Question

[-okapi-]

Hello, I just bought a bearded dragon at the reptile show and I had a few questions that I need to have answered:

What are some good sites that explain bearded dragon genetics?
Would a 55 gallon be fine for one dragon even when it reaches adulthood?

I bought mine for $100, but I consider it to be a real steal. He/she was hatched on 9-02-05 and has nice genetic diversity:
The father was a Hypo Red Hypo Pastel Leucistic, and the mother was a normal 100% het for leucistic.
Mine is yellow and white with orange markings on the head and body, as well as purplish color on its back, and yellow markings on the throat. The finger nails are clearish white and the eyes are a golden orange.

Now, since I dont know a thing about dragon genetics yet I dont know if it is expressing all the genes that the father had, but I can say that it is the best looking one Ive ever seen.

Based on my description, would you say it has those genes that the seller said its parents have?

[monty bl python]

i dont know any thing about genes, but yes a 55 gal will do fine

[Leolord]

I have no clue about genetics but a 55 gallon is perfect. I was just wondering, what show did you go to?

Matt

[-okapi-]

Leolord, it was the Shelbyville ky show. http://www.kentuckyreptileexpo.com/ It was pretty small, and there was mostly balls, dragons, and spiders there (you love spiders, dont ya? =p) I saw ONE pacman and THREE corns, which was a shock. Im used to seeing hundreds of both those, although this one was smaller than the Columbus OH show... But i did see better prices on balls and dragons at this show, so im not complaining.

[Leolord]

LOL thanks okapi that sounds weird I usually see a lot of frogs I go to Pomona CA it's a bit bigger then small and I see too many poisen dart frogs leos and corn snakes. Your lucky beardies usually are way up there especially yours I wouldn't call it a steal though just a real good deal.

Matt

[-okapi-]

Heres a few pics:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g54/okapi-/c9893b86.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g54/okapi-/794dbe23.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g54/okapi-/a5195103.jpg

The top two are so you can see the head and back.
The bottem one is so you can see the orange markings on the side of the head.
Sorry the pics are so blury :(

Does it look like it has some of the genes its parents had? And would it be worth $100?

Thanks

[Leolord]

WOW!! I'm pretty sure he got the pastel from his parents ! I'm a bit shaky on this but if I was selling him I would have sold him for $150 nothin to worry your head over.

Matt

[-okapi-]

Yeah, he does seem to be hypo and pastel, but Im not sure about the other stuff: leucistic, the other hypo, and red. Either way he is at least het leucistic, but I dont know how the other genes work in dragons... And I was thinking to myself "100 bucks seems so low for such a nice looking animal." Im really not a dragon person, but I had to have him/her. They told me it was a male, but I dont see any pores or bulges, so im gonna call him/her 0.0.1 until I am 100% sure either way. I think Ill get a 100% het leucistic of the opposite sex in the future (when I can get more animals) to see if he/she can throw some leucistic babies.

[beardiedragon]

congrats on your new baby. A 55 is a bit small for an adult. 6 square feet od floor space is what is recomended by most people. A 55 has length but not enough depth for the BD to trurn around in.

As for genetics, there is very little known about it when it comes to BDs. The gene pool is very shallow. the only way to determine if your BD has good genes is to have a vet draw blood and send it off (about $100 plus shipping) for DNA testing.

Since every breeder gives their BDs a different "morph" name, without scientific testing, there's no telling what your BD is or what traits they will show. That is the difference between genotype and phenotype. If 2 orange BDs breed and have one offspring that is plain looking and another pair of plain looking BDs breed and have a red baby, they are both genetically different but still can carry the other genes from their parents. The BD from orange parents will in all likelihood throw more colorful babies. The colorful BD from the two normals will generally throw less colorful babies. This is why breeders who breed for specific traits and have done it for generations charge more for their BD. The odds are better that their babies will carry on that trait they are bred for.

http://www.beardiedragon.com/posts/bd/Hypo4.JPG

[-okapi-]

Yeah, Ive decided on a 75 gallon. That DNA testing is intresting, can you tell me more about it? Thanks

[-okapi-]

Okay, I plan on getting a 75 gallon tank and lighting it with a spot light for basking and UVA along with two fluorescents, one for UVB, and one for light. I dont want the tank to be lit up a weird color, I want it to look natural which is why I will use the one for daylight. The basking light will be on the far right side of the tank and the Daylight and UVB lights will be across the far left and middle of the tank. I think I will put the daylight in the front and the UVB in the back, for the same reason that I am using the Daylight bulb. I plan on setting the fluorescents on a timer to come on at 8am and go off at 9pm. The basking light will be set for 9am to 9am. Does anyone know if this setup is okay? Do UVB bulbs cast a "weird/unnatural looking" light like ive heard? Ive narrowed my shopping list down to these two brands, but I dont know which one produces the best equipment: Zoo Med VS Exo-Terra. Ive posted a list of the products from both companies and I need someone to tell me which of the two is best for each product:
Zoo Med Day Glo Tight Beam VS Exo-Terra Sun Glo tight beam
Zoo Med Repti Sun 10.0 Fluorescent VS Exo-Terra Repti Glo 8.0 Fluorescent
Zoo Med Repti Sun 2.0 Fluorescent VS Exo-Terra Repti Glo 2.0 Fluorescent

Also I plan on using sand. Which is better? Repti sand, Desert sand sifted playsand, or Reptilite?
Zoo Med Repti Sand VS
Exo-Terra Desert Sand VS
playsand VS
Carib-Sea Reptilite

Also I wanted to replicate dew in the morning through the use of a Ultrasonic Humidifyer. Basically I would have the humidifier in a tank of water with a tube leading to the Bearded Dragons tank and set that on a timer to release a little fog right when the lights come on for like 15 minutes. Would this work, and which brand to use?
Zoo Med Ultrasonic Humidifying Fogger VS Exo-Terra Fogger: Ultrasonic Fog Generator

And Should I get a Digital Ultraviolet Radiometer to monitor the UV levels produced by the bulbs?

THANKS

[-okapi-]

Does nobody know? :confused:

Also does anyone know of any sites that show you how to DIY a screen top for tanks. Those things are so costly for just a little screen and a few strips of metal...

[PogonaDragon]

well first id like to say this is my first time in here and i think that its about time i found a fourm to talk about my love for some animals


next thats a real good deal morphs sell from 300 to 500 dollors when there that age and i think personally that beardies make the best pet
mine is a normal drogon and i love her so

and if the breader aka seller was truthful you got a deal

[-okapi-]

What do you guys think?!?! Would the dew making idea work?