Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In a previous post you mentioned there are so many things that can effect a beardies color such as caging lighting ...etc... I was wandering if you would mind posting some pics of how you keep your hatchlings they are so healthy looking and colorfull they must be very happy! You know, if you got the time.

Thanks,
Robert Wood

Usually the more lumins, or the more intense the lighting is, the more color comes out.

I have a double bulb fixture over the cages and have an 8.0 in one side and a 5.0 in the other. Man can you tell wich one the 8.0 is!! It is a blue color as opposed to the 5.0!!

loves his babies. Over the last several years we gave gotten in many babies from different breeders, some raised to adults and still here, some raised to Juvies and going to new homes, many had adjustment problems the first few weeks or were very scared and stressed.

On thing that stands out about Joel's babies is how content they are with life and calm. The little girl we got from him is absolutely the most calm baby I have ever seen, we call her a princess and that is just what she acts like, very regal. She knows life is great as she has always been cared for very well, all her needs were not only met as a hatchling and young baby, but she obviously had a lot of attention and handling.

It's almost like she does not know that discontentment is even an option as she has never known it. That tells me the breeder was calm and relaxed around them and they pick up that enviroment.

She came to us very well established, and never showed the least sign of problem adapting to the change, she was more curious or interested than stressed about the new changes, she knows no fear of something as I think she has never experienced anything scary or bad. Thats a credit to the breeder that raised her til now, not me.

I would hope that people can say such nice things of me someday! His babies do seem very content even in the pics he posts. What beautys!

I'm blushing. lol

I have heard from a couple people who bought from me and said that the dragons turned wild. (but only 3 out of a lot of people.lol)

I have had dragons I bought (which were nice at the start) turn wild during the quarantine period. With the minimal contact, they just loose the trust. I have a HypoXRed from Brandon who I named Tyson. (watch your ears)lol He is a prime example. He was a doll when I got him,,, well, I explained it above. He is not a mean dragon, he just lost his trust (my fault). I am now able to pick him up without a glove. lol Much time is spent with him.

Constant attention/handling, etc. make for a nice calm dragon. I do try the best I can.

Now, as for CC. You know as well as I do, she went from one great home, right into another. There is no way she is going to loose the love. lol

talk to you later.
Joel R

This is the rack I made for the babies.
Each shelf holds 3 bins and each shelf has two fluorescent bulbs running the length of the shelf. Each bin has a spot bulb above it for a basking spot.

Here is the lighting, I use one EXO Tera 8.0 for UVB and one Phillips Daylight Deluxe (from Home Depot, $5. for two,, these are only used for light intensity)
For the basking bulb I use Phillips DuraMax (SPOT) bulbs 50wt. (they are from Home Depot too, $3. something each, that's half of Zoomed basking bulbs and they last soooooooooooooo much longer.lol) They also have 65wt if you have a longer distance to reach to.

I use Rubbermaid and Sterilite bins, 45qt, 65qt, and 73qt. depending on the size dragons. I use those caves(Lg.) from Reptile direct as the basking stone/hide.
I also use paper towel for the first 2 weeks then they get put on washed play sand also from Home Depot. I also use a black night spot bulb for the first 2 weeks (at night only)

It is much brighter than this pic shows,, it's the backlight feature on the camera

If I left anything out, please feel free to ask.
Joel R

Nice rack Joel, lol. Sorry. I'm currently in the process of getting materials, and fixtures for something a lot similar to what you did. Turning my storage room into a dragon room =) Just curious what the dimensions are from the bottom of one shelf to the top of the other, and from front to back? I'm working with a small area so was going to put one rack on 1 side an another on the other making an isle. Think I can fit about six bins on each level and it's 2 levels full top and bottom. Basically two racks side by side on each side. You only had 1 female lay for you this season, and she triple clutched right? Did you have another rack system? Just want to figure out how many bins I'm going to need at the peak of housing them, and what you found safe to house together? I'm figuring ideally 6 to a bin if it's possible. Just want to be safe with enough room, instead of going nuts the last week which I'm sure I will anyway, nerves alone =) I appreciate any info you can share. You really did great this season Joel. Good work..
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Mystical Dragons

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