New beardies

[GroomerMo]

Hi I just got two bearded dragons on 12/9/12 they say they were born three weeks before that. I have two thermometers one digital one standard, a basking platform, a fake log hide away three bowls one for veggies one for pellets and one for water, and a stone climbing decoration, three lamps one for a 100watt zoo med reptile basking bulb it keeps it between 90-100 degrees, the other two is a regular house bulb that keeps part of the tank in the 80s and the other is my 50 watt reptile night heat bulb that keeps it in the upper 70s over night. I can even post pics once I figure out how on this fourms can anyone think of anything I can better my beardies enclosure and when should I upgrade their tank size and to what size? They are now around a month and a half old and one is growing twice as fast as the other.

 

[Germ]

First things first ...

Is Bearded Dragon Co-habitation a good plan?​

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A water bowl is not necessary, very few BDs will recognize standing water as a water source to drink from & it just raises the humidity in the enclosure. These are Desert Creatures, will get abundant hydration from their live prey, greens, regular mistings & warm soaks.

It is imperative that you provide a 10.0+ strength UVB bulb, to replace what they require from the natural sun, at a close enough distance for it to be effective. This is a must.

Night lights of any color will bother most BD's sleep. Night heat is not necessary Unless you are absolutely sure that your ambient night room temps drop below the mid to low 60sF. Should night heat be absolutely necessary, a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) is recommended on a thermostat or dimmer to provide just enough heat to take the edge off. BDs should be allowed to to cool at night, slows their metabolism down for a good night's sleep.

Basking temps need to be measured directly at the basking spot with a digital thermometer equipped with a sensor\probe, 110F is needed for juveniles, with a heat gradient to 80-85 on the cool side. What size enclosure are they in now? What type of substrate are you using? Pics would be a great Help for the members to understand your setup & offer more accurate info\advice.

A few more 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

How To Sex A Bearded Dragon

Please separate them asap.

 

[GroomerMo]

I have them in a 15 gallon for now but I'm in the process of having a 55 within a couple of weeks. I got them from the same litter and the breeder told me that it would be ok if I house them together because if not that would mean I have to regime one? Because I can't afford two tank I don't have that big of a room. I've followed almost every direction I was giving on what to get as well as I was told they are too young to sex right now.

 

[Germ]

A 15 Gallon is too small for one young one, let alone 2. A 20 Gal is the minimum recommended size for one juvenile. As is a 55 gal, having less floor area than a 40 Gal Breeder, the bare minimum for a single adult BD.

You have been provided with some really good info & advice on Cohabitation. It will be too late, once you find out that it doesn't work, the damage will have already been done.

Of course, what you do is ultimately up to you, but you really need to reconsider your housing, give it some serious thought, for the health & wellbeing of the animals.

The thread & video provided, depicts & explains quite clearly the dangers that you are submitting one, or possibly both to. This is not a good plan at all ...

What about providing UVB???

 

[Jesse omg it's me]

I have to agree with germ u shouldn't keep them together...sadly my friend did that and one out grew the other and ate the other one

 

[Jesse omg it's me]

Maybe you can by a big enough tank and get a divider so it's two enclosure in one or even build one with two

 

[GroomerMo]

I got the zoo med 100 watt UVB bulb is there any way I can house them both safely in one tank like maybe buying a bigger tank? If so what size tank would you recommend?

 

[Jesse omg it's me]

What's the biggest tank your willing to get? Because you can buy a big tank and get a divider but u have to make sure both sides are big enough for your bearded dragons and enough floor space

 

[GroomerMo]

So I would need to get either a 80 gallon or rehome one how will I know if either one is getting aggressive?

 

[Jesse omg it's me]

Usually when u notice its to late and yeah that or you can build an enclosure that has 40 gallons on top and bottom that can be a lot cheaper just will take sometime

 

[Germ]

I got the zoo med 100 watt UVB bulb is there any way I can house them both safely in one tank like maybe buying a bigger tank? If so what size tank would you recommend?

There is no way to safely cohabit BDs, the risks are just too great. Are you using a Zoo Med Powersun MVB??? MVBs (Mercury Vapor Bulbs) are designed for large enclosures where the minimum safe distances can be adhered to or followed. An MVB has no business in a 15-20 gal enclosure.

 

[GroomerMo]

Does anyone know what temp the cool side should be cause I have the basking area around 100 and the other side of the tank between 80-85 the bulb I'm using for for the basking area is a zoo med 100 watt UVA repti basking spot lamp bulb and the cool area is a 13 watt repti glow 10.0 UVB compact bulb.

 

[Jesse omg it's me]

cool side about 80 degrees basking need to be about 110 for adults 115 about for juvenile dragons

 

[GroomerMo]

Thanks I'll make sure I try to make it that way now

 

[bouncer36]

Temp should be for adults100-105 and babies and young adults 110 for basking. At least that what I've been told

 

[Germ]

Both UVB & Heat bulbs should cover the basking spot, not at opposite ends of the enclosure to each other. A 13W 10.0 coil UVB is weak to be effective when filtered through a screen.

Example of a Basic Setup:

Showing the recommended Basic requirements, proper Temperatures & the points at which they should be measured from, in Red & the optional choices that are actually used in this particular example enclosure, in Black.