New to the forum

[BowDownBowser]

Hello,
My wife and I are considering getting a bearded dragon probably right after the holiday's. We already have 3 dogs and sulcata tortoise( I learned about this site from Tortoiseforum.org). I would like to do as much research possible prior to getting one to make sure we can provide the proper care instead of just jumping into it. I am wondering if there is a care sheet posted somewhere that I can use to reference how to care for them. I already have a 40 gal terrarium that I used to start my tortoise out as a hatchling while building a bigger enclosure. I plan to use that 40 gal terrarium as well as the UVB light, heat lamp, and CHE and thermostat that I have so i figure that covers most of the expenses that one would normally go through. What else would I need and what are the ways to care for them such as interaction, feeding, temperatures, humidity, day light? Thank you for your support!

 

[BowDownBowser]

Also, I have a normal 10.0 flourescent tube UVB light and I have a mercury vapor bulb. Are the mercury vapor bulbs okay to use? I know they are great for tortoise's I just want to make sure using that wont harm a bearded dragon.

 

[PatsyB]

Sounds like you are off to a good start! They love to be interacted with but are okay to be left alone in their tank. I have 2 and one likes to be held and nuzzled and the other likes to run and play. Food and temps vary as to age. Babies should be fed 3x a day if possible and they eat a lot. Some can eat 20 small crickets a feeding. Temps for a baby should be around 110 in the basking area, 75-80 on the cool side of the tank. Adults do okay with a temp around 100 in the basking and 75-80 on the cool side. Babies should be fed more live food than salads but you should still offer it to them. Salad items help hydrate them. Adults should get more greens than bugs. Each age group will do okay with a drop in temps at night that is no lower than 65 degrees. If it drops lower, use your CHE. Lots of us use Repti carpet, paper towel or tiles for substrate. Lights should be on a 12 hour on/12 hour off or a 14 hour on/10 off. Both your UVB and your basking light should go on and off. MVB's can be used, most of us go the tube bulb/and separate basking bulb route. Humidity is 40% or less. They don't tend to drink standing water so if you put a water bowl in their tank they may not drink from it and it may raise the humidity in their tank. The tank should have a hide on each side of the tank and something that will get them as close to the basking light as they need. Now, in my tanks I have an actual hide on the cool side and on the hot side there is a makeshift one created with their hammock and a their basking log. They will sit under their hammock to get away from the light but they really aren't "hiding".

Sorry if I rambled, I hope you can make sense of this. Welcome to the forum!

 

[BowDownBowser]

Sounds like you are off to a good start! They love to be interacted with but are okay to be left alone in their tank. I have 2 and one likes to be held and nuzzled and the other likes to run and play. Food and temps vary as to age. Babies should be fed 3x a day if possible and they eat a lot. Some can eat 20 small crickets a feeding. Temps for a baby should be around 110 in the basking area, 75-80 on the cool side of the tank. Adults do okay with a temp around 100 in the basking and 75-80 on the cool side. Babies should be fed more live food than salads but you should still offer it to them. Salad items help hydrate them. Adults should get more greens than bugs. Each age group will do okay with a drop in temps at night that is no lower than 65 degrees. If it drops lower, use your CHE. Lots of us use Repti carpet, paper towel or tiles for substrate. Lights should be on a 12 hour on/12 hour off or a 14 hour on/10 off. Both your UVB and your basking light should go on and off. MVB's can be used, most of us go the tube bulb/and separate basking bulb route. Humidity is 40% or less. They don't tend to drink standing water so if you put a water bowl in their tank they may not drink from it and it may raise the humidity in their tank. The tank should have a hide on each side of the tank and something that will get them as close to the basking light as they need. Now, in my tanks I have an actual hide on the cool side and on the hot side there is a makeshift one created with their hammock and a their basking log. They will sit under their hammock to get away from the light but they really aren't "hiding".

Sorry if I rambled, I hope you can make sense of this. Welcome to the forum!

Great thanks for the advice. It should be very easy since I already have almost everything need. If they don't drink standing water what do you do to get them to drink? When my tortoise was young I used to keep him hydrated by soaking every other day for about 30 minutes. Also is there a recommended place to buy a bearded dragon. I know from experience with tortoises that pet store generally do not give proper care and buying from a breeder is the safest bet. Does the same apply for bearded dragons or is a pet store one fine? Thanks again for the help.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Welcome to the forum!! I agree with PatsyB you have a great head start on things! I only have 1 Dragon Izzy and she loves to cuddle! PatsyB pretty much covered things..

 

[PatsyB]

If you give a bath at least once a week and drip water on its nose or run your fingers through the water to move it, it should drink. Also, the veggies provide water. One of my beardies gets a bath once a week and the other 2x a week because she only goes to the bathroom in the water.

Most people recommend a breeder.I got both of mine from the pet store and never had any problems and Dexter is 3 and Luci is 2. If you want do get from a pet store make sure one that it's not on sand. Chain stores use calcium sand and it horrible stuff. Make sure the beardie is alert eyes are clear. A good one would be interested in watching you or hunting a cricket in its tank.

 

[Hdrydr31]

If you give a bath at least once a week and drip water on its nose or run your fingers through the water to move it, it should drink. Also, the veggies provide water. One of my beardies gets a bath once a week and the other 2x a week because she only goes to the bathroom in the water.

Most people recommend a breeder.I got both of mine from the pet store and never had any problems and Dexter is 3 and Luci is 2. If you want do get from a pet store make sure one that it's not on sand. Chain stores use calcium sand and it horrible stuff. Make sure the beardie is alert eyes are clear. A good one would be interested in watching you or hunting a cricket in its tank.

PatsyB makes a great point they need to be alert, head up, got all their body parts, looking interested in what's going on, if you see it eating that's a positive! I got mine from the local pet store but she was not on sand thank goodness. I watched them interact with eachother for almost an hour before deciding.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Like PatsyB's 1 dragon my Izzy only likes to go to the bathroom in her bath (and with the way it smells I don't blame her for not wanting to go in her tank)...after she eats she stares at me and if she could talk she would say "um mom I'd like my bath drawn now" She almost gets besides herself if I wait too long to soak her lol so she actually soaks 3x a week for 15-20 min the others days of the week just long enough for her to do her business, then she wants out right away to lay under her basking lamp...