Oh my first dragon!

[MyGirlLeviathan]

Hello, as you can guess from my user name i have recently aquired a young bearded dragon by the name of Leviathan. Shes such a sweetheart and eagerly awaiting her own enclosure. I got her on the seventh though i didnt get to spend much time with her since i picked her up at night but i spent most of yesterday bonding with her and she already lets me pick her up. Im so excited since she's my first bearded dragon and i cant wait to see how she grows, i might even be getting another one soon as a friend of my moms is currently incubating several eggs!! Though i wont get to ahead of myself with that just yet.

Any tips on what to and to not use for my darlings new home would be lovely! As well as well any general tips for a new dragon owner.

Pictures of my dragon can be found here (as well as various other things)

http://narome.deviantart.com/gallery/

 

[Elemental Dragon Lord]

Nice name for your dragon. Best piece of advice is buy a dubia colony early. They take a month to get ging and the colony will help you save money. Welcome to your new addiction.

 

[Josh]

Welcome aboard! Agreed as far as the dubia colony goes! Once you have a self-sustaining food source, you'll be set!

 

[Elemental Dragon Lord]

Start with a 40 gallon habitat to house her do she grows to full size as a small enclosure can reduce growth. Get her eating her greens early as you dont want an adult that only eats live food. Avoid mealworms as they have excess chitin. That should bfe a good start.........only use play sand if you wasnt sand and even then wait until she gets bigger.

 

[MyGirlLeviathan]

oh its an addiction alright, I just finished setting up her enclosure (she's been sharing with my sister s dragon but they're both to dominant in nature) and I've already been thinking adult tank lay outs for when she's an adult. As for the coloney thing ill have to look in on how to get those started thanks for the advice. As for greenery ive been giving her small salads every other day of various greens and the ocassional carrot (not much just a sliver) She's particularly fond of basil and dandelion petals though, wouldnt touch any of the leaves or the cilantro.

The tank she's being moved into is currently 23 gallons, 36 inches long, but thats just a temp until i can get her a fifty gal or larger. The 20 gal was a gift from one of my moms friends who owns 3 full grown dragons and several geckos and it came with everything i'll need for her including a piece of drift wood that acts as both a hide away and a basking spot.

 

[MyGirlLeviathan]

Wow just looked up dubia roaches and no wonder people just start up colonies those lil guys are expensive!

 

[timbalan]

Ya i got mine from erin at zenreptilez got a decent price and she was great. Great shipping not one dead bug. The egg crates get you with the shipping cuz there heavy. But once you spend $60-70 you will be good to go. You will spend that in food from the pet store in a matter of months so it may seem like a lot at first but it pays for itsself in no time

 

[MyGirlLeviathan]

Yeah, ill certianly have to look into obtaining some, as well as hiding them. Ill look into getting the supplies and seeing if i can get them in town.

 

[timbalan]

I just keep mine in rubbermaid totes. I cut a square out in the lid and hot glued some screen to it. I keep them in my closet. We own our house so i dont really have to hide them but its easier to keep the temps up and my gf freaks out about them she hates them. Lol.

 

[MyGirlLeviathan]

Alas im still young and in college so i decided to stay with my parents until i graduate. Very, very nosey parents, though the closet thing sounds like a good idea, though ill have to see if i can find one of those small enough to fit in a wardrobe.