Just got new dragon, help needed

[toast7887]

I just got a bearded dragon for x-mas (which i wasn't expecting). I had been talking about it for a while, just researching and all that but i didn't think i would get one, especially not for christmas so this was kinda a surprise.

I have a 4 month old dragon and right now i have nothing for him but a box. Tomorrow i am going back to the store to get everything i need for him, but my sister told me some stuff one of the employees told me that i was dubious about.

They said to feed him 12 crickets once a week. From all the sources i've been reading they said feed juveniles daily, so i'm not sure which to do.

I plan on getting a 40 gallon tank, some newspaper for bedding, a log, a rock, uvb light, and temp gun. If i'm correct this s hould be everything i really need. But i also need to pick up some small crickets if i have to feed him everyday.

I sometimes get confused on how to set the lighting/head system. So the UVB light goes on one side of the tank and the other side needs to stay cool, correct? At night the lights go off and it needs to stay at around 70 degrees. I also read something about a heat pad but i'm not sure about that.

Any help/advice would be great, thanks.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Okay.... Get these
UVB:
Reptisun 10.0 TUBE OR Mega Ray MVB.
The Sun will need a house hold flood light as heat...
The mega won't need additional heat, nor lighting. Not in a 40... and make sure it is a 40 Breeder
No heat pad... if your household temps drop below65*F then this will need to be added to your list:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/...44/zoo-med-ceramic-infrared-heat-emitter.html

The Sun will need to be placed with in 6-8" of the dragon's basking spot next to the "heat light". It needs to span at least 1/2 to 2/3rds of the length of the tank.

The Mega ray will need to be burned in for 4-12 hour periods, away from the dragon, and human eyes... It will also need to be at least 12" distance from the dragon.

You will want these for supplements:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/...ultrafine-powder-calcium-with-vitamin-d3.html
This goes with the ReptiSun tube...5 days a week.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/...556/ultrafine-calcium-without-vitamin-d3.html
This goes with the Mega Ray...5 days a week.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-supplements/105550/herptivite-multivitamin.html
This goes with either bulb or tube.. last two days a week.

Other than that... just furnishings, hold off on a hide until baby is settled in.
Janie

 

[toast7887]

Okay.... Get these
UVB:
Reptisun 10.0 TUBE OR Mega Ray MVB.
The Sun will need a house hold flood light as heat...
The mega won't need additional heat, nor lighting. Not in a 40... and make sure it is a 40 Breeder
No heat pad... if your household temps drop below65*F then this will need to be added to your list:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/...44/zoo-med-ceramic-infrared-heat-emitter.html

The Sun will need to be placed with in 6-8" of the dragon's basking spot next to the "heat light". It needs to span at least 1/2 to 2/3rds of the length of the tank.

The Mega ray will need to be burned in for 4-12 hour periods, away from the dragon, and human eyes... It will also need to be at least 12" distance from the dragon.

You will want these for supplements:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/...ultrafine-powder-calcium-with-vitamin-d3.html
This goes with the ReptiSun tube...5 days a week.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/...556/ultrafine-calcium-without-vitamin-d3.html
This goes with the Mega Ray...5 days a week.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-supplements/105550/herptivite-multivitamin.html
This goes with either bulb or tube.. last two days a week.

Other than that... just furnishings, hold off on a hide until baby is settled in.
Janie

Thanks for your help, but I have a few more questions.

So I can get this 40 gallon tank and just let my dragon grow into it? (no replacements)

For the megay ray, do i not shine it directly in the tank? You said it needs to be away from the dragon and human eyes.

Thanks again for your help

 

[zebraflavencs]

Yes the 40 Breeder is all an adult Needs, however, I think mine like their palaces, and they fill a whole wall ...

As for the Mega, yes straight down into the tank... You'll want to not have direct vision while burning the bulb in...
Dragons can handle the intense light rays once that is done, though it can give you a headache if you look at it without something between you and the bulb ( I have retinitis so it gives me headaches).

Just make sure there is at least 12" distance. You might even find yourself raising that bulb up to around the 16" distance. Use it on one side, where you placed your basking site. If you use it in the middle, then there will be no temp gradient.
Janie

 

[toast7887]

Great and, just for clarity, juveniles do need to be fed daily correct? not just once a week

 

[zebraflavencs]

Several times daily... lol yes...
Any dragon needs feeding daily regardless of age.. Adults might not need as much protein, however they benefit from daily salads. My one adult gets offered insects 4 days a week, salad 7.
Janie

 

[Michele654]

Congrats on doing research and asking for assistance from those with experience here...I would simply like to add a website that greatly helped me in preparing for my little beardie...go to www.beautifuldragons.com They are an excellent information site along with this forum. I've learn alot from both! Welcome to our circle!
Another site my Herpe Vet suggested on feeder crickets is http://www.anapsid.org/crickets.html is very helpful.

Michele

 

[Michele654]

by the way a 40gallon tank is great for now but I dont' think it is suited for an adult...They need at least a 75 gallon tank to turn around and chase crickets...others can correct me if I'm wrong but mine was in 30 gallon till she was 8 months then was feeling crowed in it.

 

[toast7887]

I was planning on getting those lights for my dragon but they didn't have them at the pet store. They recommended these..

Repti Glo 10.0 UVB (For cool half of tank)

and

Exo Terra Sun Glo 40w (for basking/hot half and UVA) So i just got the both of these

I have a 20 gallon tank and a 4 month old dragon. The thermometer reads 85 (in the middle of tank), but I'm thinking i need a stronger bulb. What do you guys think?

 

[zebraflavencs]

Michelle, a 40 Breeder is 36"x 18" x 18"... the minimum size for an adult
Now if you wanted to go palatial... the 48" x 24" x 24" is good too...

Not the Glo... Associated with serious eye issues, metabolic issues, long term issues... Go with the Reptisun I linked above.

NO need to spend all that $$ either on a basking light... a house hold flood light will do the same job for half the cash

What kind of thermometer ? If it is a dial or stick on strip... Get either a temp gun or a digital with probe for accuracy.

In other words... You got robbed... Take all that back and order from the internet. You can use just the flood as lighting for a few weeks until you get in the reptisun... I'd much rather you have no uvb as opposed to Bad uvb ... kay ?
Janie

 

[toast7887]

Knew i got ripped off. I'll replace the Repti glo 10.0 with the repitsun 10.0 and get rid of the sun glo and add a flood light. Do you know how many watts i should get for the flood light bulb?

I guess the only problem would be the size of the tank. I read that the repti sun needs to be about 20 inches away from basking area and my tank is too small for that.

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure i'm doing the right thing.



Thanks

 

[zebraflavencs]

Nope the R-sun needs to be with in 6-8" distance from your dragon... Hold onto that heat light too... when it burns out, then get the flood light .
Janie