I Bought a Bearded Dragon

Originally Posted by bradyloach

Thanks at least some support on herp center!! It's super rare

to be honest I'd much rather see impulse buys be made by people who atleast know the right place to look for info! Think about how many animals are sitting in cages that are too small, neglected, abused etc. Because they looked "cute" in the petshop. I have had rescued my fair share of these "rejects". I rescued a hamster, her nails where grown into her paw pads... The owners assumed their 6 year old was mature enought to care for her. "Flower" as we named her died in my hands 8 hours after she arrived here, atleast she was comfortable, warm and loved for her last moments.

Yeah! Some people are just rude!

In the same sense the animal could have gone home to someone with a preexisting knowledge base...there are two sides to the coin. I have nothing against Brady, I just figured he might have learned from the last time. Still, I believe he will be able to get things done, hopefully sooner rather than later

Yah, I'll get him some more stuff, basking temp is 109, I need a UVB tube getting one soon! Cool side temp is 72. Not to bad at all, I want tips not commands, sometimes you have to ask rather than tell. Example, when I first got my sav a lot of people told me what to do, that was so overwhelming that I almost brought her back, but some people on this forum like 3 of them out of 10 thousand actually helped me instead of getting angry at me for buying a pet, what if someone was pretty much yelling at you over buying a reptile the pet store said was easy? Not a good feeling!

Brady, these aren't tips, they are necessities. Like I stated in the first sav thread you posted, people are not trying to offend you, they are offering you raw facts in an attempt to help your animal(s). You need to put your feelings on the back burner and focus on the task at hand--no one is mad at you. UVB fluorescents are OK, but you must ensure the dragon is within 8-12" of them; This is why I recommended an MVB. The cool side temp at 72f is on the low side, it should be at 75f minimum and ideally closer to 80f.

Should I cover up the top of the screen with wood then?

You can for now, I suppose. I think shifting the current lights over a bit and adding another bulb (a higher wattage compact fluorescent--again, 6500K) would help boost ambient temps a couple degrees on the cool end as well. Also consider adding a Ceramic Heat Emitter or an IR bulb to maintain reasonable temps during the night cycle.

No you don't have to... They don't need a lot of humidity... It would help but not necessary... A lot of the heat is escaping through the glass as well... If you can line 3 side if it with isaltion board... Like blue board that might help a little as well... Or just getting another low wattage bulb for the other side... Hey don't worry about all the **** people try to give you! You bought it! You love it! And it's your life! Just pick through all the yelling and look at the facts you need to give this little guy the best life you possibly can! Everybody has to learn somewhere and some how! And the best way in my opinion is first hand! You could have read 1000 books and care sheets and I guarantee you wod still have Tina if questions after you got it hone!! Congratulations!

Yah! Thanks man! I have a sheet of wood all cut out anyways! I just fed him crickets, he's so fast!

Originally Posted by SonnysDragonS

Hey don't worry about all the **** people try to give you! You bought it! You love it! And it's your life! Just pick through all the yelling and look at the facts you need to give this little guy the best life you possibly can! Everybody has to learn somewhere and some how! And the best way in my opinion is first hand! You could have read 1000 books and care sheets and I guarantee you wod still have Tina if questions after you got it hone!! Congratulations!

I want to make it clear, before anyone else gets the wrong idea, that no one is 'yelling' at anyone in this thread. As for learning things first hand, that's one thing, but investing in an animal without any knowledge or preplanned setup is not the right way to go about doing so.