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This may be a dumb Question?

Bob Kite

Bob Kite

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Hi guys, I have a question regarding proper caging for Beardies that I was hoping I may get some input on, I wanna first start off by saying that I do not currently own any dragons, but recently they have been catching my eye and I have thought that maybe in a few months I may pruchase some, but I wanna get input before I do. The question I have is this, If/when I do decide to purchase some dragons, I plan on using Animal Plastics caging for them, my question is in regard to heating, I know that they need UVB and that is not a problem, but I am more curious as to the general heat source they need, I wanted to know if the belly heat that AP routes into the bottom of their caging is sufficient as a heat/basking source, or will I NEED to have a heat bulb. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
i personally do not use any under tank heat on my bearded dragons,i just use a solar glo lamp that does both the uva/uvb,its easier for me to only have the 1 lamp instead of 2 but to each their own,some like the tube uvb,not saying they are bad because the repti-sun 10. uvb is a great bulb.what ever caging you decide on as long as they have a hot side and a cool side you should be fine.
 
They definitely need heat from above...and a BRIGHT basking light...not a red or blue that the pet stores will try to sell you. Look on almost any reputable breeders website and it will tell you. Good thing you asked...and NEVER rely on what the average pet store tells you,they are almost always way off unless they specialize in reptiles.
 
Thanks for the comments guys, my expertise has been pretty much limited to ball pythons and geckos of sorts, all of which I house in racks, but beardies have become a new fascination of mine and I have contemplated for awhile on getting a few, I just want to make sure I have it right before I do, I spare no expense when it comes to my animals well being and that includes the valuable information from you guys who set the industry standard... I know not to listen to much of what the average pet store worker says, which is why I am here asking you, the experts. thanks.
 
I use a lil mini bottom pad r-5 I think and top uv bulb during the day.I dont know what everyone else likes but I use the Calcium sand for Beardies so they always get calcium.When I use newspaper then I sprinkle the greens and Crickets with Calcium powder They are way cool!
 
angie.h said:
They definitely need heat from above...and a BRIGHT basking light...not a red or blue that the pet stores will try to sell you. Look on almost any reputable breeders website and it will tell you. Good thing you asked...and NEVER rely on what the average pet store tells you,they are almost always way off unless they specialize in reptiles.
Click to expand...

Yeaah, alot of pet stores just want to make their sales. They'll sit there and try to sell you a day bulb, night bulb, uvb strips AND a mercury vapor bulb.

I went to a store out in bufu that has a HUGE reptile department, tell me why a kid that worked there was telling a customer that he can house a terrestrial snake with an arboreal... idiot.

Just a nice little incandescent bulb that puts off enough heat will do and the uvb strip for sure :thumbsup:
 
I'm not familar with that cage type but for sure you want a basking bulb. Even if your heats fine with the cages built in system beardies are sun worshipers so they want to sit under a bright light and bask during the day. It doesnt even have to be a "basking" bulb from the pet store. Just be sure if you get a normal house bulb that its not soft white or yellow and that the wattage is high enough so that your basking spot gets hot enough. Some people recommend as high as 110 but I think as long as your in the 95-105 range your good. That said you should have a cool side that gets down to at least 80 if not 75.

Hope that helps
 
If you are going to use AP, look into some sort of overhead heat for the basking spot, especially if you are going to use a tube type light for UVB. I am not sure if AP has radient heat panels but that is also an option as well.
 
Marleysbeard said:
I'm not familar with that cage type but for sure you want a basking bulb. Even if your heats fine with the cages built in system beardies are sun worshipers so they want to sit under a bright light and bask during the day. It doesnt even have to be a "basking" bulb from the pet store. Just be sure if you get a normal house bulb that its not soft white or yellow and that the wattage is high enough so that your basking spot gets hot enough. Some people recommend as high as 110 but I think as long as your in the 95-105 range your good. That said you should have a cool side that gets down to at least 80 if not 75.

Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Actually, the bulb has to be coated with that Neodyium phosphorus stuff. I forget where I read it from, but they did a study with normal "household" bulbs being used to heat beardies. The lizards ended up getting snow-blindness.

The term "full spectrum' means nothing. Buy a reptile bulb. I like to use the Mercury Vapor Bulbs for large enclosures.
 
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