Need a Bearded Dragon refresher course

[StudentoReptile]

So its been a while since I've kept a bearded dragon. Once I sell this European ratsnake, I'm gonna get a cage and set-up a Dubia roach colony.

Looked a lot of cages online, and in terms of price vs size, I think I'm gonna get an Exo-Terra 36x18x12 Terrarium. The wife and I really like the double doors in the front for easy access. Is this size adequate for a single adult beardie? I mean, we'll be starting out with a baby of course, but I know they do grow fast! On the flip side, it will be taken out a lot. I agree bigger is better, but is 36x18x12 absolutely horrible? If so, I'm not opposed to getting a larger enclosure down the road when it gets closer to adulthood.

For lighting and heating, I'm either going using a 5.0 Repti-Glo tube bulb with a ceramic heat emitter, or just use a MVB. Really depends on how the temps work out with each arrangement.

For substrate, I was planning on using slate tile and playsand mixed in to fill in the cracks. This enclosure is going on top of our entertainment center in our living room, so we want it to kinda look natural. I know a lot of folks have mixed opinions abuot using sand, but I've never had an issue with it with other lizards. Since I'll being using Dubias as feeder insects, I plan on using a large, bowl or dish for feeding to reduce risk of substrate ingestion/impaction. Any suggestions or advice? Have others had success going this route?

My main questions regarding feeding and diet. I know beardies are omnivores, and last I checked/heard, babies and juveniles were primarily insectivores and as they matured, they shifted to a mostly herbivorous diet with little invertebrate supplement. Senior beardies tend to revert back into eating more insects as they age. So...how much of that is true, and if so, what's the diet plan/schedule? When should we start offering veggies into the mix?

Also, in recent years, my main herpetoculture herbivore experience has been tortoises and Uromastyx. How do beardies compare? What types of vegetables and fruits are ideal for them?

[SpOoKy]

For lighting and heating, I'm either going using a 5.0 Repti-Glo tube bulb with a ceramic heat emitter, or just use a MVB.

Needs to be 10.0

My main questions regarding feeding and diet. I know beardies are omnivores, and last I checked/heard, babies and juveniles were primarily insectivores and as they matured, they shifted to a mostly herbivorous diet with little invertebrate supplement. Senior beardies tend to revert back into eating more insects as they age. So...how much of that is true, and if so, what's the diet plan/schedule? When should we start offering veggies into the mix?

Young beardies will require 80% protein and 20%veggies. As the get to adults that switches. 80%veg, 20% protein. Offer veggies right of the start. He will get to like them and have a taste for them so when he is older you shouldn't have any problems with him eating.

Also, in recent years, my main herpetoculture herbivore experience has been tortoises and Uromastyx. How do beardies compare? What types of vegetables and fruits are ideal for them?

This is a great site for food info Nutrition Content (http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html)

[Valvaren]

There is only one thing I can add to what Spooky said and it is that ReptiSUN is the bulb you want not Glo, they aren't any better then compacts imo.

[StudentoReptile]

Okay, dokey...thanks for the help so far.

The reason I was leaning toward the repti-glo was that they have proven to be adequate in the tortoise community regarding UVB output. Since the enclosure I plan on getting is only 12" high, and with substrate and all, the lizard will be less than 12" from the light, I figured a 5.0 would be adequate. If that's not the case, I'll go with a Reptisun.

[SpOoKy]

A 10.0 is always required for beaded dragons. Also be sure to follow manufactures specs on distance from the bulb the animal should be.

[StudentoReptile]

A 10.0 is always required for beaded dragons. Also be sure to follow manufactures specs on distance from the bulb the animal should be.

Yeah, another thing I didn't account for is the screen top. I haven't used a screen top in years for lizards because it was never needed, but in this case, I will be. Most screen tops are going to filter out up to 50% of the UV output of the light, so a 10.0 is probably the better idea.

[SpOoKy]

If it is a fine screen top you will need to put the bulb in the tank anyway. They need 10.0 unrestricted light.

[beardeds4life]

36 inches you COULD do for a small adult. If you grout the back and build ledges with foam that are magnetically attached then grout it it will double the floor space and you would be fine.

[StudentoReptile]

36 inches you COULD do for a small adult. If you grout the back and build ledges with foam that are magnetically attached then grout it it will double the floor space and you would be fine.

Yeah, I was definitely planning on getting creative with the landscape. Thanks for the tip!

[beardeds4life]

Make sure you design it so that the dragon can climb on it because these are NOT arboreal animals but WILL use ledges if they are designed so they are easy to get on to.

[StudentoReptile]

Someone else mentioned to me that they got an idea from a breeder to use oats as a substrate. Anyone ever hear of that one?

[beardeds4life]

No I would not recommend that. All substrates are basically like making thm live in a litter box.

[StudentoReptile]

Now....forgive me being obtuse, but can you explain this statement? Rather, how is this any different (not the oats specifically, but substrate in general) from keeping any other reptile on substrate? Is this just because beardies defecate more often?

[StudentoReptile]

I really want to do this right, so instead of wading through forums and trying to decipher what is authentic and what is simply regurgitated information that may or may not be entirely 100% correct, I think I'm just going to start contacting the real experts.