Welcome home, Pogo!

[PogoLover]

Hi, I am Kim (PogoLover) and I just got my first bearded dragon, Pogo, two days ago.

Cage set up:
50 gallon, 36x18x18, vivarium with ceramic tile flooring.
36" ReptiSun 10.0 UVB florescent tube running the length of the cage
50W clear halogen bulb for heating and basking spot
CHE for night heat
Basking spot temp (measured with temp gun): ~105F
Cool side (measured with probe): day ~79F
Night (measured with probe and temp gun): ~75-80F

The white stuff on his basking spot is calcium dust not urate:

First step into new home:

Going really dark (pissy?):

Lightened up again:

Scaling the wall because he is still only 10g (about 7"):

YAY!

So far, he seems to be doing great. Doesn't eat as much as I expected (so far only about five gut-loaded calcium-dusted small crickets a day plus some mustard greens/kale - YES, he actually will eat greens as a baby - go figure!). I am ordering some dubias, so we will see if he likes those better. He actually drinks from his water tray too. In fact, he seems to have a system - he poops on his basking spot and then runs to the other side of the cage and takes a dip and a drink in the water tray, while I clean poop.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Kim ! Pogo looks very cute and you did an excellent job on his tank. It is really a bonus that he drinks right from his bowl.....most dragons never do so.

Have fun with your new little one.

 

[PogoLover]

Hi Kim ! Pogo looks very cute and you did an excellent job on his tank. It is really a bonus that he drinks right from his bowl.....most dragons never do so.

Have fun with your new little one.

Hi AHBD - Thanks so much! I researched and took about a month getting his set up done while trying to make sure I didn't make a snap decision about buying a new pet that takes a decent amount of care. I have not kept reptiles/amphibians since I was a kid, and even then I kept easy ones - like garter snakes fed on goldfish.

I bought Pogo at the PetSmart (even though I know people don't think that is a good idea). I watched their lizards over the same month period to see how they looked and talked to a couple of the people in there about their care to see what they knew and whether the lizards were getting good care. I have to give it to my local PetSmart - they are pretty good about their animal care and knowledge of different types of pets. The lady told me that I needed to make sure I had a UVB light and to make sure that I dusted my crickets with calcium because that was very important for Pogo's health (I knew that already, but I was glad that she knew it too).

Now I am just a bundle of nerves. Pogo is eating, but not nearly as much as I would have thought. I know that they often eat less when they are stressed from a new environment or getting ready to shed, so I am trying to just keep feeding him and be patient - he acts healthy - curious, alert . . . but he will have a couple of crickets and then just let one stand on his head for a few minutes, completely uninterested.

My husband thinks I am nuts because I worry too much. LOL. :shock: