Tell Me What You Think! Please!

[BeardieGuru8]

Just a couple quick pictures, let me know what you think. 40 Gallon Tank, Rock Substrates, Tree, Food / Water Dish, and Rock Cave. Good For a Juvenile Beardie?

 

[hartungs]

Well since you asked...

First, I must say that it is very pleasing to look at. You have a eye for setting things up. However, I looked at your pictures and am wondering if you have a UVB light? I don't see it (or I am blind). What are your temperatures and how are you measuring them? I think I see an actual thermometer that is meant for a water aquarium. Do you have a digital thermometer with a probe? These are the best way to go. I am not sure about using the rock substrate for a juvenile. I would suggest using all tile. Juveniles have a tendency to get impacted as they can be sloppy eaters.

On a cosmetic note, I would put a background on the tank. Have it wrap around to the sides as well. This seems to make beardies more comfortable.

 

[Lennifer]

I agree. U def need a better therm to measure those temps with. It is best to purchase a temp gun or a digital therm w/ a probe attatched. I see that u have two heat lamps?? U only need one heat lamp/basking light on one side of the tank, so that your Beardie can go to the coller side if he gets too hot. Also, as Sam mentioned...I don't see a UVB source of lighting? It is best to purchase a ReptiSun 10 & u can order them online at LLLReptile for pretty good pricing. U want to get the long tube UVB & it should run across the entire length of your tank. This would be the standard method of lighting. Or u can just purchase a Murcury Vapor Bulb (If your tank is atleast a 40 gallon breeder or bigger), & this lighting will provide heat & UVB all in one. The heat is important for the digetsion & the UVB is needed to help with the calcium absorbtion.

~Sandy

 

[BeardieGuru8]

I have ordered a reptisun 10.0, just waiting to get it in the mail. I have gone to the walmart here, and i couldnt find a thermometer with a probe, where are they located, maybe the people there just had no idea what i was talking about, people who work at this one are not all there, haha! But other than the lighting being on the way it should be ok for the beardie till i build a 4X2X2, correct? And he has not had any trouble with the rock substrate yet. So until something happens ill keep it like it is, he seems to like laying on the rock bridge to cool down i guess. Also should i only use one bulb, should i get rid of the red one, and just keep the other basking bulb?


Brock and Brutus

 

[diamc]

Hi, that's great that you ordered a Repti-Sun 10.0 bulb, it is the strip fluorescent type, right? Do you already have a hood for it? With the strip fluorescent, you'll want it placed right alongside the basking bulb and 6 to 8" from your beardie while in the basking area.

The digital thermometer with probe can be found in Walmart where the outdoor plastic thermometers are sold. Here's a picture of it:

Since this one has 2 readings, you can get the basking side and cool side temps at the same time & it also has a humidity readout. To use it, you place the probe end so that it is resting on (actually touching) the basking site and put the thermometer part way over on the bottom of the cool side, wait about 45 min for the temp to stop rising and then the "out" reading will be for the basking area & the "in" reading for the cool side. You'll want a basking temp of about 100 and up to 110 but no higher and a cool side of about 78 to 82 with 80 being ideal. What is the wattage of the basking bulb you're using now?

I agree that turning off the red bulb would be best as they are very rough on their eyes and since you don't know what the temps are right now, you certainly don't want him to overheat. Having a heat bulb on both sides doesn't allow for thermo-regulating which is very important. Once you get the thermometer with probe, you may find that you need a low wattage household bulb for the cool side to get the temp around 80 degrees though but may only need a 25 or 40 watt.

Are you using calcium & vitamin supplements, if so, how often are you dusting with each of them? If you have any other questions, let us know.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

looks pretty good so far! I personally would ditch the rocks too. too much risk for them accedentally puttign one in their mouth and it getting stuck. You can put washed play sand in that spot though. Just make sure it is ONLY washed play sand, and keep the food away from it as to not get sand in the food.

Also, I had the red heat lamp for a little while myself. It was ok for a little while untill I could afford a ceramic heater. I fianlly had to buy one because it was starting to keep my guy awake at night. He also had so much more energey once I put the CHE in. I believe it is because the infered heat waves soak into the bones much better than with the colored het lamps. Well also not to mention the fact that he slept throught the night and with out getting woken up.

Good luck when you get your new baby!

