Hi, I'm new to the forum...I used to have a Beardie about 10 years ago so I'm sure a lot of the info I had was outdated. I say adopting but I'm pretty sure this 4 month old is lacking in everything it needs. The person told me they lost her calcium and I do not think they have lights on her. In other words, I'm hoping to get some advice on how to proceed with calcium? Should I start with a regular routine or will that overwhelm her system. I'll have other questions but wanted to start with that one. Thanks in advance.
-
Hello guest! Are you a Bearded Dragon enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Beardie enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your dragons and enclosures and have a great time with other Bearded Dragon enthusiasts. Sign up today!
Adopting a Beardie tomorrow
- Thread starter FlorrieJ
- Start date
The dragon needs calcium D3 5 x per week ONCE per feeding dusted lightly on the insects -- you need a good UVB NO coils - coils are inadequate and will not help him absorb / synthesize the calcium-- I can post 3 websites for those UVB's -- surface basking temps should be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- your screen on the tank will determine where the UVB needs to be placed
Thank you for this info, I did pick up an mvb instead of a coil. I'll need to pick up a temp gun and a thermometer. I'm not sure what is included with her tank, but I know it's not coming with calcium or any lights.
Mvb's are good for heat not so much uvb- what size is the tank? 40 gallon? You want digital probe thermometers- 2-- kits have a lot of stuff you won't use -
You can but I recommend one w/ just the hygrometer -- Exo Terra sells them
Zoo Med sells the digital probe thermometers
UVB's there are 3 of them I will post for you
Zoo Med 24" fixture good for tanks 40-120 gallon
Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood (24 inch)
or this one you want a 12% bulb 24 watt
Arcadia ProT5 UVB Kit 24"
ProT5 is a highly adaptable lighting kit with high quality internal electronics, a high effective but removable reflector, power cable, fittings kit & bulb
you need the 24" or 2 ft fixture
SunBlaster NanoTech T5 HO - Fluorescent Fixture with 6400K Lamp
SunBlaster NanoTech T5HO Fixture This fixture incorporates our ever popular Sun Blaster T5 HO fluorescent fixture and our NanoTech reflector and combines them into one fixture. These fixtures include electronic ballast, 6400K lamp, power cord, jumper plug with both hanging and flat surface...
hydrobuilder.com
Thanks very much...I'm picking her up tonight...the mvb will have to do until I can get back to the pet store tomorrow. I will let you know when I have the right supplies.You can but I recommend one w/ just the hygrometer -- Exo Terra sells them
Zoo Med sells the digital probe thermometers
UVB's there are 3 of them I will post for you
Zoo Med 24" fixture good for tanks 40-120 gallon
this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you need this bulb 22" https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/zoo-med-reptisun-10-0-uvb-fluorescent-t5-ho-bulb-22-24-watt-zmos524Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood (24 inch)
joshsfrogs.com
or this one you want a 12% bulb 24 watt
or this one you will need to change out the bulb to the Reptisun posted aboveArcadia ProT5 UVB Kit 24"
ProT5 is a highly adaptable lighting kit with high quality internal electronics, a high effective but removable reflector, power cable, fittings kit & bulbwww.reptilebasics.com
you need the 24" or 2 ft fixture
once you get the fixture please post back on here and I will help you get it placed for the tank - your screen will determine where the UVB goes along w/ distanceSunBlaster NanoTech T5 HO - Fluorescent Fixture with 6400K Lamp
SunBlaster NanoTech T5HO Fixture This fixture incorporates our ever popular Sun Blaster T5 HO fluorescent fixture and our NanoTech reflector and combines them into one fixture. These fixtures include electronic ballast, 6400K lamp, power cord, jumper plug with both hanging and flat surface...
So I picked her up tonight. She didn't come with much and the tank is smaller than I thought it was. It is only 12 in high but 3 ft long. Should I be looking at a completely different setup than this? I think I saw somewhere that taller was better?
She also came with mealworms and there was a very large cricket in her tank before I cleaned it.
She also came with mealworms and there was a very large cricket in her tank before I cleaned it.
