just rescued a beardie

[ScorpZion]

hello all, just rescued a bearded dragon have never had opne before. it is around 1 foot and housed in a 20 gallon long tank. with a heat dome and infrared bulb, and a uvb tube. he/she is extremely aggressive is this normal? any suggestions would be much appreciated. he was very hungry as he charged my hand thinking food. i gave him around 12 crikets and set up his enclosure furniture so he can bask properly. please get back to me asap

 

[GailC]

Good for you, sounds like the poor thing has been neglected. Here is a good care sheet, http://www.kakadudragons.com/caresheet/caresheet.php and I recommend joining http://www.beardeddragon.org/bjive/index.php

beardies usually aren't aggressive but will be if not handled when young, it will take time but you can tame him down. In the mean time is important to get a proper sized cage and get him on a good diet. More links to help you out.
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

 

[Wicked1z]

My adult eats over 50 crix a day. So it is possibly starving. Every other day you need to mix it food up and give it some greans.

 

[Scorp guy]

A 20 gallon tank for a foot long bearded dragon wont be big enough, a 50-60 would work much better, the bigger the better.

 

[8legs2shave]

He/she needs a bigger house and more food. I used to have beardies and like the above poster said, the adults could eat at least 50 crickets a day and greens.

 

[ScorpZion]

ok so i guess im going to build a enclosure with plexi glass with Around sixfoot ground space? so sorry i feel like such a nub!!! lol

 

[Wicked1z]

you need 8 ft of floor space for an adult dragon. here is a popular cage that everone is buildind and is very easy to build. I have 2 of these allready and am building one more this summer. http://www.timelessspirit.com/enclosure.html

 

[ScorpZion]

ok so im probally going to build that enclosure. will the beardie be happy in it? it looks nice and big. also for all you beardie owners how many vrikets do you keep on hand? they require like 50-60 crixs a day plus salad. i iffically messured him from head to tail he/she is 11.75 inches. so a 20 gallon long is deff too small. i have the temps right and am just waiting untill pay day to build the cage.

 

[atavuss]

I kept an adult male in a 60 gallon (5' long x 18" deep x 18" tall) reptile style glass enclosure with a sliding screen lid for 10+ years (he died last year of old age). this is a store bought unit, a lot easier than messing with building one yourself.

 

[ScorpZion]

would a 40 l breader tank be adaquit?

 

[Wicked1z]

personaly I wouldnt think so. I built both my cages for around 80 dollars and I cant even get a store bought tank that cheap. I am tring to stop keeping crix on hand they stink. I am moving mine to roaches this summer.

 

[ScorpZion]

ok i just got the melamine cut for the box in that link. my design is goin to differ a little, my frame is goin to be on the inside.

 

[lychas]

a 6ft can easly house a breeding pair of beardies so it would be good enough 4 one

 

[ScorpZion]

Ok try not to laugh but i kinda accomplished my goal. it looks really ruff but it wont be its getting all trim work done, and alot of work inside to do aswell. but compared to what the guy had him in id say it a good trade off. anyway here is my crooked and ugly rendition.

 

[Wicked1z]

I think it looks good

 

[ScorpZion]

omg i think im goin to smah my head on a wall. i hope that 2x4 i snot pressure treated...... it not green but very dark. i had to rip all the frasme out the first time i bhuilt it because i used the green 2x2 for the frame and found out you cant use the stuff lol. so fingers crossed that its not pressure treated.

Gui