New bearded dragon owner

[BeginnerBeardie]

Hey I just got a beardie he is grumpy because the person we got him from never played with him can I just have some advice to cheer him up and get him comfortable?

 

[Sadie]

Hey I just got a beardie he is grumpy because the person we got him from never played with him can I just have some advice to cheer him up and get him comfortable?

Most dragons are not grumpy unless hes shedding --- what kind of lighting is in the tank --- this is the lifeline to the dragon and if its incorrect he will not thrive and get sick ---- NO coils for UVB's basking temps should be 95-100 for a adult / juvie dragon and those temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer ------ hes going to go thru relocation stress and may not eat a lot but he should still eat something --- he needs time to acclimate to the tank and surroundings

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Most dragons are not grumpy unless hes shedding --- what kind of lighting is in the tank --- this is the lifeline to the dragon and if its incorrect he will not thrive and get sick ---- NO coils for UVB's basking temps should be 95-100 for a adult / juvie dragon and those temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer ------ hes going to go thru relocation stress and may not eat a lot but he should still eat something --- he needs time to acclimate to the tank and surroundings

I have duel light combo I am going to get better lights for him Wednesday and he is eating fine

 

[Sadie]

I have duel light combo I am going to get better lights for him Wednesday and he is eating fine

Ok you need to get a Zoo Med fixture NO Thrive NO Zilla - I dont know what size tank you have but the fixture should be a 24" w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb - these are the best on the market at this time --- this will be good for a 40+ gallon tank --- then if you want to upgrade to a bigger tank it will go right into the next tank --- the bulbs have different placement and distances - the T 5 should be inside the tank for a fine mesh screen like a screen door distance 12-15 inches directly over the basking decor piece --- if its a WIDE hole type it can sit on top of the screen w/ a distance of 8-10 inches directly over the basking decor

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Ok you need to get a Zoo Med fixture NO Thrive NO Zilla - I dont know what size tank you have but the fixture should be a 24" w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb - these are the best on the market at this time --- this will be good for a 40+ gallon tank --- then if you want to upgrade to a bigger tank it will go right into the next tank --- the bulbs have different placement and distances - the T 5 should be inside the tank for a fine mesh screen like a screen door distance 12-15 inches directly over the basking decor piece --- if its a WIDE hole type it can sit on top of the screen w/ a distance of 8-10 inches directly over the basking decor

I have a 55 gallon tank

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Ok you need to get a Zoo Med fixture NO Thrive NO Zilla - I dont know what size tank you have but the fixture should be a 24" w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb - these are the best on the market at this time --- this will be good for a 40+ gallon tank --- then if you want to upgrade to a bigger tank it will go right into the next tank --- the bulbs have different placement and distances - the T 5 should be inside the tank for a fine mesh screen like a screen door distance 12-15 inches directly over the basking decor piece --- if its a WIDE hole type it can sit on top of the screen w/ a distance of 8-10 inches directly over the basking decor

Can I get this

ZOO MED Repti Basking Reptile Spot Lamp, 150-watt - Chewy.com

Buy Zoo Med Repti Basking Reptile Spot Lamp, 150-watt at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

ZOO MED T8 ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp, 24-in - Chewy.com

Buy Zoo Med T8 ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp, 24-in at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

ZILLA T8 Reptile Strip Desert Light Fixture, 24-in - Chewy.com

Buy Zilla T8 Reptile Strip Desert Light Fixture, 24-in at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

someone recommended me this

 

[Sadie]

I have a 55 gallon tank

Ok so thats good --- just get your UVB long tube fixture I can post websites to get them if you need them - you can look at your pet stores and see if they carry the fixture I recommended most do not but only carry the 18 or 20" fixture which is a T 8 and not as strong as the T 5 and that one would HAFT to go inside the tank

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Ok so thats good --- just get your UVB long tube fixture I can post websites to get them if you need them - you can look at your pet stores and see if they carry the fixture I recommended most do not but only carry the 18 or 20" fixture which is a T 8 and not as strong as the T 5 and that one would HAFT to go inside the tank

Does the t5 have to go in the tank

 

[Sadie]

Can I get this

ZOO MED Repti Basking Reptile Spot Lamp, 150-watt - Chewy.com

Buy Zoo Med Repti Basking Reptile Spot Lamp, 150-watt at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

ZOO MED T8 ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp, 24-in - Chewy.com

Buy Zoo Med T8 ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp, 24-in at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

ZILLA T8 Reptile Strip Desert Light Fixture, 24-in - Chewy.com

Buy Zilla T8 Reptile Strip Desert Light Fixture, 24-in at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

someone recommended me this

the fixture is ok --- the Reptisun is good but when you upgrade to a bigger tank if you do your gonna want the 24" fixture -- and the T 8 MUST go inside the tank or at least need to be unobstructed w/ NO screen or cover over the bulb -- that fixture will have a cover on it -- the basking bulb is good but make sure you have a digital probe thermometer to get that temp --- you do not want to burn him up

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

the fixture is ok --- the Reptisun is good but when you upgrade to a bigger tank if you do your gonna want the 24" fixture -- and the T 8 MUST go inside the tank or at least need to be unobstructed w/ NO screen or cover over the bulb -- that fixture will have a cover on it -- the basking bulb is good but make sure you have a digital probe thermometer to get that temp --- you do not want to burn him up

I can’t have it in the tank it’s too close to the ground so i have to put it on the screen

 

[Sadie]

I can’t have it in the tank it’s too close to the ground so i have to put it on the screen

Ok your gonna need to take the screen off ---- or have it sit on the top of the tank width wise ---- T 8's are not strong enough to go thru the screen if you get one -- T 5's are stronger but it depends on that screen - it can sit on top of it but the screen MUST be wide holed --- let me know what you decide to do --- but the dragon definitely needs a good UVB --the screen will block 30% of the UVB rays and from this point on hes gonna need good UVB as that coil has been providing NO UVB and that is not good

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

This is the screen

 

[Sadie]

View attachment 28645
This is the screen

That will work for the T 5 on top- make sure you have a digital probe thermometer- that one on top of screen is only good for ambient and it should be inside the tank- distance would be 8-10 inches decor piece directly under it

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

That will work for the T 5 on top- make sure you have a digital probe thermometer- that one on top of screen is only good for ambient and it should be inside the tank- distance would be 8-10 inches decor piece directly under it

The log underneath him is that good?

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

That will work for the T 5 on top- make sure you have a digital probe thermometer- that one on top of screen is only good for ambient and it should be inside the tank- distance would be 8-10 inches decor piece directly under it

And what’s probe thermometer

 

[Sadie]

The log underneath him is that good?

Get a temp on that log take a digital probe thermometer place that probe on the log and get a temp - older dragons do not like temps over 100 -- it's good to offer a gradient heat a piece of decor that offers different places to sit stand lay on or lay against is good-- I see he's not sitting directly under the light which tells me it may be too hot on the lig

 

[Sadie]

And what’s probe thermometer

Look at the pet store for a zoo med probe thermometer they are most accurate- it is a MUST

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Look at the pet store for a zoo med probe thermometer they are most accurate- it is a MUST

Yes it is because the thermometers in the tank are soooooooo inaccurate

 

[BeginnerBeardie]

Look at the pet store for a zoo med probe thermometer they are most accurate- it is a MUST

Is it like the thing that you put in the chicken to see how hot it is?

 

[Sadie]

Is it like the thing that you put in the chicken to see how hot it is?

Well sort of- https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-digital-thermometer/dp/154873