As Christmas draws near, I'm hoping I'll be able to get a Bearded Dragon... I tried to talk my parents out of the bedding that THEY want me to use, but I failed. Seriously, they won't let me use tile, they won't let me use adhesive shelf liner, and all that other stuff...
Tank: 25G as a baby, 40G Breeder as an adult
Protein: Have to rely on crickets due to stores :/
Bedding (Sadly): Crushed Walnut Shell...
Decor: 'Half-Log' for basking and as a hide, maybe a tree branch, and a salad dish. I plan on misting it.
Light: UVB and Basking Bulbs
Vegetation: Collard Greens and Watercress. Banana as a treat.
Food Supplement: Calcium & D3 Supplement Dust. Bath frequency: Every Saturday
Handling frequency: At least 1 hour every day once it's been in its enclosure for at least 5 or 6 days.
Food frequency:
BABY: My local reptile shop sells 500 crickets for some... $10-15, if I remember. 35 Crickets a day, I think would be fine? Let me know how many crickets a day for a baby. As for the veggies, I'm going to cut up Watercress/Collard Greens and refridgerate it. I will give it salad twice a week. Once on Tuesday, once on Thursday.
ADULT: Since veggies are easier to get than feeder insects, I'm sure I'll be able to feed it veggies daily. As for the feeders, I'd go 40 crickets a week, if possible? Again, let me know, please...
And I have decided on the little due/girl's name.
-Drumroll-
My future Bearded Dragon's name will be...
VAIKE!
My family and friends seemed to like why I had this name as a potential option. The name among people is rare and has no official meaning, but people with the name are normally laid-back and relaxed, much like Bearded Dragons.
Hopefully I can change the bedding within some time.
Hi. I would not use that bedding. It can cut up their insides. That and calcium sand are the worst subtrate. You can use paper towels, non adhesive shelfliner. Those are cheap and way safer. Also here is a site that will help you establish a good base for a salad beautifuldragons.com. Even tho he will be small I would offer salad every day. Mine would eat theirs quite often when they were little. Also they need to be fed 2x a day for as much as they will eat. So he/she can definitely put away 50 + a day. They eat a ton since they grow so fast. Piggies for sure
Yeah, you are gonna have to work REALLY hard to talk your parents out of walnut shells, because that substrate is a no-no for sure. Show your parents what it can do to your beardie from a video or something, and hopefully that will change their mind.
500 crickets for $10-$15???? That's a KILLER deal! It would cost 'bout $50 for 500 crickets at brand name petstores :\ *The life of a reptile owner*
It would be excellent if you could get a tree branch for your beardie, because they love to climb.
Be warned, you may get obsessed with your dragon, as I have...
Paper towel is fine. It is good because it is easy to clean up beardie messes. There are some types of tile that look like wood or sand that you could use.
I know crushed walnut shells from what I hear is bad. BUT, my youngest (3 year old female) has been raised on sand/walnut shells all her life. She's doing great. She eats crickets outside of enclosure. My other bearde (6 or 7, was a rescue) was on peat moss with previous owner (I know, terrible!!!) And he has been on walnut shells since I got him this past summer. My parents are same way about no tile and stuff. But, my Beardies are very healthy and I have no issues