Soon to be new beardie owner!

[robocop960]

hi everyone I'm new here I'm gonna be getting a bearded dragon on the 18 at the all Ohio reptile show I'm so excited! But I was wondering if there was anything special I should look for in a beardie I plan to get a baby or juvie any tips would be great for a new owner! And also wanted to feed small Dubai nymphs is that ok or a no go?

 

[derbydragon77]

Dubai are great for protein.

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[Eavlynn]

Congratulations on your future addition! Beardies are great additions to any family.

The must haves for your new beardie:

1. The enclosure: many of us go with 40 gallon breeder tanks. Plenty of room to grow without being too big for a baby, and that baby will grow quickly!
2. A basking bulb: you want a basking spot of 105F for babies and juveniles. This allows them to properly digest their food and regulate their temperature.
3. A UVB light: UVB is important for beardies, but absolutely crucial for smaller dragons. You'll want a fluorescent tube style bulb like the reptisun 10.0. If you intend to put the hood on top of a screen, go with a T5HO bulb because it penetrates through the holes of the screen more effectively. UVB is important because it allows beardies to synthesize D3. D3 allows them to utilize calcium. Without it, they can develop serious health issues.
4. Supplements: You'll want calcium powder and multivitamin powder with beta carotene. I get plain calcium without D3, and let my dragons synthesize their own D3. Too much vitamin D3 leads to an excess of calcium, which is bad news. The multivitamin with beta carotene is better than a generic multivitamin with synthetic vitamin A. Synthetic A isn't processed properly and accumulates, leading to vitamin A toxicity.
5. A lot of bugs, and I mean a lot. Babies will eat you out of house and home. Dubia are by far the best staple feeder you can get for your dragon. You may even want to contemplate establishing your own dubia colony to save on feeding costs long term. It's well worth it.
6. Do some digging for a reputable reptile vet in your area, I prefer board certified exotic vets. Even if you do everything right, things happen and you'll want a knowledgeable and trustworthy vet to have your back. Parasites aren't an if, but more of a when. Once your beardie gets settled in and is doing well, you may want to run a fecal to make sure they are parasite free. After that, a yearly check up and fecal are all you need, unless an issue arrises.

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[Hdrydr31]

Welcome and looking forward to seeing what you end up with.. Ditto ^^ Also feel free to check out the links below several of our comments as a few of us put together general care info.

 

[robocop960]

Here he is! His name is Raph like the ninja turtle lol

 

[Matt.keith7]

I like how dark he is. Good lookin lil beardie!!


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