Lighting

[kimby37]

Setting up the 40 gallon breeder tank for a Bearded dragon we are buying from a breeder a few towns over from us. I'm getting a zoo Med Power Sun UV mercury vapor lamp. What wattage should i have for my tank that is 36x18x16? one person said 100 one said 160. tank has a screen cover. thank you for any info.

 

[Tom]

If you live in a normal house that is kept 70ish in the winter and 75-80ish in the summer then the 100 watt bulb should work just fine for you. For lizards, since there is usually a screen top and you can't really raise or lower the bulb to get the right basking temps, I use a big flat rock, like flagstone, and raise it or lower it with bricks, or something similar, to get the right basking temps. This also makes a nice warm shelter for them to get UNDER if they desire. They can bask on top or hang out underneath and still be warm.

You should still buy or make a proper screen cage and get him out for real sunshine as often as you can. MVB is the next best thing, but it can't even come close to the real thing.

Have you discovered tropical roaches instead of crickets yet?

 

[kimby37]

If you live in a normal house that is kept 70ish in the winter and 75-80ish in the summer then the 100 watt bulb should work just fine for you. For lizards, since there is usually a screen top and you can't really raise or lower the bulb to get the right basking temps, I use a big flat rock, like flagstone, and raise it or lower it with bricks, or something similar, to get the right basking temps. This also makes a nice warm shelter for them to get UNDER if they desire. They can bask on top or hang out underneath and still be warm.

You should still buy or make a proper screen cage and get him out for real sunshine as often as you can. MVB is the next best thing, but it can't even come close to the real thing.

Have you discovered tropical roaches instead of crickets yet?

Yes our house usually never goes below 67. We will take him and our Herman's out into the sun when summer comes (if it ever does). So you think a 100w would be the correct one to get. The breeder said they use 160w but everyone else i talk to said 100w. Just want to set up the tank right before we bring him/her home.(They said probable female).
Thank you for the info
Not sure about the roaches. Have read that people say they are the best for them.

 

[kimby37]

After talking with the breeder, she has them on sand, but have read that is not good for them. Should i stay with the sand because they are use to it or change to tile or some other form of substrate? SOOOO confusing just want to get it all set up. All the different information is making my head hurt. Oh well trial and error i guess.

 

[Tom]

Lots of people use sand. That's how its been done for a long time. Doesn't mean its good for them. People still keep baby tortoises on rabbit pellets with no water bowl either, doesn't make it right. The wattage on your bulb doesn't matter. The temperature of the enclosure and basking site is what matters. Everyones situation is a little different, so you'll just have to try one, check your temps and make adjustments.

For substrate, I never use sand for any reptile. It can cause eye and skin irritations and infections as well as pose a very real risk of impaction if they ingest too much of it. Whatever substrate you choose, make sure you feed them in a dish or plate of some sort to reduce the amount of substrate ingested. Often, I feed my lizards in a separate plain 18 gallon tub with nothing in it but the lizard and their food. Put the food in the gently set the lizard in there to eat.

Here's another tid bit you might not find elsewhere. Give him a proper humid hide to hang out in. It helps keep them hydrated by reducing how fast they lose their water and it helps when its time to shed too. The smaller they are the more important this is, but I offer it to adults too.

Tropical roaches are just better in every way. They don't stink, make noise, die for no reason or infest your house. Easy to feed and breed, so you never have to buy any once your colony gets going. Higher meat to shell ratio. Better size for Beardies. Etc...

 

[Floof]

No one can tell you what wattage to use, because it's different for everyone. It depends on all kinds of things, including your household, i.e. the climate of the room the tank will be kept in, and set-up, i.e. light fixtures and mounting angle, what wattage will work. For example, a 100 watt works fine for my larger female's enclosure... Open-top (no screen) 75 gallon (21" high), with a basking log 12-16" from the bulb depending on day, and the room kept in the low 70s (house is actually kept 70, but the "reptile room" stays a few degrees warmer just by merit of the beardies' heat lamps). 100 watt works like a charm for my larger set-up... But you might find that you need a 160 watt for your smaller one just because of the screen topper, or because your house tends to be cooler than my room, or because you might have a different light fixture... Or any other trivial-seeming reason. I seem to recall humidity having an effect, and, heck, I bet altitude does, too!

On substrate: Just because the animal is "used to" something not good for them doesn't mean you should continue with the practice. Your bearded dragon will be perfectly fine on something like slate tile or paper towel. It won't hurt her to eliminate that risky husbandry practice from her life... And she'll be much safer (and healthier) for it! Besides, slate tile looks so much nicer than sand...

