Bearded Dragon Advice

robert_harper_2000

Hi I'm looking for a bearded dragon kit. What are your thoughts on the following
Vivarium VX Vivexotic 122x47x52.5cm £132.49
Double Light Start Exoterra £42.48
Exo terra Light 10% UV £29.31
Exo terra Light 2% UV £23.99

Basking Bulb Exoterra 150w £7.04
Arcadia Bulb lamp holder £16.49 - there is no protective case though?

Yellow Substrate £9.90

Calcium + D3 90g £3.06

2 x Liquid Crystal Thermometer £3.36 x 2

Habitstat Temp Thermostat £38.15

Water Dish Small £5.00
Large Food Dish £9.19

Beardie 17cm-25cm £80

Den
Decor
Book
Locks.

What else, any advice?

chelle230

we used to keep beardies.
all sounds fine to me, apart from the substrate, is it sand?? if so they can become impacted.
we used to keep ours on newspaper, which is absolutely fine, and cheap too. a lot of rep keepers use paper.
don't worry about the lamp holder not having a guard, it's not necessary with beardies, it's more for snakes, etc. which will climb up and get burned.

good luck with keeping them, they are a fab pet.

go to www.rfuk.co.uk too, they are brilliant for advice, etc.
you will also get your beardie cheaper than £80, they have a classifieds section, well worth looking at for your set up and equipment

robert_harper_2000

Just worried if the bulb were to get knocked over or sth. It could set the place on fire or burn the beardie. The beardie would be 17cm-25cm so not baby beardie; so the sand would it still be a prob? Just I want it looking good and newspaper is abit... tatty looking lol

Cheers for the site I'll get reading now

chelle230

I understand what you're saying about the newspaper, but a lot of rep keepers won't touch sand as it can be eaten and cause impaction in babies and adults.
there may be other options, been a while since we kept reptiles so can't think now, I know we used reptibark for them sometimes, but can't think if we did for the beardies.
the light will be high enough not to be knocked by the beardie, but if you are worried, you can add a guard yourself, or make one from some mesh.

just re-read your op, if it's not a baby, a den isn't really necessary, supply plastic plants and bark for climbing, most will sleep up on a log/piece of bark anyway

Rev

I'm sure you'd rather have it look a bit tatty and have a healthy beardie than use sand and have an ill beardie.

Friend of mine has a beardie, she uses tiles in the bottom of his viv, not glossy ones, ones like paving slabs (in texture I mean, not in thickness lol). Cost a few £ to get them cut to size to fit the viv. Look nice and neat.

Also, I'm jealous, I'd love a beardie, they're fantastic.

Elle7

Sand isn't recommended for any reptiles, due to the risk of impaction. People use newspaper, but I agree it looks rubbish. You can get other materials, such as jungle flooring, which looks quite good.

If you've got a reptile shop near you, check out what they are using. If not, I'll dig out some websites which sell a whole range of substrates to suit your theme.

As long as the bulb is secure, and out of reach of the beardie, I think that would be fine, or find one with a cover to be certain.

Enjoy your beardie, they make lovely pets!