LoneGreyWolf20
Member
A girl that I am currently dating is getting her first Bearded Dragon and she has come to me for advice. I am trying to get her to set-up the Dragon right, but the Pet Store where she is purchasing the dragon also has her ear... lol. The problem is that I live over 1000 miles from her so I am not there to be with her while she shops.
One of the things they are telling her is that the coconut substrate is ok to use, or some sort of substrate that reminds her of bird seed, but much larger and isn't really bird seed is what she told me. For the life of me I can't figure out what she's talking about with that one. I have been telling her that she should either use tile or even newspaper for a substrate. I have always used newspaper for most of my reptiles, including my dragon.
Also, on the subject of lighting. I am trying to keep her away from buying fluorescent lighting, not that it's bad, but the MVB from what I can tell tend to be better. My determining factor though on that will be the minimum distance needed. She is buying a 30 Gallon breeder for her Dragon. It's the same size as a 40 Gallon, just 4 inches shorter. So it's 12 inches and not 16 inches. Would that be too close? I'm thinking 100 watts would suffice.
As I said, I'm not there, so I am unable set this enclosure up for her, so I know everything will be put on top of the screen top as far as lighting goes. So a CHE would be out as well as far as I know. They are also trying to talk her into getting a black light for nighttime heating. I myself prefer a UTH.
They have also said that she only needs to feed crickets twice a week. I'm pretty sure they should be fed everyday as that is what I had done.
Edit: The dragon is about 2 years old.
One of the things they are telling her is that the coconut substrate is ok to use, or some sort of substrate that reminds her of bird seed, but much larger and isn't really bird seed is what she told me. For the life of me I can't figure out what she's talking about with that one. I have been telling her that she should either use tile or even newspaper for a substrate. I have always used newspaper for most of my reptiles, including my dragon.
Also, on the subject of lighting. I am trying to keep her away from buying fluorescent lighting, not that it's bad, but the MVB from what I can tell tend to be better. My determining factor though on that will be the minimum distance needed. She is buying a 30 Gallon breeder for her Dragon. It's the same size as a 40 Gallon, just 4 inches shorter. So it's 12 inches and not 16 inches. Would that be too close? I'm thinking 100 watts would suffice.
As I said, I'm not there, so I am unable set this enclosure up for her, so I know everything will be put on top of the screen top as far as lighting goes. So a CHE would be out as well as far as I know. They are also trying to talk her into getting a black light for nighttime heating. I myself prefer a UTH.
They have also said that she only needs to feed crickets twice a week. I'm pretty sure they should be fed everyday as that is what I had done.
Edit: The dragon is about 2 years old.