Newbie here!

[davidsbeard]

Hello all! I want to ask guys some common mistakes that new bearded dragon owners make. Before I take a beardie, I want to research more and join reptile pet owner's communities such as this site, scanning old posts here and other forums for help and gathering information as much as I can. I would like to know things to avoid in general, aside from food and frequency of feeding. TIA for all info.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Welcome
I like your approach very much
Look around and feel free to ask. I also looked around here before getting my bearded dragon (despite I signed up much later) and I found the forum helpful right from the planning stage on. Helped me to avoid so many mistakes I likely had made without.

 

[xp29]

There are some very good guides on this site, please scan through them.
The number 1 mistake new owners make is lighting. Don't listen to the folks at petsmart or other such stores.
Beardies absolutely need long tube lighting for uvb. Any type of screw in bulb is garbage and should not be used.
Arcadia pro t5 desert 12% is a great bulb and fixture. Can be had at petsmart.
ZooMed t5 10.0 is also a good option. Can be had at box stores and reptile stores. Be sure to get the 10.0 bulb, the fixtures have a 5.0 by default
Next is basking. Any beardie less than adult needs 105 to 110 degrees basking and a 80ish cool side. Adults need 95 to 100 degrees with 80ish cool side. Measure the temp with digital probe thermometers to be accurate.
Try to arrange the light so that the uvb and basking over lap. Provide multiple distances below the lights and your beardie will instinctively go to the right exposure.
Oh and don't put your uvb all the way to the back, move it mote towards the middle for better coverage.
One last thing, welcome to the forum . Feel free to ask about anything at all or share anything as well

 

[ChileanTaco]

I agree with xp29 very much.
Another thing: The size of the enclosure. Many seem to start with a small tank (generally not a problem), but not keep in mind so much that for an adult bearded dragon a much larger one is needed, and that the dragon will grow fast, usually within one year after buying the dragon it will get to almost its final size.

Means: Please keep in mind whether you have the space for a large enclosure. Also, it can be expensive and cumbersome to buy tanks in increasing sizes, replacing each few month. It is (own experience and that of others) possible to start with the final enclosure size right away. I did so. I know it looked hilarious in the beginning to have a baby bearded dragon in a (that's what I have) 250 gallon tank. But I think it was the right decision: Not buying all those different tanks (and then thinking of what to do with them), not having to get my dragon used to different things all the time. My dragon is now 15 months old.

I have sometimes read that people think a small reptile could feel lost in a large enclosure. My personal opinion: What do they do in nature? There are no enclosures, it's open - much more space than in even the largest enclosures. In nature, smaller reptiles would go into smaller caves, will squeeze in behind smaller gaps in bark and between wood and stones (just like a fence lizard would go into gaps a larger reptile like an adult beardie could not access), and that can be done also in a large enclosure with providing more small hiding spaces. One can then remove the smaller items over time when the dragon outgrows them.

 

[xp29]

I agree with xp29 very much.
Another thing: The size of the enclosure. Many seem to start with a small tank (generally not a problem), but not keep in mind so much that for an adult bearded dragon a much larger one is needed, and that the dragon will grow fast, usually within one year after buying the dragon it will get to almost its final size.

Means: Please keep in mind whether you have the space for a large enclosure. Also, it can be expensive and cumbersome to buy tanks in increasing sizes, replacing each few month. It is (own experience and that of others) possible to start with the final enclosure size right away. I did so. I know it looked hilarious in the beginning to have a baby bearded dragon in a (that's what I have) 250 gallon tank. But I think it was the right decision: Not buying all those different tanks (and then thinking of what to do with them), not having to get my dragon used to different things all the time. My dragon is now 15 months old.

I have sometimes read that people think a small reptile could feel lost in a large enclosure. My personal opinion: What do they do in nature? There are no enclosures, it's open - much more space than in even the largest enclosures. In nature, smaller reptiles would go into smaller caves, will squeeze in behind smaller gaps in bark and between wood and stones (just like a fence lizard would go into gaps a larger reptile like an adult beardie could not access), and that can be done also in a large enclosure with providing more small hiding spaces. One can then remove the smaller items over time when the dragon outgrows them.

My only issue with starting with the max size is as the beardie grows, its enclosure will feel smaller and smaller to him/her.
I prefer to start with a 40 gallon then move into the forever habitat at near adulthood.

 

[xp29]

My only issue with starting with the max size is as the beardie grows, its enclosure will feel smaller and smaller to him/her.
I prefer to start with a 40 gallon then move into the forever habitat at near adulthood.

Otherwise I agree.
Starting with a 10 or 20 gallon adds to stress (for keeper and beardie) , cost, and the need for a place to store no longer needed habitats.

 

[ChileanTaco]

My only issue with starting with the max size is as the beardie grows, its enclosure will feel smaller and smaller to him/her.
I prefer to start with a 40 gallon then move into the forever habitat at near adulthood.

Also fine - I see no general problem with having enclosures of growing size.
I had, however, never seen any weird reaction from my dragon. He's appearing to be as happy as ever in there, no stress marks, tail up very often, no issues with going back into the enclosure and I'd even say that he feels content that things aren't changing. (I once introduced a new climbing structure, and despite he now likes it, it took him weeks to get used to it.)
Things inside the enclosure I have either already bought/ built at the final size (if they also provide hiding spaces for a small dragon to squeeze in), or replaced them over time with larger ones.

