bearded dragon help

[Paul_MTS]

I'm all pretty much new to this and wondering if you could give me the low down on keeping a bearded dragon.

First of all will 1 be comfortable for life in a 48x18x18 viv.

if not i'll have to go with my other choice of a leopard gecko in a 36x18x18.

Cheers Paul B.

[Capital Dragons]

Paul, a 48x18x18in cage is perfect for a adult dragon. Here is a link that will help you along the way if you need it. You'll love a dragon! Trust me...Dragon care (http://www.dachiu.com/care/care.html)

[Paul_MTS]

Excellent, I do like bigger animals!

Thanks for the link it's great.

all those vitamins seem a bit scary to a newbie!!

Could i get a a few points cleared up...

I can't use a heat mat.

I need a basking lamp placed at 1 end of the viv.

A UVB lamp so I don't have to worry about some of the vitmins so much.

I use crickicts, super worms and mealworms in my fish tanks constantly so that no problem.

I'll have to have a look round the super market to see what i can get my hands on veggie wise easily.

In all my fish tanks i use Fine dried silica sand, is this safe to use with one?

Also what kind of age dragon's to shops tend to have, as that site says feeding 3 times a day which i can't do, best i can do is twice and maybe only once if i'm in a rush in the morning.

Oh and 1 more thing, how much can you handle them?

[HeatherRose]

I'm not very experienced with beardies, but I'll give some of your questions a shot since no one's answered yet...

1. A UVB lamp doesn't mean you don't need as many vitamins, or can use less of them. Calcium and vitamin D3 still need to be supplemented. (a UVB light will allow the creature to actually absorb the vitamin D3...same with humans. That's why they put vitamin D3 in milk, because inner city kids don't get a lot of sunlight, etc.)

2. The sand issue is up for debate. It's said that beardies can ingest it, and it can impact their intestines. Some keep their beardies on it and have had no problems (no problems 'yet'.) To be better safe than sorry, I would not use sand, let alone silica sand, especialy for a baby bearded dragon. Everything I've read says that silica sand is the worst for impaction of the internal digestive system, and that it is quite dusty.

That's about all I know, other than you shouldn't sit on them.

Good luck! Hopefully someone else can answer the ones I could not.

[Paul_MTS]

I realise it's not completely solved by using the UV lamp but surely without it I would have to make sure I pumped alot more vitamins into there diet right?

What are my other options for substrate? I really like sand!!

Thanks for the heads up on the sitting on them, i could of been in dear trouble there!!

[Bartman]

If you can find calcisand or washed play sand and adult can be housed on it, but like Heather said, its a huge debate. I personally would house adults or sub adults on sand but babies should be kept on paper towl or a type of substrate that cant be digested.

[Paul_MTS]

I can get my hands on calcuim chips i know that, i'll have a look through the order book for some calci sand.

i work in a fish shop by the way to explain a few things!!

Also at what size are there considered sub adults?

What else can i use thats natural?

[V.hb]

really stay away from Calci sand, I would say its even worse than regular sand.


if you choose to use regular sand, keep a nice HOT basking spot and clean water available at all times. I am a believer that proper heat and clean water are the key to keeping many reptiles from impaction.

[Paul_MTS]

right ok.

I was planning on putting some large flat round stones be neath the heat lamp.

Only thing is i still don't have a clue about lighting/heating really.

I Know I'll have a 30" or 36" Arcadia D3 florescent tube.

But regards the heat lamp i don't know how much many bulbs of what power i need, what type of bulb i need???? :S

it will be a 48x18x18 viv with a glass tray and glass front sliders. I won't know much else about it until i can order it.

[mrsogle]

I use washed play sand that you get from places like Lowe's & Home Depot. Works great and have never had any problems. Our reptile vet said calcium dust everyday and herptavite dust once a week. I'm sure you'll enjoy your beardie. Ours is a female and has a great personality and can be comical at times.
Good luck.

[Paul_MTS]

I guess I'll use play sand, or get on the blower to hopefully where i can get my dragon.

what do you use the dusts on?/ how do you use it?

[Scotch Keeper]

Sorry for the apparent ramblings in no specific order but i hope this helps..

hey there i'm not too sure what you can get over in your neck of the wood but but as far as lighting goes over here we end up using a 5% uvb tube to cover as much of the full length of the tank as poss..(my tanks are 48" wide and i use a 42" tube).. As far as dusting the live food goes we use a light dusting of nutrobal as main.. The substrate issue I would have to say that silca free playpitsand is the best..And i provide a small bowl of fine calci-sand in the tank at all times and you will find if they need it they will use it..as far as the rest goes its mainly down to your personal preference.. rocks at the hot end keep the heat and make it a bit more natural for them..Although they are desert my bearddies have a fresh supply of water everyday although you may not see them drinking often it helps mine stay a wee bit happier.. over here we have a small problem with chloramine in the tap water supply so have to use reptisafe to resolve this.. Many of us are now using bottled water also with reptisafe as a precautionary measure..I would say that if you can get a pair of females they will fare better than a solitary beardie.. This is all just my opinions of the way i do things but i have not had any real problems with beardies in the 3 years i have had them from babies and i have never really done anydifferent.. hope this helps .. again sorry for no real order to my rambling

[Paul_MTS]

Thanks for the reply, I had sinced joined a UK forum and got all my questions answered.

I now have a red phase beardie reserved and paid for at £75 from a private breeder. I had been to my local reptile shop the same day and they were selling normal babies for £95.

I'ved got everyhting on order and should be getting my dimming thermostat early this week and the rest of it on this thrusday or next.

[Scotch Keeper]

ok you are in my neck of the woods.. the ideal set up involves uvb5% tube,heat mat on a mat stat (this is a must) a heaT source (ceramic bulb on pulse proportional thermostat or spot bulb ) a good book for you to maybe read up on id the bearded dragon manual by philleppe de vosjoli put out by the herpetocultural library

a good reptile magazine in the uk is Reptile care will also from the adverts give you an idea of your local suppliers

[Paul_MTS]

I'm getting 2 Arcadia D3 tubes, i did have 30" down on order but I think i'll change it to 36" instead, although i'm getting a 4ft viv I already have the starters for 3fts so this makes the most sense.

I'ved been told not to use a heat mat with beadies.

I'm using a 100W spot lamp on a dimming thermostat.

cheers.

[Scotch Keeper]

the heat mat on a pulse proportional is more to keep night time background temp but i would have to say that the only don't with a heatmat is to have it unregulated

[drewlowe]

I don't suggest using and heat mat of any kind, Use a tight beam basking bulb.

I won't get into it here, but i'm an avid anti sand person. I use wheat bran for my substrate, looks good and VERY easy to clean. the only down side is you can not keep a water dish in there as the substrate can mold if kept wet. I find my beardies get enough water from their food (salads, pellets, and insects) and also baths, no other water source is necessary.

For the vitamins i suggest rep-cal- calcium w/out phos. and herptivitamin at a 6:1 ratio along with a 5% UVB bulb.

Stay away from all lettaces dark greens like colard, mustard, turnip and others are better. Spinach is also a no no.

Jamie