So, my original plan was to get sidney, my 1 1/2 year old 17" male bearded dragon, a 75 gallon aquarium which would consiquently need a stand. So I've been doing some research on it and I found that while the tank is only around $170 new, the stand is that much or more. This wouldn't be that bad, considering I could just build a stand if I want to, but I was realizing that a longer tank might not be a good idea because of where I have it possitioned. With the four foot long tank, I would put it in the same corner as my 40 gallon breeder size tank, but it would have to be up against the other wall due to lack of space. This would be fine except one end of the tank would be right up against the foot of my bed. I'm a pretty big kid, over 6 feet tall, so my feet often go off the end of the bed and I am worried I would often kick him in my sleep and startle him.
That could probably all be figured out fairly easily though, and we could find a way to work it out, but while I was talking to the local breeder about getting the new tank and how much it would cost, he said he had another good idea. He said that he could get me a 70 gallon oceanic lizard lounge with the lighting setup (which is basically an interior incandescent lamp and the nice big fluorescent) for a very good price. He said that even though the tank has the same floor space as the one I have now, since it's 10" taller I could make the setup a little more arboreal, and he could also pick me out a nice piece of driftwood with a base so it would take up hardly any floor space. Also, he says that with the taller tank it makes the beardie feel like it has much more space while still feeling safe from predators.
That setup seems to work out great in theory, as upposed to my current setup which has a basking branch that takes up a good percentage of useable floor space (because the tank is only 16" tall, I can't find a good vertical branch.
What are your thoughts on that? I know I could get a standard tank the same size as the lizard lounge, but I like that with the lizard lounge the vents are on the sides and not the top, and since the heating element is inside, it loses much less heat than an aquarium with a screen top. The only downside is that the heat lamp can only hold up to a 100 watt bulb and it isn't ceramic, but I figure that right now I have a 100 watt basking bulb over my tank, and it gets so hot I have to hook it up to a dimmer to turn it down about 1/4, as well as raise it about 5-10 inches above the screen top. The only thing I'm even slightly concerned about is that it won't be bright enough inside the tank with only one light. Right now i have to have my basking bulb as well as a standard house light bulb to keep it bright enough. But, these are in those little dome things, so I thought the might be why the light from the basking lamp doesn't quite reach the end of the cage. Your opinions?
There's also a couple other questions I had, so bear with me on this. Will there be any adverse affects to putting him in a different enclosure with a different setup that he has currently had? Like, will he go off feed or something?
The last questions: Have you ever tried bed-a-beast? (dried of course). I was thinking about trying that because it's way more digestible than sand and looks more natural than the green repti carpet he's on now. There's only two things I'm concerned about. First (related to my earlier comments about not being bright enough), it seems like bed-a-beast is a fairly dark colored substrate, if I put sid on a dark colored substrate, will he notice? He did seem to notice going from the ultra-bright paper towels to the slightly darker repti carpet. Also, would he be able to get as much traction on the bed-a-beast. It seems like it's something I might just have to try. I was also considering going back to sand, but my vet advised me against it.
this has been a long type. It took me twice as long because I'm sick (which is why I'm not at school).
later
