Newbie to Bearded Dragons

[MyLittleFoot]

I will be getting my first ever reptile today

She is a Lemon Ice Bearded Dragon Female 3 months old and comes from a breeder in Ohio, NC

My set up is almost complete, I had alot of help from a nice girl at Petco the other day, she helped me with the right lighting and heat and the bedding along with getting the small crickets needed for my new baby.

I'm so excited I can't wait for Little Foot to arrive

After alot of research and printing stuff off and reading and more reading I do think I will be able to care for my little girl when she comes but just incase I need some help I wanted to pick a good forum incase I need help.

That's all for now I'll post pick after she has rested for a few days, I don't wont to stress her out.

 

[LJean]

Welcome! This is a great helpful site for info and support.

You may want to read the caresheets at the top of the site, or look through some posts. Many people have gotten bad information from petstores. You just want to be sure all is well with your dragon. We will help in any way we can!

 

[WAFisherman]

Welcome! This is a great helpful site for info and support.

You may want to read the caresheets at the top of the site, or look through some posts. Many people have gotten bad information from petstores. You just want to be sure all is well with your dragon. We will help in any way we can!

+1. What exactly did the petstore person sell you? 8)

 

[MyLittleFoot]

The lady told me not to use any kind of sand or anything right now since my little one is only three months old she said I could use newspaper or the carpet looking stuff that they have.

Also she helped me pick out the basking light and also another type of heat source light. I got a Temp gauge so I can keep track of the temps. I also bought a night time light incase or when my house gets below the set amount required at night.

picked out some powder that needs to be sprinkled on the crickets and veggies.

I went to the store last night and bought some green veggies and some carrots, I've been feeding the crickets getting them ready for her today.

 

[LJean]

What is the name and wattage of the basking light? UVB lights are very important for calcium absorption and growth. Some lights being sold as UVb lights are not very good and can be harmful.

Most of us do not use a light at night for heat, mainly a heat emitter. Some say the lights can bother the dragons (interupting their sleeping patterns)

 

[WAFisherman]

Sounds like she gave you some OK advice...

Can you tell us more about the lighting? What is your UVB source?

Be sure to get your basking spot, warm and cool side temps just right. And also make sure the basking spots are the correct distance from the UVA and UVB sources.

Don't rely on those stick on round thermeters...

For feeding greens and other items, check out this site. AWESOME info. You need to watch certain foods (like carrots and broccalli)...

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Make sure you get the right kind of calcium powder and multiviatim powder.

For night time, unless you get much below 65 at night, you'll be find to just use cheap timers on the lights (on for 12 to 14hrs, off the rest of the time). If you do need more heat at night, the red bulbs aren't great (imagine trying to sleep with a bright red light in your room). Infrared heat is good. As is a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) or under tank heating pad (UTH).

 

[MyLittleFoot]

Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamps 75 watts
Exo-Terra Day Glo Neodymium 75 watts

I hope these are the right ones

 

[LJean]

I believe those are only basking lights (producing heat). You can use regular household lightbulbs for that (and they are a bit cheaper) You will still need a UVB light.
Depending on the size of the enclosure, your best bet would be to use a ReptiSUN 10 flourescent (long tube not coil or compact) light for UVB. Be careful not to get the ReptiGLO one.

 

[MyLittleFoot]

ok thanks for your help

 

[LJean]

You are welcome.

 

[WAFisherman]

Or quickly find the receipts for those 2 bulbs and find the packaging.

Then order a megaray MVB (mercury vapor bulb) UVA\UVB combo bulb that provides the basking light and UVB in one bulb.

http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100-watt-flood-low-lamp.php

$40 + $10 shipping = ~ $50.

(your bulbs probably cost about $30 combined - but they are not what you really need)

Or keep one of your basking bulbs, and get the UVB TUBE type bulb and the hood encousure for mounting it. I personally like the MVB instead of using the tube + basking light.

If you do need more heat because your basking spot, hot side, and cool side temps are too low, you can do:

1) add a normal house bulb of 40 to 60 watts and see if that helps. Should bring up temps quite a bit for only a few $$.
2) if your night time temps are a concern (below 65 at night), instead fo the extra bulb above, try a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) that you can leave on all day and night. It just provides head, no extra light, so no need to turn it off for sleeping time. The other light should be on a timer so you keep the tank on a regula day\night schedule. Times can be found for a few $$ at most Walmarts, Target, and hardware type stores...

 

[MyLittleFoot]

Thanks so much for all your help

I just found out on 12-11-08 from my husband that he was getting me one for Christmas so I had to hurry out and buy stuff.

now I know exactly what I need I can go update my things.

for right now could I use one of the basking bulbs and a regular house 60watt bulb or just keep the two I have until I can change them.

 

[WAFisherman]

Thanks so much for all your help

I just found out on 12-11-08 from my husband that he was getting me one for Chrismas so I had to hurry out and buy stuff.

now I know exactly what I need I can go update my things.

for right now could I use one of the basking bulbs and a regular house 60watt bulb or just keep the two I have until I can change them.

They will get you by for now. I'd pick one of the basking bulbs, then use a standard house bulb for extra heat + light.

Read up on the caresheets provided by this site. And the nutrition info on this site to be sure you are giving your beardie a good balanced diet of greens and yummy bugs: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Beardies eat a LOT of bugs and grow fast. It can add up quickly if you have to run to the pet store each week. Read up on the options for feeder bugs and see what works best for you. Ordering online is a good option that i've had good luck with.

 

[MyLittleFoot]

bought a small supply of crickets at the store than went online lastnight and bought 1,000 crickets and a few mealworms to get me started. My husband is making something for the crickets to stay in when they come tomorrow.

 

[WAFisherman]

bought a small supply of crickets at the store than went online lastnight and bought 1,000 crickets and a few mealworms to get me started. My husband is making something for the crickets to stay in when they come tomorrow.

I hate crickets - but they are a good feeder choice....

Some things to keep in mind - they need a water source. Fresh fruits veggies are good. Just don't let them get moldie. Water Crystals are good go get for water. Healty feeders make for a healty dragon. So feed those little crickets good stuff (called 'gut loading').
Make sure you use the right sized crickets for your dragon. You don't want to go too big for a small beardie (how old\big is your dragon?).

Dont leave them in the cage alone with your dragon. They are great at getting away and hiding. If you have logs and rocks and branches, they will hide and come out a night to eat - and eating could include your dragon!!!!

Some people put their dragon in a seperate feeding bin or tank. That way there is nothing for the crickets to hide under. Just don't put in too much at once. This can overwelm your beardie and he\she may not eat. Put one in there and see if he eats it. Then add a few more from there.

Hold off on the meal worms!! They are used in pet stores, but they are really not good for beardies, especially babies!! They offer little nutrition and have such hard shells that can lead to poor digestion and serious impaction and possibly an uncomfortable death (same reason to avoid certain kinds of substrate that could be ingested).