New BD for 10 year old

[hornet]

yea, its just the fake grass, i'm not sure if marine carpet is the same but thats also fine to use. I just use newspaper tho, while not as aestheticly apealing it does the job.

 

[wood_nymph]

sounds you've got the right idea with the adjustment to temps. as meantioned though you will definately need a larger tank down the track. i noticed you said you were advised not to put a baby in a larger tank, but in my experience they're fine. i got my beardie as a baby and out her straight into a 4ft X 2ft X2ft enclosure. as long as you're not just letting its cricket go in there it's fine, if you're planing on feeding it in a holding conatiner anyway then i would just get the adult size cage and save yourself some time and money.

 

[AngelicVampyre]

sounds you've got the right idea with the adjustment to temps. as meantioned though you will definately need a larger tank down the track. i noticed you said you were advised not to put a baby in a larger tank, but in my experience they're fine. i got my beardie as a baby and out her straight into a 4ft X 2ft X2ft enclosure. as long as you're not just letting its cricket go in there it's fine, if you're planing on feeding it in a holding conatiner anyway then i would just get the adult size cage and save yourself some time and money.

Thanks for that, Bigger tank is on the cards and the boys knows this and is saving (mum will pay for it if he can't get the money together in the next 6 months) Basically we decided that when the dragon gets to 25/30 cm we will move to the bigger cage.

Yes we will be feeding in a holding container so I guess we could have got the bigger cage but you live and learn

The only thing I am really worried about it temp. I think i am going to get a heat lamp to really get the temp up there during the day turning it off at night and switching the UV Black light on this way he get's his UV, a cooler temp at night and I am not worried about him freezing to death ( I think this is what happened to the gecko :cry: ) Also Thomas' father does not like the idea of something on 24/7 so this will help with that issue

Will it matter if he get's his UV at night and not during the day?

Also after reading this thread I think we will steer clear of sand, was thinking about putting a small container in for him to lie in but now just thinking it is not worth the risk.

 

[Miss B]

The beardie will need a day/night cycle with both UV and heat lamp switched on during the day for around 12-14 hours.

 

[AngelicVampyre]

The beardie will need a day/night cycle with both UV and heat lamp switched on during the day for around 12-14 hours.

Yeah see this is where I think I got it a bit wrong. I was told that you can use the UV Black light all the time. However we tested it and it gets the temp up but not as much as I would like. The UV Black light also simulates moon light hence why you can have it on at night.

So if we put a regular heat lamp in during the day and leave it on for say 12-14 hrs and then turn it off and put the UV Black light on for the remain time (night time) would that be ok or does he need UV dueing the day?

 

[Chris1]

is the UV black light a proper UVB light?

while the correct UVB lights do give off a slightly blue glow, they definately dont simulate moonlight,..

you want to go with something that says 8 or 10% UVB light (i think they give off about 33% UVA), but the 8 or 10% UVB is the part you need to look for.

these lights come in either flouro tube form, (i use a repti sun 10, 2 foot tube) coils (not recommended, teh UV doesnt last very long and theres been reports of eye damage from UVC light or something) or as MVB's which provide both heat and UVB (not recommended till you have a bigger tank and can get the proper thermal gradient)

dont provide any heat or lighting @ night till winter comes, beardies sleep better with a decent drop in temps.

 

[AngelicVampyre]

is the UV black light a proper UVB light?

while the correct UVB lights do give off a slightly blue glow, they definately dont simulate moonlight,..

you want to go with something that says 8 or 10% UVB light (i think they give off about 33% UVA), but the 8 or 10% UVB is the part you need to look for.

these lights come in either flouro tube form, (i use a repti sun 10, 2 foot tube) coils (not recommended, teh UV doesnt last very long and theres been reports of eye damage from UVC light or something) or as MVB's which provide both heat and UVB (not recommended till you have a bigger tank and can get the proper thermal gradient)

dont provide any heat or lighting @ night till winter comes, beardies sleep better with a decent drop in temps.

I will have to go find the box, I can remember it saying "Safe to use 24/7" and "Simulate natural moonlight" it sort of lets of a purple glow and in a dark room it's more blue.

Thanks for that, I am think we need todosome major changes with the lighting/heating before we bring a Dragon home.

 

[hornet]

is it a blacklight tube? They are fine to use but still switch it off at night.

 

[AngelicVampyre]

is it a blacklight tube? They are fine to use but still switch it off at night.

Nope it is a sort of round black bulb in dome ontop of the enclosure.

The basking spot gets to 32C under it and the bottom of the tank around 26C

 

[Chris1]

thats probably not the right bulb then, UVB is very important for dragons, and they do better in a well lit tank .

i use the coles reflector bulbs or the phillips spot one globes for heat (same thing really, and about $3) and the UVB is seperate. i prefer the repti glo or repti sun 8 or 10% tubes (for UV).

 

[AngelicVampyre]

thanks for that will check out the rep shop and see what they would recommend we get