Hey I'm new and am looking for some tips.

[Skinger15]

Hi I'm thinking of buying a bearded dragon and just need a little help.
1. Best age to buy for a starter?
2. Build cage or buy it?
3. Is tile ok for all ages?
4. Hide or no hide?
5. Best UVB light?
6. Will a flood light from Home Hardware work for the basking light?
7. I was planning on making the basking spot out of polystyrene, grout and sealer. Will this work?

Thanks

 

[SouthernDissolution]

Welcome to the forum!

1. For my first beardie I went with one about 3 months. I feel the little ones are too fragile, but thats just my opinion.

2. Bare minimum is a 40 gallon breeder tank for an adult dragon. My Dillinger started off in a 40 gallon and Im in the process of building him a custom terrarium.

3. Ceramic tile can be a little too cold for little ones. Ceramic does hold heat decent but, it can be a little cold for the tiny fellas. Personally, I use tile, but then again, I lay tile as a side job LOL

4. Some dragons use hides, some dont. I think one of our members mentioned their dragon "Yaddle" using her hide during brumation.

5. I use the Reptisun 5.0 right on top of his basking area and I also have a 36'' UVB light along the length of the tank.

6. I'm not 100% if a flood light will work, but I would NOT use one. I use some of the Sunglo bulbs. They've never given me any trouble and they keep my temps pretty regular.

7. I'm guessing you got this idea from LizardLandscapes? From personal experience, they're great! they hold heat pretty well, and if you build them right, they're pretty sturdy. As far as a sealer, do NOT use grout sealer unless it is water based. Your best bet will be Mod Podge Matte Sealer. Any other questions you have I'll be glad to answer.

 

[Skinger15]

Thanks a lot for all the information. And yes I did get the idea from lizard landscapes. They look really realistic and you can make pretty much whatever you want.

 

[SouthernDissolution]

No problem, Thank YOU for doing your homework. LOL I can get some pics of some of mine if you would like to see...

 

[Skinger15]

Yes please. I'm thinking of building a 4'x2'x2 cage. I've read that if the cage is to big the beardie could feel overwhelmed or will be unable to find his food. Would this be to large for a 3-8 month old beardie?

 

[SouthernDissolution]

LOL Funny you should say those dimension, those are the exact dimensions Im building right now. As far as that being overwhelming, it can be, but I Dillinger never had any trouble finding his, but then again, he's been a pig from day one.

That is how mine is coming along.

My suggestion is go with something that size if thats what you want, if it proves to be a problem with a little one, then make some sort of tank divider.

Also, an 8 month old beardie will not be small, my Dillinger is 19'' and he is 7 months tops.

 

[Skinger15]

Ok thanks. That looks pretty good. Here's a link to the one I'm planning on making. http://www.freewebs.com/crossfireenclosures/

 

[SouthernDissolution]

Thats a pretty cool design, I'm building mine the way I am to match the current furniture in my den area. As far as the price for that, thats amazing, I WISH mine would have cost that little LOL Gimme a minute and I'll get you a picture of my fake rock.

 

[SouthernDissolution]

Here is a pic that shows you one of the fake rocks I've built, as well as the tile job he got.

Dillinger is in shed right now so >.< He looks rough...Just one little patch left on his back >.<

 

[Skinger15]

That looks really good. I'm thinking of something a little bigger so I can make a little cave underneath.

 

[SouthernDissolution]

Well I didn't wanna make it too tall, I didnt want him too close to his lights. I thought of making him something bigger for his new place, but it is alotttttt of work, and takes alotttttt of patience. Go with a design thats going to be sturdy. When he shows you on his videos, making columns out of like 8 pieces stacks on top of one another, and elaborate stair cases, they're not sturdy at all even after 5-6 coats or grout.

 

[Skinger15]

Oh well that probably just saved me a lot of trouble. Lol. In one video there's an Aztec temple design and I'm kinda thinking of something like that.

 

[SouthernDissolution]

Yea, thats where I kinda got the inspiration for mine. Word of advice, make all the levels SOLID...Do NOT cut out the centers, makes it ALOT more stable, and use toothpicks as well as liquid nails to hold it together, but of course, make sure the tooth picks are buried real good.

 

[Skinger15]

Ok. Thanks for all the advice! I wanna make sure I have everything right for my first beardie.

 

[SouthernDissolution]

No problem! Any questions you have I'll be glad to answer. There are alot of very helpful people on this forum. You sound just like me when I was getting my first one LOL You want EVERYTHING JUST right. LOL