Just Got My Baby Dragon And Need All The Help I Can Get.!!!

[river-7]

This is my first baby and i have been given a lot of wrong advice. It seems there are not enough hours in a day to read all this forum, but i'm trying and being a senior it don't help any.I purchased a gecko for my grandaughter and seen the little beardie and of course he won my heart so home he came. I have been running all over the place and returning things and trying to get the right stuff for him, boy some off these big chain stores don't know too much lol and even i know a little more.i just got him a large tank today with stand for later 40-gal; with front doors and stand and screen. Hope the size is good for him. He's in a 20-as he is 2-months and they said that would be ok. But i understand these guys grow quickly.Please any help would be well appreciated thanks river.

 

[Pat B]

First piece of advice....DO NOT listen to the reptile people in any petstore. They don't know squat. Come to this forum with all your questions and there is no such thing as a 'stupid' question. Questions are usually answered pretty quickly and there are some awesome people here that will give you good sound advice and help in any way. I bought a beardie with the intention of giving it to my grandson....didn't happen. Mom didn't want all the work and I didn't want to give him up.... A 20 gal enclosure is ok to begin with but you will want to put him in a 40 gal eventually. I would go ahead and put him in the 40 gal now and section it off then you won't have to move him later. Temperatures are critical and so is UVB. NO SAND....use paper towels, newspapers, tile etc.
Beardies are funny little critters and you will learn so much. Enjoy and welcome to BDF....

 

[river-7]

Thank You; Pat B; I have running around all day to get him the correct lighting for his heat and something else i can't remember the name of the bulb. But i ended up at a pure reptile shop and got the right light i hope.I also purchased a 40-gall with 2-doors on front of cage screen, and stand and 2-exhausted to put it together.He has sand in his 20-right now it is the kind that is suppose to not hurt them-It's called reptilite all natural calcium substrateSo i guess these big box stores are sh$$$., pardon me.I am soo fed up with wrong advice and can't read and absorb info here fast enough.Anyway he has a 100-watt basking light, and a uvb-that is 10-0 i think.This is what the reptile store recommended.His temp is =82.5 thermo 63% hygrometer if i got that right and i was told by the store it would take awhile for his temp to come up.And i have the point and shoot meter for temps by Flukers??Also bought wipe out 1-and 2-to clean him with[tank] kills salmenlla[sp] When i go buy him he opens his mouth. Is that a warning?? But i had on different cloths when he done that-he's eating and basking Any help would be much appreciated and used gladly river.

 

[Zen ReptileZ]

Hi River! Please remove the sand ASAP. There are no "safe" sand type substrates for young dragons. Look at sand types later in your journey with your dragon. For now, use paper towels. It helps with cleaning and monitoring the feces. Also, they fit perfectly inside a 20L. If you have already moved him to the 40Gal, then paper towels or Newspaper should fit great. The point and shoot temp gun should be very helpful!

 

[Noella]

Hi, River. Welcome to BDF.

Congratulations on your new beardie. They are so sweet, personalities are extraordinary, and are very companionable.
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutritionframeset.html is a helpful site for dietary needs.

Dragons are great reptiles, considered the 'dog' of the reptile world. Mine loves to sit on me before bed and watch TV, take a morning bath, and sleep on me. She'll eat from my hand, taste (kiss me), stare at me for a long time with a 'beardie grin', 'smile', and just 'try to get into my throat'. She just loves attention. Intelligent and fun to be with and call them pancakes when they flatten their own bellies.

Lights: I use a Reptisun 10.0 because of how great they are over Reptiglo 10.0. (On another forum I used to visit drilled every member not to use Reptiglo because of the wavelength not being what it should. Some say they're okay to use and have fixed the problem on that site, but they still don't like to use them.) It's also based on preference though. Reptisun 10.0 has given Allie a wonderful color of oranges, yellows, and a very healthy outlook according to vet. Not only the Reptisun 10.0, but dietary staples, vitamins (Herptivite), and Calcium with D3 (Rep-Cal Ultra-Fine Powder), or Calcium without D3 are all essential for a healthy beardie as well as husbandry skills. Clean up between poops and monthly cleanings with warm water and vinegar. (I found it less harmful and easier on me since I have asthma.) I've learned about flood halogen bulbs from Germ. I never thought about using halogen flood bulbs as a heat source. The regular ones I've been getting at the pet store burned out quicker than these.

