starter kits are generally crap, sorry to be blunt. I started with a Nat. Geo 29 gallon beardie kit for my first dragon and basically had to replace everything in the first few months and THEN upgrade the size right after. Basically, everything it came with is no longer used at all. The enclosure was great! ... but not for a dragon.

Be sure his basking spot is a nice and toasty 105F-110F for his growing beardie body! A nice temp along with good UVB will make his appetite healthy, and he should be eating upwards of 30+ appropriately sized crickets a day.
Please do not offer mealworms or superworms, regardless of what the pet store tells you. Other good bugs for them are dubia roaches, silkworms, and black soldier fly larvae for a growing dragon.
I would begin offering small "side salads" already to get him acclimated to veggies. Even if he doesn't really eat them, continue to offer them. Curious babies will still pick at it and some enjoy it! Good staple veggies are collard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, green beans, squashes, and bok choy. Shredding into tiny pieces and putting them in the middle of the enclosure floor encourages them to check it out and nip at it.

I know this was a lot of information but I hope it's helpful!
Keep us posted on his life with you

Allready have replaced everything that came in the kit the calcium and his beardie food along with the red uv light and the white light (now have 2 white lights 100w)

As for mealworms/superworms he dosent really eat them to begin with, he has gotten them as treats a couple times since i got him but maybe 6 all together. As for crickets hes not eating much of them or anything thats my biggest concern right now. Along with his beard and belly colors.

Any advice for this ??

Also stairing at the tanks glass sometimes rubbing his nose up and down in a circle motion

Oh and his mobility is great little **** runs like the wind ?

 

[CooperDragon]

For now I would just pick up a 26w UVB200 and put it in place of that 5.0 coil you have as that's not putting out nearly enough UVB. The T5 is probably too powerful for a 20g tank but I would certainly use one in a larger tank. https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Intense-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B00B4ZRXSW The UVB200 is pretty cheap so upgrading twice shouldn't break the bank.

 

[AlexZander]

For now I would just pick up a 26w UVB200 and put it in place of that 5.0 coil you have as that's not putting out nearly enough UVB. The T5 is probably too powerful for a 20g tank but I would certainly use one in a larger tank. https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Intense-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B00B4ZRXSW The UVB200 is pretty cheap so upgrading twice shouldn't break the bank.

There pretty expensive here in canada how long will it last for? Also is this something that can wait about 7 days with no harm? Would like to get payed first but can scroung up the money if necessary! Thanks again

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I'd agree with Cooper, the recommendation for the better UVB is a great idea not only for his health and well-being, but it will help his appetite as well. These compact bulbs will need replacing every 6 months.

He's much too little for supers (recommended he be about 16"+ in length) due to their hard shells causing impaction in smaller dragons, and mealworms are hard on their digestion as well and generally not very nutritious.

Changing the UVB for now and upgrading to a long tube UVB when the enclosure size is larger should help his appetite pick up for those crickets

 

[CooperDragon]

The 26w UVB200 should give off a decent amount of UVB for about 6 months or so. The T5 will produce excellent UVB levels for at least a year before the bulb needs replacement. I'm not sure of local spots to get reptile supplies in Halifax unfortunately. You might check at Petsmart but I'm not sure if they carry the Exo Terra bulbs. They have a house brand - All Living Things, but I haven't tested those bulbs so I'm not sure of their output. I would at least replace the 5.0 bulb and avoid any 13w models as they have quite low output. I would do this as quickly as you can but I don't think 7 days will be a big deal if that will be better on your budget.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

You can also buy some time on waiting til next paycheck by taking him out into the sunshine for pure UV from the sun, weather permitting. Just be very careful taking him out so he does not get loose since he is just tiny and probably a quick one :wink: My 2mo old loved it, but some can get very frightened

 

[AlexZander]

The 26w UVB200 should give off a decent amount of UVB for about 6 months or so. The T5 will produce excellent UVB levels for at least a year before the bulb needs replacement. I'm not sure of local spots to get reptile supplies in Halifax unfortunately. You might check at Petsmart but I'm not sure if they carry the Exo Terra bulbs. They have a house brand - All Living Things, but I haven't tested those bulbs so I'm not sure of their output. I would at least replace the 5.0 bulb and avoid any 13w models as they have quite low output. I would do this as quickly as you can but I don't think 7 days will be a big deal if that will be better on your budget.

I dont mind spending the money today on it, I guess it all depends on how long shipment is some things I was looking at today wont come until June. As for petsmart, I hate that place we use to have a pure reptile place here but they closed I guess i have my homework for tonight!!

 

[AlexZander]

You can also buy some time on waiting til next paycheck by taking him out into the sunshine for pure UV from the sun, weather permitting. Just be very careful taking him out so he does not get loose since he is just tiny and probably a quick one :wink: My 2mo old loved it, but some can get very frightened

Im going to try to take him down over the next week. But our weather here is extreamly bipolar and still quite cold except the odd day