Hi I’m new

[OctoberSky37]

Hi Everyone I’m Allie. I got my bearded dragon just a few days ago. I’m new to Bearded Dragons but I have had previous reptile experience with a ball python and Pac-Man Frog. Since I am new to Bearded Dragons any advice would be helpful and if anyone might be able to help me guess about how old she is that would be great she goes bat crap crazy over small crickets and I gave her a freeze dried superworm and she loved that and I have fresh live meal worms and I am introducing veggies so far she likes collard greens and I did give one treat of a piece of raspberry and she liked that carrot she was like no thanks.

 

[Sadie]

Hi Everyone I’m Allie. I got my bearded dragon just a few days ago. I’m new to Bearded Dragons but I have had previous reptile experience with a ball python and Pac-Man Frog. Since I am new to Bearded Dragons any advice would be helpful and if anyone might be able to help me guess about how old she is that would be great she goes bat crap crazy over small crickets and I gave her a freeze dried superworm and she loved that and I have fresh live meal worms and I am introducing veggies so far she likes collard greens and I did give one treat of a piece of raspberry and she liked that carrot she was like no thanks.View attachment 37363

Welcome to the forum-- I noticed all her toes are all upward- what kind of substrate is she on? Can you please go over all your husbandry- surface basking temps and how your getting them? UVB? Please no coils--- I am guessing shes about 3 months old-- you want all your husbandry on par for her to thrive --

 

[OctoberSky37]

Welcome to the forum-- I noticed all her toes are all upward- what kind of substrate is she on? Can you please go over all your husbandry- surface basking temps and how your getting them? UVB? Please no coils--- I am guessing shes about 3 months old-- you want all your husbandry on par for her to thrive --

She does have UVB and UVA and a ceramic heat with the black aka purple night time light. Ambient temp is 80 with 35 percent on the humidity, currently on repti carpet if there’s something better please let me know, she has a basking heat light 100 degrees. And she is always warm when I pick her up. She seems super happy and she’s crazy chill. She seems to lift her legs up like that when she is looking at me like she knows I’m taking a picture or something. She is eating about 5 small crickets a day and I want to be sure I’m not overfeeding.

 

[Sadie]

She does have UVB and UVA and a ceramic heat with the black aka purple night time light. Ambient temp is 80 with 35 percent on the humidity, currently on repti carpet if there’s something better please let me know, she has a basking heat light 100 degrees. And she is always warm when I pick her up. She seems super happy and she’s crazy chill. She seems to lift her legs up like that when she is looking at me like she knows I’m taking a picture or something. She is eating about 5 small crickets a day and I want to be sure I’m not overfeeding.

Please tell me the uvb- brand and bulb- No colored bulbs it will damage her eyes- she has a 3rd eye on top of her head for predators that colored bulb will damage it- she should be eating 20-25 crickets per feeding at her age she should be eating 2-3 times per day w/ salads offered once per day- in order for her to acclimate to her tank and surroundings- you need your tank up to par uvb is crucial to her overall health - and you need a good uvb No coils

 

[Sadie]

Substrate - you can get some textured NON adhesive shelf liner- found at Walmart or your local home improvement store - cut to the size of the tank clean w/ vinegar and water 50/50

 

[OctoberSky37]

The UVB and UVA are reptisun brand and the UVB is the long kind. The black light was recommended by a Herpatologist as she wasn’t sleeping with regular lights on.

 

[Sadie]

The UVB and UVA are reptisun brand and the UVB is the long kind. The black light was recommended by a Herpatologist as she wasn’t sleeping with regular lights on.

Dragons do not sleep w/ lights on - they dark and cool like 65-75 unless your dragon is sick then a che ceramic heat emitter is recommended - they produce heat no light- the dark and cool helps their metabolism - please tell me the uvb- is a T 5 or a T 8? Where is it placed? This does matter w/ the screen and bulb

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome, Allie!

 

[OctoberSky37]

Dragons do not sleep w/ lights on - they dark and cool like 65-75 unless your dragon is sick then a che ceramic heat emitter is recommended - they produce heat no light- the dark and cool helps their metabolism - please tell me the uvb- is a T 5 or a T 8? Where is it placed? This does matter w/ the screen and bulb

Yes this is a T5 and because the only available spot I have for enclosure is near a bedroom AC vent in my bedroom is why the ceramic heat emitter to keep the temp from dropping to much and when I did a night without it I picked her up and she was cold.

 

[Sadie]

Yes this is a T5 and because the only available spot I have for enclosure is near a bedroom AC vent in my bedroom is why the ceramic heat emitter to keep the temp from dropping to much and when I did a night without it I picked her up and she was cold.

