Howdy! Now with 100% more Bowser!

[KDubya]

Been doing a bit of research and last night my wife and I went to the store and picked up an enclosure and a bunch of other stuff and then went straight home to set it up and get everything running.

We got the exo terra 36"x18"x18" w/screen lid, heat lamp (currently w/ 100w spotlight), 24" UVB strip, a rock with a hide, a log, and a hammock.

Also got a pair of digital thermos (one has hygro too) and an IR temp gun. As for substrate I had some spare 16" tiles that fit snug as a bug in there, with the exception of a 4" gap at one end, which will be remedied tonight when I cut a piece to fit.

Now I've just got to make sure the temps are where they need to be before I go searching for a dragon.

I was going to build my own enclosure but I decided to stick with a premade until I get the hang of lighting and heating.

Also, I'm not sure but I think I might need to hang the UVB strip inside. As it sits, it is ~12-14" above the basking spot with a screen in the way. Either that or a weaker heating bulb or raise it up a bit and make the basking spot higher.

No pics yet, maybe later, and then I can report my temp findings as well. I'm sure I'm forgetting something... Oh! Hello, my name is Kevin.

Edit: this will be my first reptile friend. Also have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 conures, and 3 turkeys.

 

[Josh]

Hey Kevin! Welcome to the forum and to pet reptiles! It sounds like you're on the right track and you'll have a nice setup for your dragon once you're ready to get him!

 

[gilliesexotics]

Hi, Welcome to the forums!

 

[KDubya]

Thank you for the welcomes!

Just got home and checked temps. 75 on the cool side, 112 on the basking spot (via IR gun) Made some adjustments so we'll see what happens.

 

[KDubya]

This is what I am working with after raising the spot light 4" the top of the basking rock came down to 106 deg.

UVB strip is 11" from the top of the rock. Should I hang it from the lid to get it closer or buy a weaker spotlight and make the basking spot higher?

This is the UVB strip:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16657416&f=PAD/psNotAvailInUS/No

I know the instructions say not to put them inside but I see it in almost all of the custom enclosures.

 

[Germ]

Kevin,

I am unfamiliar with that brand of UVB, so would be quite leery of it because it provides no specs on it's output. Reptisun or Reptiglo 10.0's (10%) are the more common trusted ones. Regardless, you are right, your BD will need much closer access to the bulb in order for it to be effective. Fluorescents don't get that hot ...

A few good links to help get you started ...

Basic BD Care Sheet - A Place To Start

Bearded Dragon --- Exclusive Care Info Library

Beautiful Dragons Nutrition Chart

UVB Setup

Is Bearded Dragon Co-habitation a good plan?

How To Sex A Bearded Dragon

 

[KDubya]

Are you saying you would trust a Reptisun 10.0 inside the enclosure? EDIT 2: or would a reptisun 10.0 HO be enough through the screen?

I might step down to a 75 Watt bulb for the spotlight so I have more flexibility for temperature changes. EDIT: I suppose a dimmer would serve the same purpose.

Here is a photo of the specs from the back of the box.

 

[Pat B]

Hello and Welcome to BDF!! 3 Turkeys?? Are they pets? You are definitely an animal lover!! Beardies are great fun and so different. My Spike is about 1 1/2 years old and still amazes me. I don't take him out much because he runs away! Good luck and come back often with your questions and concerns. There is no such thing as a 'stupid' question!!

 

[KDubya]

I got new lighting and a new perch so he can get more UVB from the newly installed reptisun 10.0.

Say hello to Bowser! Petco said he was a she and didn't sex him right, according to video Germ posted, Bowser is very much a male dragon.

(I know they don't need a water dish, but the wife thought he should have one just in case)

 

[KDubya]

Hello and Welcome to BDF!! 3 Turkeys?? Are they pets? You are definitely an animal lover!! Beardies are great fun and so different. My Spike is about 1 1/2 years old and still amazes me. I don't take him out much because he runs away! Good luck and come back often with your questions and concerns. There is no such thing as a 'stupid' question!!

