Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im getting a few (6 or 7) bearded dragons from my local breeder because he needs to clear out some room. I know what to do but I am just wondering if there are any new cool tips out there for baby beards? Or is it still gutloaded crickets daily with powder and small portions of finely chopped veggies? What does everyone reccomend for lighting with baby beardies? Small shallow bowl of water or misting them? Or both? Paper towels still ok to use as substrate? Sorry so many questions...just wanted to brush up before i got the little guys.

Thanks

The food you mentioned is fine.

I'd use the Zoo Med UVB bulbs. The Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 has penetration to 12" or the Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 should be used for distances up to 20" or when passing through a fine screen. Basking light depends on the size of you enclosure, distance, etc., but should give babies a 110 basking spot with an ambient of about 90 on the hot side and 80 or lower on the cool side.

I put in water bowls and mist the salads regularly. I also offer the dragons water from an eyedropper. I mist when shedding.

Paper towels are fine but this year I switched to non stick shelf liner for my babies. Just seems easier to just wipe it clean.

you're gonna need a lot of cages!!!!!

if you can't feed them enough, 4 times a day, they will eat eachother if in the same cage. I would at least keep no more than two in the same cage. Which also brings up the fact that you want to use paper towls...i've found that the crickets are pretty quick to run and hide under the towls and dragons don't really search for them under there. Maybe the non-stick shelf liner will be a better choice.

if you have a long cage, you can put up dividers to seperate them if you have to.

good luck
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a free range dragon is a happy dragon

I am extremely conservative and keep 3 babies in each enclosure (plastic bins at first). I use shelf liner and tape the edges down so crickets cannot hide. I feed hatchlings 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks or so and then switch to 2 times a day. I leave salad in all day. I have no dragons with nipped toes or tails (knock on wood, lol). My babies are now 14" long and still live in 3's.