Enclosure confusion

[itsmissjones]

I know it is near impossible to get a definitive answer about what is the right set up to have, but ive managed to confuse myself completely now.

Our little one is in a a Viv which is roughly a 3x2x2 (im aware its a bit small. She's about 14 inches and 8-9months old. unfortunately through some wrong advice we bought the smaller one and now and in the process of buying a bigger one! We were told 3ft is enough if we are going to be getting her out daily)
The uv is a 12.0 dessert pro
The basking bulb is a 60w habistat
We have a B1 microclimate thermostat
We have a heat mat on the top of the viv as it very cold at the moment so its to keep the viv warm at night.
We also have a lucky reptile thermometer with 2 probes. Which we keep 1 on the cool end one on the hot.
Substrate is aspen which is what she was raised on. She's normally fed outside her viv except for her salad which is in a large bowl.

I want the best for our little one but it seems every week we find out something we didnt know about or that were doing something wrong. (We only just bought the thermostat as a different shop had told us its pretty nessecary)
Is there anything were missing/doing wrong? She was recently taken to the vet who gave her a clean bill of health. Or am i just being a completely paranoid new beardie owner?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Sorry for blabbing on!
X

 

[Josh]

No apology necessary!
Sounds like you've got a good setup. I assume your temps are staying up with your thermostat...
I personally would use a different substrate but that's just because I find things like tile easier to clean. How is your beardie behaving? Eating normally? Active and alert? That's the biggest indicator as to how you're doing overall

 

[itsmissjones]

Her general behaviour is pretty good. She's still pretty new to us so has her moment's. she's a little minx who hates going to the bathroom in the viv so will go anywhere else given the chance...like my bed. She's also mid shed all long her back and the top of her head so a little grumpy. Has her good and bad days for salad but love's her locusts and calciworms. We're not having too much trouble with the aspen yet but possibly looking to switch later down the line. Still trying to get the temps right as the thermostat is brand new.
I think that's really bothering us is where ever we go for advice in the form of reptile specialist shops they just seem to be in it for the money and giving us wrong information or hard selling products. That's why im turning to this forum as it is all advice from people who actually own and care about their beardies. Im mostly annoyed about the viv size as i don't want her being cooped up all day when were at work

 

[Josh]

You've come to the right place then! We don't have anything to sell you. We're just a bunch of beardie fanatics out to help others!

 

[PatsyB]

Sounds like you are doing pretty good. It can be nerve racking being a new owner and learning as you go a long. I always listen to everyone's advice and then lean towards the majority.