Beardiecosmo2019
Member
Hi there my name is Kimmy I've been involved with animal rescue for over 20 years and I've rescued many animals but this is my first bearded dragon and because he was given to me with MBD I want to get it right. He had every deficiency you could think of,he was dehydrated never had proper UVB,heat or nutrition for the first year of his life and he's only a year old.I don't know if it was because it was just before Christmas and nobody wanted to be bothered or I'm just a bleeding heart but euthanization was spoke of that one time because there would be too much care in trying to bring him back. But I seen fight in this little guy and I wasn't going to give up if he wasn't. Long story short I took him home with me. I did everything that I was told as well as researched thoroughly to my eyeballs fell out. The problem I'm having is there's much conflicting information coming my way not only via the vet but Reptile Specialist / professionals other beardie owners Etc. I have many questions but I don't want to make it confusing so I'm going to focus on one thing at a time. My first question being in reference to a reptisun 10.0 4 ft tube light that I purchased. I'm having a new enclosure currently built that is 6 ft long and a 4ft fixture seemed appropriate as well as I already own many of those fixtures because I'm an avid gardener. It's a T8 fixture. He came with a combination 75 Watt bulb that is currently over a natural slate basking Rock . It might have worked for his 20 gallon when lowered but it needs to be upgraded for heat purposes .If I'm correct in my research,I can run a regular par35 or 38 halogen bulb alongside the reptisun and I do not need additional UVB correct? That I only need light and heat at this point correct? That a combination bulb at this point would be useless and too much UVB ?That if I use additional UVB bulb with the reptisun 10.0 it could be too much and actually cause burns is that my understanding? It may be because I'm fair-skinned and blond but I know that bulb is putting out a lot I perhaps had my arm too long in the enclosure but I feel slightly burned today. Any ways to sum up my post I would like to know if the UVB lighting should run the entire length of the enclosure and disperse evenly throughout the tank or should the UVB light be concentrated in one area and not have any at all in one area? He's currently being housed in an approximate 35-gallon see-through tote that's been properly disinfected and lined with gardening pictures on three sides to prevent reflection. He can clearly see out the front.I'm using paper towels in the bottom but he gets a bath everyday so that's where he poops. One side is sunny and warm approx 95 under basking light,on a digital.85 middle, 79/80 cool side.2 slate basking rocks and the other side is more woodsy with a wood tunnel to hide in a piece of Malaysian Driftwood a fake fern and a spot to hide. I used a metal Shelf that comfortably sits across the tote so that the 4ft fixture can rest easily on it then I used outdoor chicken wire for the Basking light to set on with a lip so that it could not slide off into the tote. Everything is secured and neat and no points or sharp pieces sticking out where injury could occur. Lights are turned out at night total darkness until the morning .I couldn't bare to keep him in that 20 gallon tank until his enclosure was so this is where the large tote comes in. Normally I wouldn't keep a dragon in something like this but unfortunately in his circumstances it takes time to build the proper enclosure if it's being done custom. He could live 10 years or more so he needs a life-long home not something I want to upgrade in time. He doesn't walk on his back legs he has some paralysis that were working on so at this point it's not like there's a whole lot of Mobility but he does have Mobility from the front. He's definitely more alerts and has better coloring. I'm trying to do everything perfectly and I'm probably making myself crazy LOL he currently eats superworms obviously dusted and I cut them up before serving so that they're better chewed but they're higher in fat and he needed the weight and nutrition. He has black soldier fly larvae coming in because I was told it has the proper amount of phosphorus and calcium ratio and do not need to be dusted and theyre a good staple food for a dragon with severe MBD. I ordered them from a reputable breeder that gutloads them and feeds them probiotics. That's another thing I make sure I gutload all of his superworms with vegetables and off-the-shelf food.He occasionally gets a hornworm if I can get small ones. He's smaller than he should be so I have to treat him like a smaller younger beardie.He also is fed squash baby food with supplement through a syringe as well as a green slurry made out of collard and mustard greens. He was never taught to eat greens so im working on that but he's at least getting Greens in a slurry. I hope I included everything you need to know.I always wanted a bearded dragon but refrained because through research it just seems like it is not a beginner pet like the pet stores try to tell you. It does require money time and Specialized Care. He is cool as hell and very intelligent but he's been through a lot. I have many other questions but I wanted to simplify it. Also in regards to the lighting when they say the light should it be on one side, do they mean left to right or front to back? There's also some conflicting information about the inches it should be away from the dragon. Tthe company says it emits proper UVB for bearded dragons up to 20 in and should be placed no closer than 6 to 8 in . And that 6-8 inches may be proper for some UVB bulbs but with the reptisun being high output it may be too much for some if it's too close. The company States this bulb was secifically made to help reptiles needing high output such as bearded dragons and bearded dragons with MBD. That it does work properly up to 20 inches away. Because it's made for bigger enclosures that might be deeper or higher.I called the company. Who knows if they're giving out correct information or not . Thank you kindly for any help I appreciate it.