New Bearded Dragon!! :)

[Hiide]

So, I ditched the idea of the Tiger salamander awhile back because they are quite high maintance without any positive "bonding" (Or at least the kind I'm looking for).

I got a 55G aquarium and stand for 40 dollars off craiglist's list, cleaned it up, and made a Bearded Dragon enclosure


I'm going to attach photos, because I want to make sure my little guy (I think) looks healthy. He has two little buldges, but I could be wrong. Do your dragon's sleep up against the glass sometimes? He is on a hammock with his whole body against the glass... His night temperature is usually 75-78, so it's not hot or too cold.


But I'll go ahead and list all the specs and such before I get swarmed with questions. I'm looking for feedback, and yes, I did massive research.

I'm using a 10.0 Repti-Sun Bulb, it's roughly 12-14 inches from the spot he basks in. I'm using a 75wt bulb for basking, and it keeps his basking spot at 106-110 F throughout the day.

I have him on Reptile Carpet, but put paper towels on top so I can be lazy.
I know a 55g is alittle big for him at his age, but he hasn't been freaking out or anything. He usually just chills in his basking spot or climbs around on the hanging plants everywhere. I have had him for 3 days now, gave him a luke warm bath when I got him to make sure he is hydrated. He doesn't respond to water drops on his nose, or misting, so I'm leaving a water dish in his aquarium. (Humidity levels are fine, 30-40%. Average of 33 on the 82 degree side of his cage during the day; 20 and less on his basking spot)

He is alert and watches me whenever I'm in the room; he holds himself up right as well. I have taken him out everyday and let him wander around on my couch with supervision. I have been dusting his crickets with calcium everyday, but he has been only eating around 15 a day (offer them twice). However, I bought some phoenix worms today and he ate about 12-15 of them (I lost count). I'm pretty sure he is eating till he is full, because I take him out of his separate feeding enclosure when he starts scratching at the glass. I can hand feed him, but he rarely takes them unless the worms or crickets wiggle a lot. I'm going to be giving him a bath once a week, just in case he isn't drinking enough. I just now got some greens for him, he did taste some squash yesterday, but we will see tomorrow morning (before I feed him crickets), if he'll eat any of his greens.

He is roughly 3-6 weeks old (I am guessing; the breeder said he was a month old). I did a rough measure of him and he is 7inches. He has pooped twice since I have had him (2 times out of 3 days, so that is good).

So, that's about all the info I can think of. I'll put pictures in now of the enclosure and dragon, so I want one of you guys to be the judge of whether or not he looks skinny, or just right.

[Sarahann31190]

What a steal on the tank and stand!! He's a cutie

[darc]

Looking good - he looks nice and fat in the body.

Hope it goes well for you!
-darc

[beckdg]

doin very good so far... he'll need more greens when he gets a little bigger, but now he should be fine. i would take a trip to a craft store and get more plants to cover his glass. you should find that for the price of one or 2 of those plants you have you should get more than you need to do the entire tank.

he is very handsome and his markings scream breeder. he has very prominent markings unlike most of those that come from the wild or from a "beardie factory". he seems to be a very healthy size for his age.

[Hiide]

I appreciate the comments.

But yes, I got him from a Local Pet Store that breeds their own bearded dragons.


The poor guy is home alone for a day and a half, but his lights are on a timer, so he should be alright (Left him meal worms in a bowl and some crickets).


I traded out my Repti-Sun Flourescent Compact bulb and bought a 24" lighting fixture online and a Repti-Sun 18" Bulb. Hopefully those will come in sometime this week, as well as the 600+ Phoenix worms I got for the little guy.


He's going to eat me out of house and home