ShadowLizard":be4e6 said:
I have for my beardie, Aro.
1. Alfalfa meal bedding.
2. A tree for him to climb on.
3. a water bowl, and a greens dish.
4. a 100 watt red bulb.
5. a 17 watt curly bulb, (forgot what its called)
6. and a slate rock, for him to lay on.
I don't recall seeing alfalfa meal specifically being addressed anywhere, but the general consensus is that any substrate that has particles is an impaction risk. It's best to use solid substrate like tiles or non-adhesive shelf liner, or even paper towels.
The red bulb is unnecessary, and not a good daytime basking light. Beardies need and like bright white light. You can use a regular household bulb for a basking bulb. No light at night should be used. If your temps get too low, consider a ceramic heat emitter.
The "curly" bulb is a compact coil UVB, which is DANGEROUS, so I would advise you turn it off ASAP. He's better off without UVB for a few days that to be exposed to the hazards of the compact coil UVB. Instead, use a flourescent tube type of
UVB bulb. The best one is the ReptiSUN 10.0. You can get a fluorescent fixture at Lowes or Wal Mart. Be sure the length covers at least 2/3 of the tank or the whole length of the tank if that's feasible.
Everything else is okay. Be sure you have a good thermometer and measure on the
surface of where he basks whether it's on the tree or on the rock. Also, be sure his basking spot is elevated so that he can get within 8-12 inches of the UVB. That is, once you get the correct UVB.
As for the water dish...some people do, some people don't. It's actually a drowning hazard if you have a pretty small beardie. Most beardies don't recognize standing water as something they should drink, so those with water dishes end up using them for a pool or potty. You're actually probably better off without it until he learns to drink from a bowl (which may never happen) or at least until he gets bigger. You may find that it's just another thing to clean and it's not really worth it. You'll be giving him a
bath every few days (right?), so he'll get his
hydration in the
bath.
Enjoy your new bub!