Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My wife, bless her, presented to me a brand spanking new baby beardie.

I know their desert dwellers, but I am looking for any advise or help for the future of George the Bearded Dragon.

I've got a good calcium sand for his/her substrate and read up on a few feeding facts.

Are bottom heaters that necessary, even if he has two basking lamps. One is a natural bulb and the other a basking bulb.

He is approximately a month old and very docile and likes looking at everything you do. The only habit I notice is his constant staring at the basking light. It's like he's hypnotizied.

Thanks for any advise.

Bob/stano40

OK, I found out calcium sand is no good and play sand is better. Right now I just use newspaper and the baby seems to like it just fine right now.

The baby is only 3 or 4 inches long. I suppose from reading other posts that he will have a huge growth spurt.

Any advise or helpful hints is always welcome.

Thanks for reading the post.

Bob/stano40

Play sand is cheaper too but I'd suggest paper towels to newspaper since the newspaper ink is toxic to many animals and reptiles tend to lick their surroundings. I'm new to owning bearded dragons too but Its better to be safe than sorry with any animals. I've also found that mine love dandilions if you can find them in your yard. Plus start it on vegetables as soon as possible. Try a lot of different ones because every dragon seems to like different things. Just make sure you cut the vegetables really small for your baby to eat. DON'T feed your dragon spinach thats a big no no because it takes away calcium.

Congrats on the new beardie!
Now get him off of the calci sand! You can read up more on the list, but it can cause major impactions, especially at your kids delicate age. I would suggest keeping him on papertowels until he is much older, and then keeping him on filtered play sand. The calcisand tends to clump up when wet, which is exactly what you dont want happening in your babies bowels.
Next, make sure the ambient temperature in the tank is around 80-85 degrees (you can use the heating pad UNDER the tank to help reach this temp, but make sure it doesnt get too hot), with the basking spot reaching around 100-105 degrees (where your dragon will be). Is your natural light UVB providing? If so, how much? How big is your tank? You will need to mist your baby in the face at least 3 times a day to make sure he/she is drinking, and I would suggest a 10 minute water bath one a day or so once he gets a little bigger. Sounds like you are going to be buying lots of small crickets! They eat a ton at that age, I would suggest purchasing the book The Bearded Dragon Manual, by de Vosjoli. Its a great one for beginners. Good luck!
Rachel

http://www.kakadudragons.com/caresheet/caresheet.php

Here is an awesome caresheet. Hope this helps.

I want to thank everyone for all the great help, I have and am still learning more and more each day about the care of bearie's.

This is a great forum with lot's of helpful people.

Thanks again.

bob/stano40