Make sure you have a digital probe thermometer- small tanks are very hard to get correct basking temps in -- what mvb are you using brand and bulb- mvb's should be unobstructed to get correct uvb rays----no mealworms please-- the exoskeleton on them is too harsh on babies stomachs- feed small crickets and do not leave them in the tank-- I am going to post more info for you in the morning-
The Reptisun hood and lights are arriving on Tuesday, I couldn't find the hood locally. I have two MVBs on hand, a MegaRay 100 watt, and a Solar Ray 125W. I picked up a digital probe thermometer this morning.
I just gave her some crickets but she wasn't good at catching them and gave up. I'll try to get them back out for now.
I just gave her some crickets but she wasn't good at catching them and gave up. I'll try to get them back out for now.
Ok both are good MVB's but are going to be too hot for a 12" tall tank you need the digital probe thermometer to get accurate surface basking temps I would look at get a regular basking bulb and start w/ a 75 watt -examples are Flukers basking Exo Terra Intense or a Arcadia Halogen you DO NOT want to burn her up-- the screen on the tank is going to block UVB rays and your screen will tell you how to get the UVB set up - if you have a wide hole screen it can stay on top but we need to deal w/ distance once we figure out the screen your using-
I would get her some BSFL www.symtonbsf.com - can you post a pic of the dragon please - you want a bowl like this or similar to -https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 this is great for BSFL and small dubia roaches and salads-
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale info its outdated and a great staple
Please dust the insects w/ calcium D3 5 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated also dust the insects w/ a vitamin w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding
ok so tank size I recommend getting the largest tank size you can get -- recommended is a 120 gallon for a adult dragon and they dont stay little long so by the time shes a year old you will want a 120 gallon tank - I can post links for tanks --
I am considering going to get a better tank today, I'm going to look around to see what's out there. 12"H... I agree is not going to work even short term. I have the digital probe thermometer now and I have light stands. I took the screen off the tank and put a metal-wired screen to allow more light, with a hatch that opens where the light is.
Another question, how do I arrange the lighting on the tank? Basking, MVB (soon to be 24" hood), should I have a CHE in there as well? What lighting should I have on the non-basking side?
Another question, how do I arrange the lighting on the tank? Basking, MVB (soon to be 24" hood), should I have a CHE in there as well? What lighting should I have on the non-basking side?
You want a tank preferably 24" H that would be a 120 gallon tank - they are numerous sites to look for those tanks and order on line I have 2 Zen Habitats that I have been very happy w/ -tanks are cheaper on line I can post websites for them if you like -- basking and UVB optimal is next to one another sometimes that doesnt work - dragons will go to the light they need - they dont always sit under their UVB's - CHE's are not required only when your tank is falling below 65 ambient at night- dragons like cool and dark to sleep - they are very handy if the dragon gets sick so you can keep ambient temps at night at 80 this helps w/ their immune system but for the most part dragons like cool and dark at night-
I found a 75G that is 20"H. It will have to do for now until I can arrange for something bigger when she's older. It is still in my vehicle until I can get some help getting it in the house. OK, I'll try the basking beside the UVB when the reptisun hood comes on Tuesday.
It will need to go in the tank - distance 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor
Glad to hear she is doing good -- here are some sites for you
www.zenhabitats.com
www.symtonbsf.com
www.dubiaroaches.com
https://apcages.com/
https://talkingserpents.com/
https://carolinadesignerdragons.com/
https://www.diycages.com/products/c...24-pvc-board-critter-condo-with-t5ho-lighting
I would read all the info on the tanks your looking at - the carolina cages are all glass and are very heavy and hard to heat - plus I dont like the way they have the UVB attached to the basking bulb - you cant move it if you need to adjust for heat etc --
Apcages I dont know of anyone buying them so I cant give feedback on them - you can always call if your interested in them -- same w/ diy tanks and talking serpent
The zens I have two of them and I like them - I use the black mat that they sale
Symton and dubias are similar if not the same and some people have them -- havent heard any negative thoughts on these --
