Cermaic Tiles

[Kappa]

Since sand is a bad choice, ive looked into ceramic tiles as many have recommended. I have a few questions on how to properly set them up. Should i put them directly on the glass or put something under them? and will they get too hot if i have an under tank heater? (my herp room is the basement so i need an UTH to keep the temps up high enough)

Thanks in Advance Kasper

[eyespy]

Ceramics don't always work that well for beardies, they have a natural urge to dig wallows, especially the females, and can rub their bellies rather raw on a cage that has no soft spots. Ceramic is an excellent heat conductor so a UTH isn't the best with them. UTHs aren't that great for beardies anyhow, it really messes with their thermoregulation as all the bony armor plating they use to absorb and store heat is on their backs, not bellies. Heat from above is best with any basking lizard.

[Kappa]

Eyespy....

Meeting your standards seems to be a challenge LOL we do have Full Spectrum lighting and one day glo and one infra red domes on the tank also...You seem to have alot of ideas on how beardies should be kept. Do you think you could post a picture on an ideal tank? (esp. substate) Thanks alot!
~Shannon + Kasper

[eyespy]

Most of my tanks are hospital tanks and I use reptariums so you can't get good pictures through the mesh but I'll search around. They are also absolutely bare. Newspaper, some shredded for wallowing on top of sheets. Mercury vapor bulbs with an additional 40 to 60 watt incandescent bulb for supplemental heat. Oak or maple branches and rough textured rocks for climbing if there are no pathogen issues. Tissue boxes for hides.

I seldom take pictures of my rescues because patient privacy laws forbid me to show them to anybody unless I have express written permission from the owner. Those I have can not be used on the internet in a public forum, only for educational purposes amongst licenced veterinary care professionals, their employees, and their clients.

Yes, my standards are tough. I see anywhere from 2,000 to 9,000 untimely bearded dragon deaths every year either directly or through assisting folks work their way through local laws through the net, and have been working with bearded dragons since 1985. The body count is staggering. So much so that I don't keep accurate records of all the deaths anymore, just the ones that I personally was trying to rehab.

I've learned lots of what not to do. But those tough standards have shut down 297 inhumane pet stores or so-called breeders that were really just lizard mills. 3 more and I'll have a huge party. :D