Lighting help

[Stacey]

I am just getting started on my first bearded dragon tank. I got a 40 gallon Zoo Med tank. It came with just about everything I should need. As far as the lighting goes, do I need a UVB light, basking light, and night time heater? The tank came with a dual dome. I was planning on getting a separate bar for the UVB.

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

I think you'd only need one of those ceramic heaters if your room gets really cold at night.
If you're anything like me, you won't need it lol.
The tube style T8 or T5 UVB is definitely better than those coil types.
I actually got me a dome fixture from Home Depot (with ceramic base) for like $12 that was perfect since a dual would be wasted space for me hehehe.
The basking light is definitely needed for the basking spot. I set mine up like 4 days before I got my baby so I could monitor the temps and make sure it was going to be perfect lol. There are tons of links here for more info than I have on the subject right here in this group (it's where I got like 90% of my info hehehe).

 

[PatsyB]

The kits are the worst things they sell out there, I don't know why they still do. The only thing that is useable is tank and the light fixture. Yes, you need a UVB tube style bulb. A T8 size bulb and fixture would go inside your tank above your dragons head, or a T5 size bulb and fixture can rest above the tank on the screen. Don't use the coil or compact bulb that was sold with the tank. Coil bulbs can cause eye problems and the compact bulbs don't get the UVB where you need it to be. You need at least 2/3'rds of your tank covered with UVB. If there was any sort of colored bulb in the tank, don't use it! At night colored bulbs will disrupt their sleep and during the day, a colored bulb will damage their eyes because it won't let the pupil constrict like it should.

If your tank temp gets lower than 65 degrees at night, then use a CHE bulb that doesn't give off light. You just need the tank to be in the 65-70 degree range at night.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Ditto what Patsy posted...I wish they would stop selling those kits but I think they are a seller item as people are led to believe it's perfect and all they need. sigh..

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

I think the manufacturers just think, great selling item, lets keep making it.
If people would stop buying that kit, they would eventually stop making it, or make some major changes to it.

 

[Stacey]

Thank you all for the information. It has been very helpful. I will post a picture later today with my set up once I get done. Please feel free to critique it.

 

[Stacey]

Here is the basic setup for Rae. Seems to be happy so far. The carpet I got does not cover the whole bottom of the tank. Any ideas for a safe substrate for a juvenile beardy? I have seen some using a certain type of clay. Is that ok for bearded dragons?

 

[PatsyB]

Looks good. I use non adhesive shelf liner for mine and it is real easy to clean. The one thing I would change is the water bowl. It's not really necessary because they don't really drink standing water and it can raise the humidity. If you do want to keep it in there, take some of the water out, it's a little deep for him.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I use ceramic tile with some repti carpet in both of mine, super easy to clean and helps with nails. I agree with Patsy on the water dish.

 

[Stacey]

I plan on putting a smaller water dish in and food dish until he or she gets older. I may try shelf liner. Sounds easy to clean. I just want to make sure it's getting the crickets and they aren't hiding underneath anything.

 

[Stacey]

If I take the water out, how often should it get a bath and how do I keep it hydrated?

 

[Hdrydr31]

If I take the water out, how often should it get a bath and how do I keep it hydrated?

It is pretty rare that a dragon will drink from a bowl, they really don't see it as a water source.. Dragons get the moisture they need from the bugs and greens that they eat. You can also mist them lightly. I bathe my 2 1-2 times a week..
Water in the tank will increase your humidity and too much causes respiratory issues.

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

Hdrydr31 is right. I mist daily, with baths 2-3 times a week at this point (baby here lol) and it's cute, he'll drink from the misting and the bath. I also mist my salads that I give him so that if he ever eats them (lol) he'll get hydration from that too.