Don't listen to pet store employees. They're only after money and will sell you things you don't need. I'm stuck with a bag of calci-sand that I've opened thinking it was a good thing. No. I don't use calci-sand, I use paper towels.

 

[river-7]

Thanks soo much but how will i get the sand out with him being soo new-he is just starting to feel comfortable and basking and eating. could i put a carpet over it and then some paper towel?? just until he gets use to me?? I just got him yesterday and he's been threw a lot with out the correct heating until today.and adjusting to my dogs and stuff-if i do too much to him he may hate me, forever.i don't want to take him out yet and give him more stress then he has.He was in with 10-babies and not getting to much too eat or proper lighting, and then home with me and having to adjust. I took out his water dish and i will mist him tomorrow and hope he likes it.Using the Reptisun10.0 as well. I found a good reptile store that did give me the right lighting and knew right away what i needed and specialist in reptile care. They also told me i could use these other bulbs but i needed one right away to get the little guy comfortable fast.And home depot is not close to me so i went with their light but i know where to buy and will go and get a couple in case of burn out.I understand lights should be under the screen as oppossed to on top, but if i do that i won't be able to put them on the larger tank for him-which is not set up yet.He was laying on his basking spot with a fat tummy just before i fed and put him to bad. It mad me feel good to see him streched out and resting there, with full tummy. Poor little guy had to fight for food. The shop said he was very aggessive with other babies and was fighting. I would be too if i was hungrey.10-babies and fed 1-time for the day and no veggies, fruit ect. I guess these shops are only a holding center until we get them. I should have taken a pic with him comfortable to let you all see him feeling so good with proper heat and lighting.Now i have to start working on his larger tank and i feel i will put tile in the bottom. Should i fill in the cracks and if so what is safe for him. Got to find him a name as i'm calling him mommies 'LITTLE DUDE"lol.what does it mean when they open their mouth while basking?? thanks to all that reply in advanse-river

 

[Noella]

Sealing the tiles with tile grout helps those cracks.

Hmm. I don't use sand, but I'm sure you can take him out for a few minutes to remove the sand or you can scoop it out with a scoop.

 

[Kalypso]

He will be okay while you remove the sand I am sure The pros of removing it definitely outweigh the cons. I am looking forward to seeing pics, and hearing the name you choose for your "little dude"

 

[river-7]

Noella; and all of you with the great advice, I thank you very much. And i am going to take him out for a few minutes today and clean up the tank for him. Damn pet stores don't know nothing. But my mistake I should have come here in the first place. I bought a large holding thingy that i can use to put him in while i clean his tank and rid it of sand.I will feed him and veggies, and then remove him to rid him of the sand.and i am a perfectionist so i will have to make sure every last bit of sand is gone.You know the little 'DUDE" thing he seems to like as when i talk to him he looks up at me as if to say=I guess i can tolerate that name lol. Now i'm looking for a good vet for geckos and for LIL Dude here in mississauga ontario. Hard to find a good one but i would like to establish him with one for future.Another question; DO they have to have shots or anything as babies or adults. If you all want a good laugh this morning i spent yesterday late after noon killing crickets some got loose some how i guess when i shook the toilet paper holder and i'm running around and them jumping all over the place and that's when i bought the thing that holds them and it has 2-tubes to tip and feed. Boy what a day and thanks to all in advance-river

 

[river-7]

Hi: all going to remove him when he finishes eating his breakfast and clean out substrate so he will be safe seems very bright and alert this am, and very curious and eating well-thank the lord for that as i can't keep killing runaway crickets lol-still killing them and don't know where they are coming from and how they are getting out.He has a tight fitting lid for his tank and he's eating enough of them but i'm sure some are getting out somewhere as i have 2-containers with about 75-100-crickets.river

 

[river-7]

UPDATE ON LITTLE DUDE.; I sprayed him this morning and he was just loving it and still chasing his breakfast lol and all and all with all your help he looks to be doing quit well so far.I am so thrilled i found this forum before it was too late.Will update once his sand is gone and i have pics if i can figure out how to load them . his bowels have moved and they are the back and the white in center, and he's been trying some of his fruit and veggies -so thats a good thing.river

 

[Augie]

Sounds like your dragon has the perfect owner!

