Another New Beardie Mom

[Striving Spark]

HI! Hopefully I'm not missing some rule or another and messing up already, but I thought I'd introduce myself? I'm a new beardie mom, and my girl - Autumn - is currently 8 weeks old. She's in a 4x2x2 tank that she's kinda have to grow into, but she seems to be settling in so far? The breeder expected her to hide for several days, but she was exploring from day 1 and eating on day 2 (even if it was just insects I put directly in front of her) so she seems to be doing alright? (She's such a brave little girl~! Still scared of me, mind you, but I figured that would take time. It's enough that she's settling into her tank well for now.)

Anyway, here's my girl. She's currently molting, so her full colors aren't on display, but I'm sure you can see why I named her Autumn all the same.

 

[Sadie]

HI! Hopefully I'm not missing some rule or another and messing up already, but I thought I'd introduce myself? I'm a new beardie mom, and my girl - Autumn - is currently 8 weeks old. She's in a 4x2x2 tank that she's kinda have to grow into, but she seems to be settling in so far? The breeder expected her to hide for several days, but she was exploring from day 1 and eating on day 2 (even if it was just insects I put directly in front of her) so she seems to be doing alright? (She's such a brave little girl~! Still scared of me, mind you, but I figured that would take time. It's enough that she's settling into her tank well for now.)

Anyway, here's my girl. She's currently molting, so her full colors aren't on display, but I'm sure you can see why I named her Autumn all the same.

View attachment 37558

What a cutie pie--- the 4x2x2 tank you might want to cut in half-- section it off - shes pretty little to be in such a huge tank - its going to be easier to work w/ her in a smaller area as well -- what kind of UVB are you using for her? And is it in the tank?

 

[Striving Spark]

What a cutie pie--- the 4x2x2 tank you might want to cut in half-- section it off - shes pretty little to be in such a huge tank - its going to be easier to work w/ her in a smaller area as well -- what kind of UVB are you using for her? And is it in the tank?

I don't have a great way of dividing the tank right now, but I'll definitely pursue it anyways if she shows any signs of stress from it. So far (day 6) she's mostly just decided to claim the hotter side as her own and only goes to the cooler side for food and water. (I think she's eating, at least? It's kinda hard to tell, but I know that it's not abnormal for them to not eat the first few days so I'm trying not to worry about it too much.)

She's got an Arcadia 14% UVB T5 HO per the breeder's directions, and I have it set inside the tank. I'm a little worried as to whether she's getting close enough to it at the moment? This is the setup. (Please forgive the paper towel substrate - it's what the breeder had her on, and I wanted to give her at least one point of familiarity with her new home. I figured I'd shift to something else once she's a bit bigger, or at least better settled. That'll also lift the "floor" up and get her closer to the UVB)

She likes to bask atop the eagle rock the most. She climbed the vine once, but I think she struggled to get down afterwards so it's not her favorite.

Also worth noting that I'm replacing one of the lamps and both the bulbs - I've only been able to hit my target heat during part of the day, so I'm upping the ceramic bulb to 150 watts (with a lamp that's rated to handle such) and shifting out the focused heat bulb/lamp for something with more of a wide spread. My heat gun says that she's getting more heat at her basking point than the tank thermometer would suggest, but I feel like better heating would open up more of the tank for her to explore.

 

[Sadie]

I don't have a great way of dividing the tank right now, but I'll definitely pursue it anyways if she shows any signs of stress from it. So far (day 6) she's mostly just decided to claim the hotter side as her own and only goes to the cooler side for food and water. (I think she's eating, at least? It's kinda hard to tell, but I know that it's not abnormal for them to not eat the first few days so I'm trying not to worry about it too much.)

She's got an Arcadia 14% UVB T5 HO per the breeder's directions, and I have it set inside the tank. I'm a little worried as to whether she's getting close enough to it at the moment? This is the setup. (Please forgive the paper towel substrate - it's what the breeder had her on, and I wanted to give her at least one point of familiarity with her new home. I figured I'd shift to something else once she's a bit bigger, or at least better settled. That'll also lift the "floor" up and get her closer to the UVB)

View attachment 37559

She likes to bask atop the eagle rock the most. She climbed the vine once, but I think she struggled to get down afterwards so it's not her favorite.

Also worth noting that I'm replacing one of the lamps and both the bulbs - I've only been able to hit my target heat during part of the day, so I'm upping the ceramic bulb to 150 watts (with a lamp that's rated to handle such) and shifting out the focused heat bulb/lamp for something with more of a wide spread. My heat gun says that she's getting more heat at her basking point than the tank thermometer would suggest, but I feel like better heating would open up more of the tank for her to explore.

Ok the Arcadia 14% is a good strong uvb - make sure distance is 17-18 inches directly above a piece of basking decor -- she needs to be able to sit directly under it- the surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 105-110 - hot side ambient around 100 - you can get a black mat from Zen Habitats to fit the tank - they are cushioned and a lot of people use them including me -
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...oducts/zen-mat-black-46-x-22-textured-pvc-mat or you can use some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut to the size of the tank - I just noticed they are selling coconut fiber and chip stuff do not use that it is not good for dragons - it can cause RI and is not recommended also you can section off the tank w/ cardboard

 

[Striving Spark]

Ok the Arcadia 14% is a good strong uvb - make sure distance is 17-18 inches directly above a piece of basking decor -- she needs to be able to sit directly under it- the surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 105-110 - hot side ambient around 100 - you can get a black mat from Zen Habitats to fit the tank - they are cushioned and a lot of people use them including me -
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...oducts/zen-mat-black-46-x-22-textured-pvc-mat or you can use some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut to the size of the tank - I just noticed they are selling coconut fiber and chip stuff do not use that it is not good for dragons - it can cause RI and is not recommended also you can section off the tank w/ cardboard

I moved her favorite basking spot a tiny bit so that it's more directly under - it's about 12 inches above her, now, maybe 13? Though that might shrink with use of substrate... I'm actually worried it's a bit too close, now?

Maybe worth noting that I have the light at an angle in the tank, because the bulb I got is a touch too long for the tank and I wanted to make sure there'd be more shaded areas for her to go to. It seems to be working for her so far.

Her favorite basking spot - the eagle rock - is also her favorite hide. Sometimes she'll go all the way to the top, but other times she'll perch with most of her body below and just her head laying on top...

 

[Sadie]

I moved her favorite basking spot a tiny bit so that it's more directly under - it's about 12 inches above her, now, maybe 13? Though that might shrink with use of substrate... I'm actually worried it's a bit too close, now?

Maybe worth noting that I have the light at an angle in the tank, because the bulb I got is a touch too long for the tank and I wanted to make sure there'd be more shaded areas for her to go to. It seems to be working for her so far.

Her favorite basking spot - the eagle rock - is also her favorite hide. Sometimes she'll go all the way to the top, but other times she'll perch with most of her body below and just her head laying on top...

Watch her behavior if she can get out of the UVB that is good - 14% is pretty strong for 12-13 inches - when you replace the bulb in about 10-11 months you can get the 12% and that distance at which you have now is what is recommended for that watt

 

[Striving Spark]

Watch her behavior if she can get out of the UVB that is good - 14% is pretty strong for 12-13 inches - when you replace the bulb in about 10-11 months you can get the 12% and that distance at which you have now is what is recommended for that watt

Noted! And yeah, she can totally get out of the UVB - like I said, I installed it an angle in order to ensure there'd be some shaded spots rather than it hitting the whole tank.