Our new family member

[cwwhiting]

Hi, I'm Carolyn. Santa brought a 6 week old beardie to my 7 and 5 year old boys for Christmas this year. I didn't do a ton of research before helping santa deliver him. Now that the holidays are almost over I'm playing catch up with learning about beardies.

My boys named our beardie Spike and we are all very happy with him.

I have some questions, if you don't mind. Spike spends a lot of time in his cave, is this normal? Is he overwhelmed with his new surroundings? Are we too noisy/move to fast?

I'm confused with a lot of conflicting information on Beardies. The store I bought him from swears that we must have a heating pad under his home for radiant heat. I've read that it is bad.

TIA for you help.

 

[berdieman]

hi carolyn i myself just got a beardie to he seems active and alert
i was told under heating was bad too ive mine in the bedroom and the coolest part of tank is between 70- 80 f
im new to them myself just keep reading caresheets and print them out i know what u mean by one website says one thing and another says different, what do you belive ?

 

[amylee159]

I would take the heat mat out. Beardies can't feel heat on their bellies, so there is a risk they could burn them. As long as he has a basking light (a regular household bulb), and a uva/uvb light (reptisun 10.0) he will be fine. If you are REALLY worried about night time temps, you could get a ceramic heat bulb, but they aren't a must.
It takes beardies a little while to settle in. I would make sure that he spends enough time basking to properly digest his food. He will get use to all the noise, mine did.

 

[spartinwoman300]

Welcome! If a beardie is givin a hidy hole kinda thing, he will never leave. They like to stay under things like logs but if your temps are not accrate, he may not be able to get as much heat as he needs. Baby beardies need to have temps at about 105-110 for the basking area and around 87-93 degrees in the cooler side of the tank. Make sure that s/he can get about 6 inches from the uvb lights too!

 

[cwwhiting]

Thanks. I unplugged it. I think he was just adjusting to everything. He is much more attentive now. Thanks for your advice.

I would take the heat mat out. Beardies can't feel heat on their bellies, so there is a risk they could burn them. As long as he has a basking light (a regular household bulb), and a uva/uvb light (reptisun 10.0) he will be fine. If you are REALLY worried about night time temps, you could get a ceramic heat bulb, but they aren't a must.
It takes beardies a little while to settle in. I would make sure that he spends enough time basking to properly digest his food. He will get use to all the noise, mine did.

 

[cwwhiting]

I removed the cave. Thanks for the advice. It took him a few days to adjust to us, but now I think he is almost friendly. Why would the pet shop give me a cave if the beardie is just going to hide in it?

Welcome! If a beardie is givin a hidy hole kinda thing, he will never leave. They like to stay under things like logs but if your temps are not accrate, he may not be able to get as much heat as he needs. Baby beardies need to have temps at about 105-110 for the basking area and around 87-93 degrees in the cooler side of the tank. Make sure that s/he can get about 6 inches from the uvb lights too!

 

[Catalyst]

I have some questions, if you don't mind. Spike spends a lot of time in his cave, is this normal? Is he overwhelmed with his new surroundings? Are we too noisy/move to fast?

It can take dragons a week or so to adjust to new surroundings. Some people have problems with young dragons spending all of their time in a cave when they should be out basking, so many choose not to use a hide with young dragons. My dragon never used/needed one until she went into brumation (like hibernation - some adult dragons do it, no need to worry about that for a long while yet though).

I'm confused with a lot of conflicting information on Beardies. The store I bought him from swears that we must have a heating pad under his home for radiant heat. I've read that it is bad.

I agree with the others, heating pads aren't terribly safe and it's safest to keep the heat coming from over your dragon's head. You don't have to pay extra for pet store heat bulbs though, regular lightbulbs or halogen flood lights work just as well and do everything you need - provide heat (basking spot 100-110*F, cool side 80*), and bright clear (not red) light.

If you don't mind answering a couple of questions we'll look over your setup and see if there are any other areas the petshop gave you wrong info on.

How old is your dragon?
How long is he?

What size tank is your dragon in?
What substrate (ground covering) are you using?
What are you using to heat the tank?
What are the temperatures in the tank (basking spot and cool side)?
What are you using to measure the temperatures?

What UVB light are you using?
How close can your dragon get to it?

What are you feeding your dragon?
How often?
Are you using supplements (i.e. calcium)?
Which ones and how often?

Are you misting or bathing your dragon?
How often?

 

[cwwhiting]

How old is your dragon?
He was born on 11/15
How long is he?
He is 4.5" long
What size tank is your dragon in?
20 gallon
What substrate (ground covering) are you using?
I'm using Red Sand, as the pet store had a "deal" on the whole set up. I feed him elsewhere and he rarely goes down to the sand.
What are you using to heat the tank?
I have a 75 watt bulb in a ceramic fixture
What are the temperatures in the tank (basking spot and cool side)?
Basking is running about 107 other side between 70-80 during the day
What are you using to measure the temperatures?
A digital themometer with a corded probe.
What UVB light are you using?
10.0 Reptile something-er-other
How close can your dragon get to it?
Within 4 inches, on his branch. His latest trick is to hang upside-down on the screen which put him within an inch.
What are you feeding your dragon?
little crickets mostly, he has collard greens and bokchoy but isn't interested
How often?
Twice a day
Are you using supplements (i.e. calcium)?
Yes
Which ones and how often?
Miner-all powder once a day
Are you misting or bathing your dragon?
Yes
How often?
Daily, mostly mist. We bathed yesterday and he wasn't to keen on it.
Thanks for taking the time to read my setup.[/quote]

 

[Ayasha]

Congrats on your new baby and welcome! A little help with the bathing maybe. Try letting your dragon sit in your hand and lower him into the water, at least far enough that the vent (where he poos) is submerged. My smallest one isn't keen on baths either, but will allow it if he can hold onto me. Think its a security issue
The brand of uvb light is important, if you could maybe read it on the tube?
The red sand should be removed though, even if you don't see him on it. Not only because of impaction possibility, but if its a dyed sand, the dye will transfer to your dragon.

 

[cwwhiting]

Thanks. On the bathing, I do have him on my hand and he just clings there. I guess I was thinking he would swim around and not just cling. We will try it again and see if he gets more comfy.
I cringe about the sand. What a pain to remove it!!
The light is a Repti-Glo 10.0 UVB

Congrats on your new baby and welcome! A little help with the bathing maybe. Try letting your dragon sit in your hand and lower him into the water, at least far enough that the vent (where he poos) is submerged. My smallest one isn't keen on baths either, but will allow it if he can hold onto me. Think its a security issue
The brand of uvb light is important, if you could maybe read it on the tube?
The red sand should be removed though, even if you don't see him on it. Not only because of impaction possibility, but if its a dyed sand, the dye will transfer to your dragon.