Supplies

[ikkie78]

Hi everyone...I'm going to be ordering the stuff I need to get my beardie soon. Now I know the major things I need like lighting, temp gun/thermometer with probes, etc. I just wanted to know if someone had a list of smaller things that I may not think of that I may need, or things that will make life a little easier that maybe I haven't thought of. If there is a link to a basic list of supplies that someone could point me towards I would appreciate it! I know I already got one of those handheld food chopper things...figure it would be pretty quick and easy to chop up veggies to whatever size i need with that. So anything that you find helpful for daily life with a beardie list them here! Thanks!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi Ryan,

Here's a few things :
wood/rock for basking
hammock
food bowl
cricket keeper
cricket gutload
vitamins-multivitamin & calcium w/D3(unless using a mvb, then w/o D3)

and lotsa love for your little one !!!

I'm sure you'll get more ideas from others

 

[MP71]

Small plastic bags (I use sandwich bags) for shaking the crickets and calcium/vits together

 

[Krisymof2]

Honestly I really love my bug tongs. I used to just catch the crickets with my hand but its much nicer to do with the tongs.

 

[msmaui]

I bought a little plastic container at Target to feed Kookie in. I just shake some crickets in there and put the dragon in. When he's through eating I just have to dump the crickets back in their home. It's much easier than having to chase down uneaten crickets in his viv! Also, maybe a little bowl that worms can't crawl out of, if you plan on feeding worms.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

Hello~

One thing you should have on hand is a plastic baby med syringe, a few jars of babyfood like carrots, squash. It comes in really handy to feed olive oil and baby if they are stoped up, or if you want to just give them some babyfood at times they are not eatting much. Look at some tile stores and see if they have any broken tiles they want to get rid of or sell for really cheap, a few small rough ones are good for the nails. These are also great to have under the food dish, and they will offten poo on them making clean up a snap. Also, Check out the encloures thread it will give you some good idea for set ups and arranging your viv with plants and rock that sorta thing. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=66704&p=766672&e=766672

Good luck with your new baby

 

[ikkie78]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I am starting a dubia colony within the next week so I have the main food thing down but thanks for the heads up on the feeding tongs...those will come in handy! I don't mind handling bugs usually but in case someone has to come over and feed the little one sometime they might not be as crazy about bugs! haha! I will order some feeding syringes also...didn't think of that one either! Other than carrot and squash baby food what other flavors are good? Any to stay away from?

Are there any meds or supplements (other than calcium and multi vitamins) that are good to have on hand just in case? Also what is a good multi-vitamin brand...I'll be using an MVB so I'll get the calcium w/o D3...any brand better than the other with the calcium or any brand that is more widely used by the people here? Sorry for all the questions...just trying to put a list together of everything I need to get...hoping to order it all in one shot since the pet stores around here are ridiculously priced on everything! Thanks for all the help so far and if anyone else has anything to add please do so!

 

[morninggrl]

Just a thought on the feeding tongs...we use cheap chopsticks instead of the fancy tongs you pay eight bucks for at the pet store. My daughter is a pro at chasing down runaway crickets with those things! :lol: And when they get yucky, you can just stop by the nearest Asian restaurant and ask for another pair.

 

[ikkie78]

Haha...never thought of that. I might actually have some laying around in a kitchen cupboard even!

Wow...starting to make a list of things that I need to order and boy is this gonna be expensive!!! haha...thank god for tax returns! It'll be well worth the cost though!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

It's mainly the initial set up that kills you in $$, after that it's not so bad. It get's alot cheaper the older they get too.

 

[Krisymof2]

I see that you live where its cold, here is a link to an emergency kit, along with things that are good to have on hand.

http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39278&hilit=emergency+kit
http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95220&p=743241#p743241

 

[ikkie78]

Thanks for the links...those are a big help!

 

[Judah'sHuman]

Hi~
Cool that your starting a Dubia colony! So you have purchased a seperate tank to house them in? I have been told a 10gall fish tank is good. I guess they can soemtimes climb out of the big plastic storage bins. I too plan to start my own colony, Im thinking Turks though. They are cheeper, but not avaialbe right at the moment so I have to wait.

You can get the Baby med syringe at any Drug store like walgreens or rite aid etc. I am sure it will be WAY cheeper than at a pet store online or other. I think I paid $2

Go looking out on the vits! You'll want to get a calcium that is not only D3 free but also Phospherous free. I use Jurassa Cal I guess its an ok brand. I also Use Sticky Tounge Miner All O this is D3 Free Its a really good sup. Given every other day for youngins. One the babyfood you can also give um the peas, green beans, chicken, turkey. On the meat ones though youd want to mix it half & half with a veggie (even if it has veggies in it) Because sometimes it will stop them up a little. You can also give them some of the fruit ones, but these should be fed in moderation because they are high in sugar. Also, apple sauce is good for a laxitive effect so this is not one that you would want to fed to offten.

Sometimes when I am low on cash and i cant afford a good assortment of green and veggies (or because of winter) I will give Judah his normal baby spring mix salad, and then I will give him 1-2 cc of a babyfood veggie. This way he gets a good assortment of veggies, with out any wasted food and less cost. However, I only feed in the 1-2 cc's maybe 2-3 times per week if that. I dont want to give him the runs or something from feeding him too soft of food.

I dotn know if you have seen this yet but there is a very good list of things to feed on Beautifuldragons.com This will let you know what is and what is not safe to feed. There is also a care sheet check list, in case you (or we) have missed soemthing to think of that you may want to get. There is alot of trial and error of course and your goign to realize things you'll need to make you life easier.

 

[ikkie78]

Thanks for the info! Yeah I got a larger rubbermaid container for the dubia but it does have a very shiny/slippery surface on the inside so hopefully they won't climb out! haha! Hope your turks come in soon! I'll check out walgreens for the medicine dropper...it probably would be a lot cheaper there.

I'll check out the beutifuldragons list of food also...thanks for the link and all the other food info you gave me.

 

[palomino]

I am new to the Beardie world myself and am learning superfast.

Here are some things (mostly non essentials) that I have that I totally recommend:

1) MVB bulb. I have a T-Rex MVB bulb that puts out a ton of heat and light. I have to supplement mine with at 50W bulb but just because my house is so cold. When it warms up the MVB will be sufficient.

2) An infrared thermometer. This thing is so nice as you get an accurate temperature and you don't have to have any wires showing in your tank.

3) Metal screen for the top of your feeder cages. If you set up a feeder tub (like a sterrilite or rubbermaid) and you use screen for your venting use the metal screening instead of the Fiberglass screening, b/c thanks to the posters on here who advised me that bugs can chew through fiberglass, I have avoided a "jailbreak".

4) Roach colony. I am still waiting for my 1,000+ turks to grow to reproduction age but when they do I should have no probs getting babies. I like the Turks. They are much better than the nasty crix.

5) A cheap steam cleaner. Makes cleaning your tank super easy and it disinfects w/o harsh chemicals.
That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!!