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 #2093075


AreptileKeeper
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 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Hey Guys,
I’m interest in getting a bearded dragon. I have a tank that’s 36x24 inches and the screen and lighting fixture. But I’m wondering what other things id need such as substrate, hides etc? I’d also like to know what your bearded dragon eats and how often?
Thanks for any input!



11/07/09  05:25pm

 #2093080


Newfgal
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   Message To: AreptileKeeper   In reference to Message Id: 2093075


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Hi there,

If you are getting a baby, for substrate go with paper towel, newspaper, a non adesive shelf liner, repticarpet, or even tile, like slate tile. For hides you can use about anything, half logs, fake plants for the corners, or even card board boxes with a little hole cut for them to get in to...Also, if you get a baby, it will need to be fed bugs 2-3 x a day, as much as it will eat in a 10-15 min period, and for an adult, it should be fed 3 x a week as much as it will eat in one sitting. Fresh greens every day for life no matter what the age, like mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion greens, endive, escarol, all squash, etc, and fruit for treats. Staple bugs are roaches, crickets, or silkworms, and others for treats like horn worms, supers, butters, and wax worms, but those are for a rare treat due to the fat content...Phoenix worms are also great for hatchlings due to the tiny size and high calcium.

You will also need a pure calcium, without D3, and another with D3, and a multivitiman. Doses vary with age also...

You will need a digital thermometer with a probe, or a temp gun for acurate readings.

Which UVB lighting do you have? Get either the ReptiSun 10 linear tube, or a MVB, those are the best, and steer clear of compacts and coiled lighting as they have been causing health issues...

Feel free if you have any more questions, and congrats on getting a new beardie, they rock!

Nancy :)
11/07/09  05:36pm

 #2093106


AreptileKeeper
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2093080


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

I currently don’t have any bulbs as I’m doing some research on the best ones and ones that raise the temperature good, and then once Ive got all the supplies set up and working ill go dragon shopping. Currently I get the tank to 80-85 with just a regular light bulb. So would and UTH and A UVB bulb raise it to a good temperature? What are the best temperatures for warm/cold and basking spot?
11/07/09  06:43pm

 #2093267


Newfgal
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   Message To: AreptileKeeper   In reference to Message Id: 2093106


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

If you want the best UVB and heating, get either the Megaray MVB, or the T-Rex MVB flood, those provide heat and UVB all in one. If you get a MVB, no other heating will be necessary as long as the basking temps are at least 110f (for a baby) The cool end should be 80-85f. If you cannot achieve these temps, you can add a regular house hold bulb, just to help raise the temps. And with a MVB, you do not need to offer any D3 at all, as these lamps help them produce enough D3 due to the high levels of UVB they emitt...To use a MVB though, you must have at least a 40 gallon breeder tank. These lights get hot...



MegaRay

T Rex flood

Nancy
11/08/09  06:16am

 #2093332


Argonian
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2093267


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Beardies are great pets...(THEYRE SO ADORABLE 2!) Crickets get expensive, and they need quite a bit of care. But totally worth it. SO friendly
11/08/09  11:49am

 #2093341


AreptileKeeper
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   Message To: Argonian   In reference to Message Id: 2093332


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Any rough estimates of how many crickets they go through a week as a baby? and as an adult?
11/08/09  12:55pm

 #2093353


Newfgal
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   Message To: AreptileKeeper   In reference to Message Id: 2093341


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

As a baby, they can go through 25-40 crickets 3 x a day, so do the math, lol, adults may eat the same, but you feed them less than babies, more like 3 x a week, once a day...

Nancy
11/08/09  01:34pm

 #2093373


AreptileKeeper
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2093353


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Wow 525 to 840 crickets a week sounds like a lot, I better look into keeping crickets too! :)
11/08/09  02:30pm

 #2093428


Newfgal
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   Message To: AreptileKeeper   In reference to Message Id: 2093373


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Yep, the clutches of babies I have are going through 1000 crickets every coupple of days, lol...

Nancy
11/08/09  04:33pm

 #2094115


AreptileKeeper
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2093428


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

Also, is it ok to put a young dragon straight into a 36x24 tank? and what size water bowl is needed? I do also know that young geckos need moving water sometimes.
11/10/09  07:12pm

 #2094697


Mk_ms_reptile
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   Message To: AreptileKeeper   In reference to Message Id: 2094115


 Intrested in Bearded Dragons

I don’t keep a water bowl in one of my dragon’s tanks. He never used it and there was really no point in having it in there. However, my girls do drink out of a dish so I have a good sized shallow one in there for them. They get a lot of their moisture from their food. I also soak them all daily to make sure they’re hydrated.

As far as feeding goes, I feed my adult crickets twice a week. He’ll eat about 50 in a sitting. So 100 crickets a week for him. I’ll also get superworms or hornworms twice a week for him too. My little boy and my girls, who are all under a year get crickets twice daily and they’ll normally go through 30-50 crickets each per feeding. I also every now and then get them phoenix worms and small superworms a few times a week. I offer them a salad daily with pieces no bigger than the space between their eyes. I used endive, escarole, mustard greens, turnip greens, kale, hard squash (hubbard, acorn, spaghetti, butternut, butter cup, etc), snow peas, carrots, green beans, apples, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cactus pads, cactus fruit, mangos, papaya, and every now and then broccoli. I tend to switch veggies up from week to week but you want to make sure the salad is offered daily with variety.

As far as costs goes per week, I probably spend close to $20-$30 a week which includes crickets and veggies/fruits.



11/12/09  10:55am


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