Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 10 inch (tail to tip of nose) bearded dragon currently lives in a 40 gallon cube cage with Lizard Litter and a plastic branch like thing in the very middle. He has a water bowl with a hiding place underneath for the crickets. He has a UVB light above him and a heating mat against the side of the cage that he sometimes stands up on his back legs and lays against. He is feed crickets a couple times a week till he is full and i change his fruit every other day because he doesn't eat it all at once. Does this sound alright? Be honest, please!!!

Well for the size of your dragon the cage is fine. You'll eventually need a minimum 55 gallon for a adult beardie but a 75 gallon is preferred. I didn't hear you say if you have a digital thermometer to read the temps which should be anywhere from 95-105 (baby beardies tend to like the temp a little higher). make sure the cool side of the tank is like 85 and at night make sure the tank is no cooler than 65. If his temps are right on from the uvb and heat source from above I'd lose the heat pad thing. also the water bowl is a good idea for a rabbit but dragons don't tend to drink to much and get the water they need from prey and veggies and fruit. You may get too much humidity with a water bowl which a dragon doesn't need. I would allow a warm bath a couple times a week and you'll notice if by chance he is thirsty he'll drink that water. I would use reptile carpet or butcher paper for a substrate as it's easiest to clean. Poo left in the cage can cause parasite problems if he ingest it which will lead to high vet bills. Trust me I know. Also you say you feed your dragon crix a couple times a week. Well if your dragons is young which it sounds like he is I would give him crix 2 times a day and let him eat as much as he can within 10-15 minutes. Crix should be no bigger than the space between the dragons eyes. He should have fresh greens and veggies daily and some type of vitamin/ calcium supplement like Sandfire Ranch Products or Repcal...If he's new and you haven't had a fecal done by a vet I'd get one done! That's all I can think of now but you'll learn more!!!!!!
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Keith Ecklund II
Northeast Ohio
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.5 Fire Bellied Toads

I dont like Lizard Litter--I'd suggest something safer like shelfliner or even washed play sand ($5 or less at Home Depot).

What kind of UVB light do you have? If it is a tube then you will also need a basking light. The temp in the basking spot (on the spot not the air) needs to be around 100 or a bit higher. They need heat from above to properly digest their food. A regular household 60 watt bulb should be enough. Buy a digital indoor-outdoor thermometer (around $10) Keeping the temperatures correct are vital to your beardies' health.

A 10 inch beardie needs to get protein (crickets and such) daily. Besides a small amount of fruit their salad should be mostly made from dark leafy veggies like collard, mustard greens and turnip greens). Salad should be offered fresh daily. They will eat more of it as they get older--adults eat 80-90% salad.

DO NOT leave crickets in tank overnight--they will munch on your beardie--and can cause serious damage.

READ some good care sheets
www.beautifuldragons.com has an excellent one

Keep posting your questions... It may seem like some of us will talk harsh at times--but it is only because we care...all of us were first time owners once!

DM

The only thing I think the other people didn't mention is that you should change the fruit daily. Imagine what happens to fruit sitting out all day in 100 degree heat. I wouldn't want to eat that after it's been sitting all day. I have left food or pellets for two days if I was going away for a weekend, but I wouldn't suggest making a habit of it.
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3.0.0 Bearded Dragons Woodrow, Dexter, Tehko (My first beardie Griffin who turned me crazy, and Erik my Rankins, who will remain a midget- deceased)
1.0.0 Cat- the regular variety (Dominic- fat cat)
0.1.0 Dog- Lab mix(Betty- escape artist extraordinaire)
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Franklin)