The biggest problem I see with many people starting with a small enclosure is then realizing there isn't enough space for a large one, or they feel it's not fitting into how they want their apartment look like, or suddenly money is tight.
So I would suggest if starting with a smaller one: Already making sure there is enough space and one really wants to use the space for it (for us it was: if buying the enclosure, then a couch and another bookcase won't fit - are we fine with that? or rather not, and a different reptile species that stays small like a crested gecko is better?), and even putting the money away for it. This makes it much more unlikely that a sufficient large one will never be bought or buying it will be postponed very much into adulthood.

 

[xp29]

Also fine - I see no general problem with having enclosures of growing size.
I had, however, never seen any weird reaction from my dragon. He's appearing to be as happy as ever in there, no stress marks, tail up very often, no issues with going back into the enclosure and I'd even say that he feels content that things aren't changing. (I once introduced a new climbing structure, and despite he now likes it, it took him weeks to get used to it.)
Things inside the enclosure I have either already bought/ built at the final size (if they also provide hiding spaces for a small dragon to squeeze in), or replaced them over time with larger ones.

The biggest problem I see with many people starting with a small enclosure is then realizing there isn't enough space for a large one, or they feel it's not fitting into how they want their apartment look like, or suddenly money is tight.
So I would suggest if starting with a smaller one: Already making sure there is enough space and one really wants to use the space for it (for us it was: if buying the enclosure, then a couch and another bookcase won't fit - are we fine with that? or rather not, and a different reptile species that stays small like a crested gecko is better?), and even putting the money away for it. This makes it much more unlikely that a sufficient large one will never be bought or buying it will be postponed very much into adulthood.

Yours is the exception though not the rule. At 250 gallon that's friggen huge, Taco is a lucky boy indeed. most beardies top out at a 120 gallon setup.

 

[ChileanTaco]

@xp29

I know that and especially with that size that I wanted (either that, or a smaller reptile) I made extra sure before, also with a table that can hold that - and how it looks in the room. Simulated that with some cardboard before, whether we're really fine with that. Still, when it was delivered, my husband was first like "oh nooo"

 

[xp29]

@xp29

I know that and especially with that size that I wanted (either that, or a smaller reptile) I made extra sure before, also with a table that can hold that - and how it looks in the room. Simulated that with some cardboard before, whether we're really fine with that. Still, when it was delivered, my husband was first like "oh nooo"

I think my girlfriend would make me live in it if I brought one home that big lol.

 

[davidsbeard]

Welcome
I like your approach very much
Look around and feel free to ask. I also looked around here before getting my bearded dragon (despite I signed up much later) and I found the forum helpful right from the planning stage on. Helped me to avoid so many mistakes I likely had made without.

Hey hi, Thanks! Definitely reading each post, a day is not enough. There's a lot to learn.

 

[davidsbeard]

There are some very good guides on this site, please scan through them.
The number 1 mistake new owners make is lighting. Don't listen to the folks at petsmart or other such stores.
Beardies absolutely need long tube lighting for uvb. Any type of screw in bulb is garbage and should not be used.
Arcadia pro t5 desert 12% is a great bulb and fixture. Can be had at petsmart.
ZooMed t5 10.0 is also a good option. Can be had at box stores and reptile stores. Be sure to get the 10.0 bulb, the fixtures have a 5.0 by default
Next is basking. Any beardie less than adult needs 105 to 110 degrees basking and a 80ish cool side. Adults need 95 to 100 degrees with 80ish cool side. Measure the temp with digital probe thermometers to be accurate.
Try to arrange the light so that the uvb and basking over lap. Provide multiple distances below the lights and your beardie will instinctively go to the right exposure.
Oh and don't put your uvb all the way to the back, move it mote towards the middle for better coverage.
One last thing, welcome to the forum . Feel free to ask about anything at all or share anything as well

Thanks for the reply man. I actually go to those sites too. I mean I want to know if I can handle having a beardie. Thank you for the input. I'm trying to put my head around all this as it is somehow overwhelming

 

[xp29]

Thanks for the reply man. I actually go to those sites too. I mean I want to know if I can handle having a beardie. Thank you for the input. I'm trying to put my head around all this as it is somehow overwhelming

It can feel that way for sure. To be honest it really isn't that bad. As long as you get the lights correct right off the bat, everything else is a walk in the park.

 

[ChileanTaco]

I agree very much on that. Once that's done, I consider my bearded dragon a rather easy pet*. It's in my opinion just that often people don't know about how important light regarding UV and temperature are, and/or are totally afraid by "the technical stuff" as they are just more used to pets that do well with normal household light and temp (like a cat).

*By which I personally mean:
Almost no noise (has no voice), there is no smell when healthy, no hair or feathers to clean away, smallish poop, not prone to destroy things in the apartment/house... I know people who have or had e.g. a cat and a dragon and say the dragon (who is kept as it should be) is easier. Years ago I had birds - were much more complicated than my beardie with noise, dirt, gnawing habits...
I'm aware a dragon can take more effort if sick, but that's true with every animal kept as a pet.

 

[Rocky2022]

I agree with those before me. Welcome to the club... almost. Do it! You are researching and that's awesome. It's ac lot at first but worth it.

No regrets. I have 2 because of this site, I was happy with one.
Like being a tattoo... you'll want more and more lol