Newbie Question

[Waffen06]

Hi all, Ill do a proper intro later but my son was gifted a 4 year old bearded dragon yesterday from my inlaws. Came with a full set up 50 gallon tank, mesh top, lights, etc. Before I head home today I think I need to replace the lights. It came with two Dual bulb housings only. One has two spiral uvb bulbs which Ive read are terrible (ones burnt out) the other housing has a basking bulb and some other one thats also burnt out. Want to start with a new uvb, would like a t5 but local stores only sell t8s. Best I can get today is a 30" reptisun with a 10.0 bulb. Would this suffice or not worth it and order a t5 for maybe next week?
Also we were not given any live food, also all I can get locally are crickets, should I try those? Made him a salad yesterday but he didn't touch it much.

 

[AdamF]

Congrats. I am fairly new myself with a 4 month old beardie. Though mealworms are not the most recommended feeder, small ones on top of salad can help until you can order some Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) to sprinkle on salads as well. Crickets are ok, but mine loves the dubia roaches. Also note he may take some time to acclimate. Definitely dump the spirals, and try to mount the reptisun inside the cage. The screen tops filter out alot of the UVB. Google each of those to understand how to store/care/feed those feeders. I'm sure some of the way more experienced keepers will add to this.

 

[Sadie]

Hi all, Ill do a proper intro later but my son was gifted a 4 year old bearded dragon yesterday from my inlaws. Came with a full set up 50 gallon tank, mesh top, lights, etc. Before I head home today I think I need to replace the lights. It came with two Dual bulb housings only. One has two spiral uvb bulbs which Ive read are terrible (ones burnt out) the other housing has a basking bulb and some other one thats also burnt out. Want to start with a new uvb, would like a t5 but local stores only sell t8s. Best I can get today is a 30" reptisun with a 10.0 bulb. Would this suffice or not worth it and order a t5 for maybe next week?
Also we were not given any live food, also all I can get locally are crickets, should I try those? Made him a salad yesterday but he didn't touch it much.

Please get a 24" fixture like a Zoo Med or Sunblaster or Arcadia and yes your going to haft to order it off the internet - https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html this will come w/a 5.0 bulb keep as a back up but you need this bulb for a 50 gallon tank 22" bulb https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-t5.html
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html 22" bulb 12%
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjA3In0= 24" fixture
when you get the UVB please post back on here and I will help you get it placed in the tank they require certain placement and distance
Please get him some live insects I recommend dubia roaches from here www.dubiaroaches.com - please feed insects NO bigger than the space between his eyes length wise --- and yes get him some crickets till the roaches come - you can get a 10 gallon aquarium to keep the roaches in and feed them dubia food and water pellets for hydration - I would order like 100-200 at a time they will keep and they are a better nutritional insect than crickets
he only needs insects 2-3 times per week and feed salads daily --
Make sure you have a digital probe thermometer for accurate basking temps 95-100 - he should have 3 temps in the tank cool side 80's during the day 90's middle of the tank and 95-100 basking temp - you can use stick ons for ambient but you MUST have digital probe for basking --- take the probe and set it on the spot where he sits to bask wait 10 min get the temp -- NO colored bulbs NO coils for UVB No sand
if you have anymore questions please ask

 

[Waffen06]

Tank is 48" will 24" be enough in a t5? Or should I get a longer one? It can sit on the screen correct? Its a very open screen, holes are Id say 1/4"-1/2

 

[Sadie]

Tank is 48" will 24" be enough in a t5? Or should I get a longer one? It can sit on the screen correct? Its a very open screen, holes are Id say 1/4"-1/2

The 24" fixture is good - you do not want the UVB so long hes hiding from it - I have 2 120 gallon tanks and use the 24" fixtures in them and they work great - the dragon needs to be able to get out of the rays w/ out hiding from them -- he needs to be able to be in that tank and be able to sit w/ out having to hide --- and yes the T 5 is good - you do not want to go stronger w/ a 50 gallon tank --- that would require higher distance - since you have a screen w/ wide holes it can sit on top distance 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor piece --- change the bulb out in 11 months of installing it --- T 8's are only good for 6 months T 5's are good for approx a year I always change mine out a month prior to ---