Just got a bearded Dragon Got questions!

[Jockdeeznutz]

Hi, I'm kinda new to this forum. I got a ball python last month and decided to get a Beared Dragon too(always wanted one). Actually, My gf got me one. I've read alot of caresheets already. I just have a couple of questions for u guys. My bd(bearded dragon) loves high temps as i can see. My hot spot is around 94F and he just sits there forever. I've read that you can turn off the light at night and the temps are okay at 70's. Is that okay? do u guys do that? i can also sleep better without that light in my room heh but i dont mind if its on. Another question is approx. how many crickets do your Bd's eat a day. By the way my Bd is pretty young a hathling i think. He or she is in a 10G right now but will upgrade when he gets bigger. Im using Calci sand which i heard is bad so im switchin to Newspaper. I plan on giving him some greens. Theres a waterbowl in the cool side.

Any questions or advice is aprreciated.
Thanks.. and im lookin foward to meeting people here

[Will]

Hatchlings should have a basking spot just over 100(yes THAT hot :D ). The light can go off at night.

Also, as babies, they eat way more insects(stick with small crix) than veggies, and as they age, this will reverse to the point they eat mostly veggies and less insects(I feed superworms). Feed him as many crix as he can eat, but take them out before he goes to sleep(they can chew through their skin).

Other than that a google search of Bearded Dragon Caresheets should turn up plenty for you.

[Jockdeeznutz]

Thanks will. I'll take the crickets out before he sleeps. Got alot of info on that goggle search 2

[doenoe]

Hello there

for young ones, the hotspot can be up too 115 F. You can lower the temp to 105 or so when he gets older. And you can leave the light out at night, when the temps dont drop under the 60's. Its better to turn of the light out at night, even when the temps get under the 60's. Just use a UTH to get the temps up then. You wouldnt like it when it was day all day, right :)
And about the feeding, just as Will said.
Hope it helped
Greetz Daan

[beanersmysav]

ya high temps a must, i cant believe how warm it feels to me when i touch the sand at 105 degrees but i guess they like it, crazy lil guys i myself would be running from it

[concept3]

at night beardies can handle temps into the low 60's and I highly doubt taht your house gets that cold at night so as long as he has his basking spot in the day he will be fine.

[timminsreptiles]

Your has light HAS to be off at night to have proper day/night cycles.......night time temps should be permitted to drop t the 70's an dlike concept said they can handle the 60's but if you need to heat your enclosure at night use an Infrared light, they dont produce as much light but lots of heat and gives it a nice nightitme setting.........night-glo or incandesant black light work also work.

[Kisha_Llewellyn]

Hi, just thought I would add my two cents in here....when I first got my beardie I asked people the same question...how much food should she be eating? Everyone came up with the same answer (which is correct, dont get me wrong by any means)....as much as she will eat....well, I found out quickly that feeding her as much as she will eat was costing me a killing! My little girl would eat 20 crickets plus 10 small mealworms per day! I tried and tried to switch her over to repcal but no. she just didnt want it. So I did the only thing I could do to make her eat it...she went without any food for three days...now this may sound mean, but its fine really...and it worked! After three days without food, she was so hungry that she jumped on the repcal bearded dragon formula immediately. She has been on it ever since. I suggest switching from crickets/worms over to that. Plus there are problems involved in feeding live...like Will said, crickets can harm beardies if left for too long, and those things are great at finding hiding spots. If your beardie doesnt find them and you dont know they are there they can cause problems. Plus feeding worms is not very good for them either, they dont contain a lot of nutrients and are super fattening. Kinda like us eating fast food all the time. Plus cost comes into the picture. Live costs more, plus you have to house them. There is more money. Seriously, my suggestion is going out and buying some repcal and get your new baby on it asap. Just make sure to soak it properly prior to feeding it and all will be good. Hope this helps a bit! Good luck with your new baby, beardies are the best!! :)