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

Welcome to the BDF Community and Congratulation on your new dragon! Very exciting event Indeed
Here are some helpful links that will help you get the right info to ensureing the best chance for you and Little Dude having a long. happy and healthy adventure together!
Don't be shy about asking questions...as you have already seen the BDF Community is chock full of experienced and enthusiastic "Beardie Folk" that are eager to help any way we can!
Looking forward to many many updates BTW I have been to Mississauga many many times..I have hauled a lot of freight in and out of there!

Bearded Dragon --- Exclusive Care Info Library
Beautiful Dragons Nutrition Chart
Is Bearded Dragon Co-habitation a good plan?
How To Sex A Bearded Dragon

Enjoy!!

 

[river-7]

Mungi's; Beat you to it lol-i already read that info and just great i just cleaned my baby no substrate just paper towel and his little basking frog stand and a little piece of mopania wood very small something he can sit on if he gets too hot.He had a little spray bath before i cleaned his house all out and just loved it and was not too frightened when i took him out. He stepped into my hand with no running away just looking at me.I am soo pleased with him and just love to learn how to take the best of care for my animals 3-dogs 13-small birds and fish, gecko and Lil Dude are now home for life. And i will make future plans for the new guys to be looked after if anything should happen to me lol-always good to have a plan in place-because a lot of people are scared to death of reptiles. And i know why these guys are called the gentle giant, but other people are just too frightened, of themI was years ago because i never had held one and now look lol-picked up a beardie and home he came.river

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

That is always an awesome thing when a new dragon keeper "beats me to it" and is already on top of getting things right for their dragon! Well Done! Gentle Giants they are Indeed no matter their age or physical size...they ask truly very little in return for the wealth of pleasure they provide..that is a fact and a promise that any who venture into the Beardie World can be assured of!
Enjoy!

 

[Noella]

Nah. They don't need shots unless they're sick, have Metabolic disease, or needing bloodwork drawn for other matters. When mine was sick with parasites and pinworms, the vet gave her a shot through her abdomen for hydration. She said she looked dehydrated even when I was giving her water through bathing and misting salads and herself. The vet got a mad dragon who bearded up at her and hissed as if to say, "Hey! That hurt! I felt that!"

 

[Pat B]

That is always an awesome thing when a new dragon keeper "beats me to it" and is already on top of getting things right for their dragon! Well Done! Gentle Giants they are Indeed no matter their age or physical size...they ask truly very little in return for the wealth of pleasure they provide..that is a fact and a promise that any who venture into the Beardie World can be assured of!
Enjoy!

How is Mungi doing? I haven't read anything lately or I missed it....Pat

 

[Pat B]

Little Dude!! I like it....just hope he doesn't turn out to be a Little Dudette!! Sounds like you are doing fantastic with all the 'stuff' you need to know about beardies. There is so much information and you are so right....do NOT listen to petstore so called reptile specialists. Have a question?? this is the right place to go. You can also do a search at the top of the home page....I do it all the time. Mungi, Germ, and Aleena are supermoderators for the forum and pretty much know everything about the little beardie. Good luck and come back often to keep us all up to date....(BTW....I am a 'senior' too but I try not to tell anyone....lol)

 

[river-7]

CooL Pat B; never too old to learn lol-and i just love this little guy and seen him wave both hands when my dogs went to his tank to see him. Had to chase little one away as she would stress him out. But it was soo cute to see both hands-i believe it means submission if i am right.Someone correct me if i'm wrong lol river.

 

[Mungi's Buddha]

CooL Pat B; never too old to learn lol-and i just love this little guy and seen him wave both hands when my dogs went to his tank to see him. Had to chase little one away as she would stress him out. But it was soo cute to see both hands-i believe it means submission if i am right.Someone correct me if i'm wrong lol river.

Yes its a submissive sign usually in babies and juveniles and becomes rarer to see them do as they get older but is sometimes done as part of the mating ritual too