Hi there! First I want to thank you for such an informative website! It has been very helpful!
So a little backround info:
I have only owned 2 beardies in the past and they were purchased at a pet store in Bellflower, Ca. and were both in poor health. Eventually, due to my pregnancy and having a newborn baby to take care of, my brother-in-law and his wife took them, and today they are thriving. That's the ONLY experience I've had, which doesn't amount to much.
So fast forward 7 years. I have an older gentleman friend who had 2 bearded dragons he could no longer care for, as his health was failing. Because I have 3 kids, (all boys, 7 yrs and under), he asked me if I would take care of them, hoping my boys would enjoy them too. They were brought to me with an overcrowded tank, sand substrate, a giant red light, and "no spinach" is all I got as far as guidance.
I did some research, came across your site and decided to renovate. I emptied the sand, cleaned the wood pieces thoroughly, cleaned the dishes, and then upgraded them to a 150 gallon former aquarium we had that leaked so we couldn't use it as such any longer. I added a UVB bulb, switched the red light to a CHE and added a regular household bulb. I noticed that the female was losing weight, and after observing them it seemed to me like the tank was too big and she wasn't able to eat whatever live food I put in there, (crickets, hornworms, meal worms, etc). So I'd have to take her out and feed her separately, in a small tote.
I figured maybe putting them back into a smaller tank, but bigger than the one they were brought in. So they are now in a 35"L x 24"H x 18"W terrarium that opens in the front. I have a 150W CHE on one side above where I have the branches and bark laid. I have a regular household bulb also on that side. Across the width of the tank I have a Repti-Sun 10.0 UVB. On the other side I have their food dish and water tray. I have no substrate yet but want to add some Repti-Turf.
I look at all the amazing tanks on here and I know mine is all wrong but am having a hard time figuring out how to fix it. The lid to the terrarium is screened and divided with thin plastic into four sections which inhibits me from putting the UVB on it, or any of the other lights for that matter. So I currently have no lid.
I'd appreciate any help with how I can make the enclosure better suited for them and what I can do, add, subtract, or think about.
Thanks so much!
Heather
So a little backround info:
I have only owned 2 beardies in the past and they were purchased at a pet store in Bellflower, Ca. and were both in poor health. Eventually, due to my pregnancy and having a newborn baby to take care of, my brother-in-law and his wife took them, and today they are thriving. That's the ONLY experience I've had, which doesn't amount to much.
So fast forward 7 years. I have an older gentleman friend who had 2 bearded dragons he could no longer care for, as his health was failing. Because I have 3 kids, (all boys, 7 yrs and under), he asked me if I would take care of them, hoping my boys would enjoy them too. They were brought to me with an overcrowded tank, sand substrate, a giant red light, and "no spinach" is all I got as far as guidance.
I did some research, came across your site and decided to renovate. I emptied the sand, cleaned the wood pieces thoroughly, cleaned the dishes, and then upgraded them to a 150 gallon former aquarium we had that leaked so we couldn't use it as such any longer. I added a UVB bulb, switched the red light to a CHE and added a regular household bulb. I noticed that the female was losing weight, and after observing them it seemed to me like the tank was too big and she wasn't able to eat whatever live food I put in there, (crickets, hornworms, meal worms, etc). So I'd have to take her out and feed her separately, in a small tote.
I figured maybe putting them back into a smaller tank, but bigger than the one they were brought in. So they are now in a 35"L x 24"H x 18"W terrarium that opens in the front. I have a 150W CHE on one side above where I have the branches and bark laid. I have a regular household bulb also on that side. Across the width of the tank I have a Repti-Sun 10.0 UVB. On the other side I have their food dish and water tray. I have no substrate yet but want to add some Repti-Turf.
I look at all the amazing tanks on here and I know mine is all wrong but am having a hard time figuring out how to fix it. The lid to the terrarium is screened and divided with thin plastic into four sections which inhibits me from putting the UVB on it, or any of the other lights for that matter. So I currently have no lid.
I'd appreciate any help with how I can make the enclosure better suited for them and what I can do, add, subtract, or think about.
Thanks so much!
Heather