The turkeys are future food.

 

[Germ]

This is what I am working with after raising the spot light 4" the top of the basking rock came down to 106 deg.

UVB strip is 11" from the top of the rock. Should I hang it from the lid to get it closer or buy a weaker spotlight and make the basking spot higher?

This is the UVB strip:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16657416&f=PAD/psNotAvailInUS/No

I know the instructions say not to put them inside but I see it in almost all of the custom enclosures.

You want the temp in the vicinity of 110F at the basking spot. If you have to move the light to measure the temps with the Temp Gun, it will not be an accurate measurement. See Temp Guns.

You want the Basking Spot located more toward the center portion of the UVB tube, as very little UVB strength is emitted from the end portions & needs to be closer to the Basking Spot. See UVB Setup previously posted.

I see that you are using Repcal Juvenile Bearded Dragon Food ... Pellets of any kind should never be fed dry. Having to draw moisture from the BDs body to hydrate them in the digestion process takes a high toll on its hydration stores & can very quickly lead to dehydration. Prior to feeding, soak them with water, just enough to be spongy, not soggy & this will also be a great source of hydration for your BD.

A water bowl, 'just in case', just adds humidity to the enclosure & provides a place for feeders to drown. Unless you happen to have one of the rare BDs that will drink from standing water, I recommend removing it from the enclosure.

It appears that the All Living Things UVB fixture uses a Zilla Desert 50 bulb. Personally, I am not a fan of many Zilla products, the UVB bulbs falling into that category. By your post, it appears that you have already replaced it with a Repti-Sun 10.0.

All my enclosures have the UVB Fixtures mounted inside the enclosure with either Repti-Glo 10.0 (I think they have now been renamed Repti-Glo 150s, if my memory serves me right) or Repti-sun 10.0 (both 10% UVB), so they are not filtered by the screen. I highly recommend this, but they will work if properly set up above the screen. The bulbs will have to be replaced at least every 6 months when filtered by a screen & the basking Spot will have to be much closer to the bulb to be effective. Again, see the link on UVB Setup. I also suggest that if the fixture does not have a built-in reflector, that you line the inside with tin foil to make one, regardless of the mounting position.

BDs thrive on Bright White light, so I don't recommend using a dimmer to control the temps. It would be much better to experiment to find the right type & wattage of bulb to do the job for your particular setup. Personally, I use Halogen Flood Bulbs (I use Philips Brand) that I purchase at Home depot, for less than half the price of a Pet Store so called specialty Basking Bulb. Halogens are cheaper to run, powerwise, as they provide much more heat per watt, brighter, whiter light, generally with superb heat penetration into the enclosure. But really, any white or clear bulb of a type & high enough wattage to provide the desired temps will do the job very well. We all have to toy with different bulbs, trial & error to suit our particular setups. There are so many variables that come into play with each individual set up, such as ambient room temps, screened or not, partial or full screen, distance to the basking spot, etc, etc, just to name a few. In other words, what may work really well for me & mine, may not work for you & yours in their particular setups.

It also appears that your 'Basking Rock' has an area that feeders can crawl under. I think that you will find that this will make a wonderful hiding spot for crix to hide in, being nocturnal, they will quickly run to any dark area to get out of the light & in doing this, hide from your BD & make it difficult to hunt them. Dark areas & holes that feeders can hide in, should be kept minimal.

Good Luck

 

[KDubya]

I made a few changes, I'll be keeping an eye on temps.

He doesn't seem at all bothered by his new home and relocation. Happily ate his crickets this morning.

 

[KDubya]

Bowser is still doing good, eats his greens and poops regularly. Though I need to pull out that foam backing. The crickets can climb it, get behind it, and some even managed to escape... out of the frying pan so to speak because my kitties don't let them get far.