 

[BeardieGuru8]

How much are those thermometers at walmart? Yes it is a long tube light, and i have not dusted with calcium or anything like that, im not sure what you mean by that? Im doing my best to learn everything i possibly can so that my beardie has a happy home,a nd im a happy parent!

 

[ZANESMAMA]

When you say rock substrate do you mean small pebbles? I guess I'm just not looking at it correctly! That looks like carpet on the right to me, with tile on the left. Am I seeing things? :?:

 

[Tigg]

Yep, I would suggest ditching the pebbles as well... just not worth the risk of losing a pet, or having to pay for a large vet bill in my opinion, Most impaction cases don't show until they are severe, or just too late! It does look great in there! Only other advice I would give is to glue those stacked rocks together, they could fall and do some serious damage!

 

[jakeh2009]

the thermometer at walmart is like $12, the walmarts near me have them by the ceiling fan/light area, they have about 10 different ones, but make sure to get the one as pictured with the wired probe, i tried 3 different ones that were wireless, they all had problems, not sure if the direct light was too much but the wired one has had no problems. As for dusting, they are talking about a calcium powder that you put in a bag and then put the crickets in there and shake it up, like shake-n-bake, they get completely covered and this is very important for your beardie. Rep-cal is what is recommend by most on here and can be found at petmountain.com. or amazon is where i got mine it was a few bucks cheaper there, like $11-12 after shipping, since you are using the reptisun 10, you will want to get the calcium with D3. May also want to look into a vitamin (also powder form).

 

[Judah'sHuman]

Sticky Tounge Miner-All is a good multi vit. You will also want to make sure you Calcium is Phospherious free. The repta sun strips still emite UVA and UVB so you do not want to over do the D3 it can acctually be poisionious. I prefer using a cal with out D3 and the sticky tounge Miner-All with D3 because the Multi vits are only given 3 times per week for babies, calcium 5 times per week. You are less likey to have D3 build up in the lesser dosage but they are still gettign a suffeciant amount.

 

[BeardieGuru8]

Why do you keep saying Pebbles, there are no pebbles in the viv at all, they are big rocks, that are placed where they will not fall or tip over or anything, not sure why you are saying they are pebbles, just look at it before you respond!

As for the help with the thermometer, thank you, i will deffinatly go to walmart and check it out. And is the dusting really that important?

 

[Tigg]

Just a couple quick pictures, let me know what you think. 40 Gallon Tank, Rock Substrates, Tree, Food / Water Dish, and Rock Cave. Good For a Juvenile Beardie?

You said "rock substrate" (Substrate = floor) which made a bunch of us believe that what should have looked like carpet was actually a small rocks (A.K.A. pebbles), And since you were asking us for our opinions we were simply warning you of the associeated health risks.

Now, that's all out of the way...

Dusting is absolutely critical for a healthy dragon in captivity. In the wild, they get all their calcium through the variety of foods they eat (many of which we are not able to supply them with), and being exposed to the sun's rays rich in UVB light, their bodies manifest their own D3 which is needed for them to synthesize and absorb the calcium into their bones. In captivity and under artificial lighting, their bodies are not able to produce enough D3, which slows their calcium absorption... leading to stunted growth, and ultimately MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) So in order to help our pets thrive, we "dust" our feeders with a Calcium with D3 supplement.

 

[Judah'sHuman]

No need to get upset. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what a person is refering to in an email conversation even with pictures. Everyones lingo is differant. When most of us are talking about "Substrates" we are refering to what is on the floor of the viv such as tile, sand, Reptile carpet, etc. We are only tring to assist you in the best way we know how, and sometimes things need clarification in a calm and collected manner.

40 Gallon Tank, Rock Substrates, Tree, Food / Water Dish, and Rock Cave.

I know I thought at first you ment the area under the tree was Rock Substrates . From the picture it looked like small pebbles rather than carpet at first. I think we can now see that is acctually carpet. We are now on the same page, sorry for the missunderstanding.

 

[jakeh2009]

yes dusting is essential in giving your beardies what they need. If your beardie is not getting enough calcium it will get what is called MBD(Metabolic Bone Disease). This happens when the body is not getting the calcium it needs so it takes it from the bones. With the proper supplements and lighting your bd is getting everything it would be getting out in the wild. If your using a MVB bulb then you want the calcium without D3, too much is toxic and dangerous. do some searching on dusting, calcium, supplements, you will learn everything you need to know.