Starter kit

[Airwick93]

Hi me in my gf are going to get a berded dragon this weekend I I'm wanting to heterogeneous this starter kit Zoo Med™ ReptiHabitat® Bearded Dragon 40 Gallon Terrarium Kit I want to know if this is a good starter kit I'm going to buy the carpet for him so he dose not eat sand the only thing I'm really worried about is the duel light thing it comes with will it be okay for me to use just the light kit it comes with or will I also have to buy a uvb lamp to

 

[Gormagon]

Welcome to the wonderful world of bearded dragons a land of mystery, enchantment, cuddles and, worry! A magical realm where things always seem to change in an instant and, the moment you think you have it all figured out, the rules change! You think you own your dragon?, guess again..... Like it or not, you are now a slave, lol!

The screw in coil type uvb bulbs that they put in those kits lack proper uvb for dragons. They can cause eye irritation, eye infections and/or blindness in some cases.
I highly recommend the Reptisun 10.0 t5 ho... https://www.bigalspets.com/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood-14.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp26401&sc_intid=26401&gclid=CK3vq9S79NICFQ2BaQoda2INsA
It comes with a 5.0 bulb so you will need to order a 10.0 t5 bulb for it... https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwirp8G6u_TSAhXRtsAKHWxlB5wYABAPGgJpbQ&sig=AOD64_0adaenT3eZQ1sBpEVngkYt30_cDg&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwiOsb26u_TSAhUCwYMKHfPiDXkQwg8IICgA&adurl=
This is what a lot of folks use on here and they are well worth the money.
I also use rough textured floor tile as a substrate, its easier to clean and, disinfect and, it keeps their nails trimmed in a more natural manner.
The thermometers that come with the kits (dial types) can be off as much as 20° +/-, digital with a wire probe is the way to go or, a temp gun to frequently check temps in the temp gradient levels of the viv. Personally, I use the temp gun method. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjPxLWnwPTSAhVJG2kKHVOWClEYABArGgJpcQ&sig=AOD64_270A2O6dG1KkZTx2gH_McC0nZWGg&ctype=46&q=&ved=0ahUKEwjGlrGnwPTSAhUC9YMKHaAQCzwQzzkIKygA&adurl=

 

[CooperDragon]

I agree that you're better off avoiding the kit and buying better quality items individually. It will save money in the long run and be much better for the health of your dragon. A big initial investment will be much better than saving money up front and needing to replace things. I suggest getting the largest enclosure you can. I'd get at least a 40g breeder tank but go larger if you can. Building your own is the most economical way to go if you are good at building. This is a popular enclosure build https://beardies.dreamwidth.org/2145.html Something 4'x2'x2' or larger will last for the whole life of your dragon.

I agree that investing in a high quality UVB light is one of the best bang for your buck items and is quite necessary. Either the ReptiSun 10 T5 or an Arcadia like this http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/ are your best bet. They should sit about 12'' above the basking area for optimal results.

Going with a solid substrate is a good idea because it's easy to clean and keep sanitary. I'd start with some non adhesive shelf liner that can be cleaned or replaced. It's a good, cheap option.

For basking, I'd use a halogen flood light or a ZooMed Repti Basking spot light. Having it on an adjustable stand is helpful for fine tuning the temperatures by changing the height of the bulb. The halogen flood light can also be hooked up to a dimming thermostat as well. It's important to have accurate temperature readings so I suggest getting an IR temp gun like this https://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK or a couple of digital thermometers like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017N8W90/ that you can mount one on the basking surface and one on the cool side to monitor temps. Adjust lighting wattage/height so the basking surface is between about 100-110 and the cool side is between about 75-80 or so.

You want to include a nice flat place to bask and some spots to hide and have shade. Things like habba huts, flat stones, and flat driftwood pieces work well. There are a lot of ways to go with this so use your imagination and shoot for some places to climb and bask and some places to hide and that will do the trick.