Getting a Baby Bearded Dragon!

[Austin S.]

I've done butt loads of research, but anyone have any suggestions or anything? Anyone have something to share that would later on down the road made yours more healthier than others?

 

[P. Novak]

If it really is a baby, don't keep it on any other substrate besides newspaper till it gets older. Impaction and various other problems come from it. Also, while younger bearded dragons are more carnivourous, once they get older they start eating almost nothing else but greens.

 

[sydward]

yeah. use newspaprer...paper for printing is what i prefer becuase it is a bit cleaner....i use paper towles right now...i have a baby beardy too...he just got done with the horrible impaction but with a few warm baths and some loving belly massages..he passed a HUGE chalky pooh....and he regained his energy...it was from me using the wrong substrate....calci-sand...its a BIG no no!!!which i found out.

 

[Austin S.]

I'm actually going to be getting two most likely. The owner sais they hatch about 4 weeks ago. I already have a 29 gal. aq. set up in the front room with pieces of drift wood settup for basking, is that a no no as well, being that the are small? Do they need to bask still, do they need wood to rest on, no sand but only paper or newspaper, feed only small soft bodies prey until they get bigger, umm... what else?

do you think I need to put them into something smaller? I have it setup perfect and would really like it if they could be in it. I could take a picture if needed...

 

[Austin S.]

I went ahead and took the pic. Here is the settup I was planning to use, but only has the basking wood and heat lamp, nothing else:

 

[sydward]

well...i have never kept two together an i wouldnt try it...when they get older they might fight...i have a friend that has bigger ones..so i learn from his mistakes such a big tank might be okay for now though if they are little...yes they still need to bask...even wrong temps can cause impaction, and thats a leading cause to death in the little fellers....a rock for basking might be better, because it will stay warm(feel the rocks out side on a warm day in the sun) but sticks can do it to, just not as good. dont use a heat rock, could burn the fellers.also dont feen them any food larger than between their eyes..it too could cause impaction...

 

[sydward]

that should be fine but i would put paper(paper toels do well)down to help with the cleaning of the tank...just remove and add more..haha

 

[sydward]

actually...i have horrible news..my beardy hasss passed..i think it was the impaction..i just got up to go look at him, and he wasnt moving...so please dont use sand..or feed him to large of food...i really thought he was doing better...he was regaing strenght olding is self up...moving around...i dont know what happend...

 

[Austin S.]

that should be fine but i would put paper(paper toels do well)down to help with the cleaning of the tank...just remove and add more..haha

Okay. Thank you very much. Maybe when they get bigger. I'll just put a divider in it, and hopefully that'll solve any disputes.

 

[Austin S.]

actually...i have horrible news..my beardy hasss passed..i think it was the impaction..i just got up to go look at him, and he wasnt moving...so please dont use sand..or feed him to large of food...i really thought he was doing better...he was regaing strenght olding is self up...moving around...i dont know what happend...

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you can find another one, take care my friend!

 

[Austin S.]

Oh and one more thing. Do I need to powder the little prey with nutrients before feeding? I heard that is always good to do.

 

[sydward]

yes..calcium/d-3 suppliments are good..but when buying vitamins and minreals...buy them in a sepret container...the two together are not good..the degrade each other...

 

[Austin S.]

Do you need a water dish as well?

 

[P. Novak]

Do you need a water dish as well?

It's good to have one just in case, but the best thing to do would be to mist the little guy directly each morning and give him a little bathing about 2 times a week.

 

[Austin S.]

One more thing, how often do you feed them? And when you do feed them, how many pey items should they be getting?

 

[P. Novak]

At a small size I'd feed him everyday until he/she was full.

 

[Choobaine]

allright, if you keep two, keep them in seperate tanks when they reach sub adult, or earlier if they show any signs of agression. if they are togther and one takes dominance it will stress the other and stop it from eating. I've seen this happen before, it can break into quite nasty fights too.

every day feed until full (with most anyway, many will allow themselves to be overfed, and that is kinda possible for small dragons), as was said before, offer small food with supplements three times a week or so, depending on what you're using. as the dragon grows it will poop less frequently, offer the likes of dandelion greens or kale more and more as they grow, they love that stuff!

sometimes they will go off food for a day or two, don't worry about that
for liquid I actually let mine drink from a needless syringe, he knows it means water now
they are tame, pleasant reptiles capable of basic learning, they are great fun to have

oh and don't forget

it's of VITAL importance!!

ENJOY!!

 

[Austin S.]

I got them tonight, here are some pictures!

 

[Austin S.]

How long do you leave the heat lamp on during the day? Isnt it something like 9-12 hours?

 

[P. Novak]

They look great Austin! Wait till they get bigger, awesome lizards! I use to leave the lights on for 12 hours for my beardie, and I do the same with my tegu and monitor now.