Where is the T 5 placed? Can you shut the vent off by her -- what is the ambient temp in the tank overnight- check first thing in the morning- tanks will usually drop to what the house temp is set for so if its set for under 65 then a CHE would be called for --

 

[OctoberSky37]

I can’t because unfortunately if I do that room gets no A/C and I would be miserable sleeping in there as it is my bedroom. It is set for 64

 

[Sadie]

I can’t because unfortunately if I do that room gets no A/C and I would be miserable sleeping in there as it is my bedroom. It is set for 64

Where is the T 5 placed? The 64 is fine - your dragon will be fine-

 

[OctoberSky37]

Okay it’s on the top of the screen towards the back. I have an enclosure where the front doors open.

 

[Sadie]

Okay it’s on the top of the screen towards the back. I have an enclosure where the front doors open.

Ok so what is the screen fine mesh or wide hole type- fine mesh will block approx 30% of those rays- you want full exposure you need to get it properly placed and distanced for the screen

 

[OctoberSky37]

It’s fine mesh I believe

 

[Sadie]

It’s fine mesh I believe

Ok so you want to get it inside the tank approx 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece- you can use picture wire hangers or 3 M Velcro fasteners or heat resistant long zip ties

Commercial Electric 8 in. Extreme Heat and Cold Resistant UL21 Listed Cable Zip Ties 20 Pack UV (Black) GT-200STH - The Home Depot

Provide an effective and flexible cable organizing solution by using this UV Cable Tie in Black from Commercial Electric.

www.homedepot.com

 

[OctoberSky37]

Thank you also can you send a good digital probe thermometer

 

[Sadie]

Thank you also can you send a good digital probe thermometer

You want thermometer or hygrometer? I am sending both
Zoo Med found at PetSmart or Petco or online at the pet supplies websites

https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/humidity-and-temperature-control/zoo-med-reptile-terrarium-digital-thermometer-14914.html

https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Digital-Hygrometer-Probe/dp/B00101KWYW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Musicmanslady]

Welcome! Dragons do feel cool at night. You can set your heat and UVB lights on a timer if you want..12 hours on and 12 hours off. She will sleep fine if the regular room lights only are on for a short time..they get used to it, but her tank itself should be dark for approx. 12 hours. Can I also add...mealworms are not the best feeder. Black soldier fly larvae (bsfl, also called calciworms or phoenix worms) are great staple feeders although they are small for an adult dragon so you have to feed a lot (like 30 or more at a time) They are great for babies because they are small and high in calcium. Small silkworms are great too. Superworms are large, addictive to dragons, and harder to digest. Dubia roaches are a great feeder insect and much easier to keep than crickets..they also dont stink and dont bite the dragon. Dust all your bugs with calcium (repticalcium powder) except for the bsfl. I use calcium without D3 5x a week and calcium with D3 once a week or less. They get their D3 from their UVB if they have the proper UVB light. The UVB tube lights you want are either the zoomed reptisun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12%. Be careful of fruit...it can cause mouth rot in beardies. Great veggies are collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, escarole, endive,with finely chopped bell peppers or finely chopped or grated squashes to mix with the greens. Dont give insects larger than the space between her eyes esp if she is a baby or juvenile. Adult dragons who really chew their food can handle larger insects but babies should have small sized insects. I know its a lot of info but you got this! Your dragon is beautiful and a very pretty color.

 

[OctoberSky37]

Welcome! Dragons do feel cool at night. You can set your heat and UVB lights on a timer if you want..12 hours on and 12 hours off. She will sleep fine if the regular room lights only are on for a short time..they get used to it, but her tank itself should be dark for approx. 12 hours. Can I also add...mealworms are not the best feeder. Black soldier fly larvae (bsfl, also called calciworms or phoenix worms) are great staple feeders although they are small for an adult dragon so you have to feed a lot (like 30 or more at a time) They are great for babies because they are small and high in calcium. Small silkworms are great too. Superworms are large, addictive to dragons, and harder to digest. Dubia roaches are a great feeder insect and much easier to keep than crickets..they also dont stink and dont bite the dragon. Dust all your bugs with calcium (repticalcium powder) except for the bsfl. I use calcium without D3 5x a week and calcium with D3 once a week or less. They get their D3 from their UVB if they have the proper UVB light. The UVB tube lights you want are either the zoomed reptisun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12%. Be careful of fruit...it can cause mouth rot in beardies. Great veggies are collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, escarole, endive,with finely chopped bell peppers or finely chopped or grated squashes to mix with the greens. Dont give insects larger than the space between her eyes esp if she is a baby or juvenile. Adult dragons who really chew their food can handle larger insects but babies should have small sized insects. I know its a lot of info but you got this! Your dragon is beautiful and a very pretty color.

Yes thank you and I would do dubia roaches but the hubby is like nothing with the term roach in it please. Yeah I have not given any fruit at all and She tears up some Collards, today she saw reflection in part of glass and her beard puffed out and I was like omg what a cool thing. I figured if I can keep ball pythons alive I can do this. This was her this morning in the picture being all cute