By the way, Tom, what size tub would you use to make a humid hide for an adult beardie? I'd love to start offering humid hides to my three, but worry about the hide being too small and going to waste... It would certainly be nice knowing they have that alternate source of hydration on those days I don't soak them (since none of them seem to understand the concept of water dishes, ha).

 

[Tom]

By the way, Tom, what size tub would you use to make a humid hide for an adult beardie? I'd love to start offering humid hides to my three, but worry about the hide being too small and going to waste... It would certainly be nice knowing they have that alternate source of hydration on those days I don't soak them (since none of them seem to understand the concept of water dishes, ha).

As long as they can fit in it, it will work. I used one that was 18x12" for a while. I used a hole saw and then a dremel to cut out the entrance hole. Now I'm using that same box for my young tegu.

 

[Floof]

I'll see what I can find then. I'm a little paranoid about the size thing, since, the last time I tried, the tub ended up being too small for my itty bitty male to turn around in (so he wouldn't touch it!), and I'm not a fan of wasting time, space (enclosure and storage), and perfectly good tubs "testing" to see what works... Haha. Guess I'll just have to be more careful what size tubs I get...

 

[kimby37]

Thank you. i have slate tiles so may try that instead. Just bought the dragon. Probable female hatched 5-28. Its a Cawley Red x Cawley Orange/Jemfire x Salmon Hypo. Not picking up dragon till the set up is complete. I cant wait

 

[Floof]

Congrats! I'm sure you'll absolutely love her.

 

[Seiryu]

I agree with what everyone said. I'd stay away from sand and stick with the slate tiles.

For the MVB, it really depends on your enclosure. Just remember, that with any MVB it's un-safe to go closer than 12" to the reptile. And usually once you hit 20+ inches away, the UVB drops off pretty significantly.

And with screen tops, if it's sitting on the screen you're losing about half the UVB output.

I did a custom lid to my 75 gallon tank for my beardy. Has a wood top, with a circular hole cut in the top. I then drilled the lid to the top, so the light goes directly on him and not through a screen.

Here's full View

As far as the roaches go. I got mine from Tom. I started with 111 Juvies/Adults in October. And now have almost 500 babies (with 100+ adults). I don't even smell them (usually it smells like apples/oranges anyways) and they live for a really long time. Haven't had one escape yet!

 

[kimby37]

Lots of people use sand. That's how its been done for a long time. Doesn't mean its good for them. People still keep baby tortoises on rabbit pellets with no water bowl either, doesn't make it right. The wattage on your bulb doesn't matter. The temperature of the enclosure and basking site is what matters. Everyones situation is a little different, so you'll just have to try one, check your temps and make adjustments.

For substrate, I never use sand for any reptile. It can cause eye and skin irritations and infections as well as pose a very real risk of impaction if they ingest too much of it. Whatever substrate you choose, make sure you feed them in a dish or plate of some sort to reduce the amount of substrate ingested. Often, I feed my lizards in a separate plain 18 gallon tub with nothing in it but the lizard and their food. Put the food in the gently set the lizard in there to eat.

Here's another tid bit you might not find elsewhere. Give him a proper humid hide to hang out in. It helps keep them hydrated by reducing how fast they lose their water and it helps when its time to shed too. The smaller they are the more important this is, but I offer it to adults too.

Tropical roaches are just better in every way. They don't stink, make noise, die for no reason or infest your house. Easy to feed and breed, so you never have to buy any once your colony gets going. Higher meat to shell ratio. Better size for Beardies. Etc...

So are you the one who sells them(roaches)? How much are they and what do you keep them in?

 

[kimby37]

I agree with what everyone said. I'd stay away from sand and stick with the slate tiles.

For the MVB, it really depends on your enclosure. Just remember, that with any MVB it's un-safe to go closer than 12" to the reptile. And usually once you hit 20+ inches away, the UVB drops off pretty significantly.

And with screen tops, if it's sitting on the screen you're losing about half the UVB output.

I did a custom lid to my 75 gallon tank for my beardy. Has a wood top, with a circular hole cut in the top. I then drilled the lid to the top, so the light goes directly on him and not through a screen.

Here's full View

As far as the roaches go. I got mine from Tom. I started with 111 Juvies/Adults in October. And now have almost 500 babies (with 100+ adults). I don't even smell them (usually it smells like apples/oranges anyways) and they live for a really long time. Haven't had one escape yet!

So could i cut a small hole in the screen so the light goes directly through?