u/Melodia-su — reddlx

Hello,

I'm technically not a first time bearded dragon owner in a way. My mother had 1 so far and didn't really allowed me to take care of them (or didn't listen to my warnings- ). HOWEVER - as I saw the standards have changed over time (Same with my wallet whose soul is about to be taken) and this will for real be the first that I'll be the main person to take over (Or perhaps this one will 100% be mine) . So I'm going all in. Upgrades and everything on my terms. 😎✨

At the moment I'm doing some research/double checking before I start buying stuff. So far I've been searching around and found most of my answers from videos here and there, plus from the bit of experience that I had. With all different options, I came here to see what you guys think about it ! Plus to see how accurate I (still) am so far.

🐉A summary in case you don't want to read the essay (which I don't blame no one, I wish I can make this shorter)🐉:

Basically, I have a hopefully basic list of stuff that I might buy (in the very bottom). In this case , I'm planning on buying a 120 Gallon that I'll most likely get from Dubia Roaches or Zen Habitats . After that from there on I just want to make sure that my research is accurate before I start buying the stuff.

I'm also having some bad issues with the heating when it comes to the gradient part of this and really want to improve on it before I get the Bearded dragon. Like a ...2nd pair of eyes.

I also want to see how others set up their enclosures for them so I can hopefully be accurate as much as I can. I'll also take up any recommendations, in the case I missed anything.

-🐉-

Now the long version, I'll quote every question that I have:

- Set Up Planning -

I had some experience with the 40 gallon ( Horrible ! The audacity!) , but I plan on buying a 120 gallon that has a front opening. This should hopefully be less stressful for the little homie. My first of many questions is ...

>If one can start a juvenile in a 40 gallon (If correct) and then eventually upgrade to a 120 gallon, would it be a good idea to completely start the juvenile dragon in the 120 gallon from there on?

> Substrate

At this moment I am planning to start them off with the Zen Mat from Zen Habitat. Then as they get used to their surroundings (or maybe a set quarantine period) and get older , I'm stuck between slate / ceramic tiles or a mix of Organic Top Soil/Reptisoil, excavator clay and play sand.

One hand , from what I heard the tile is good for their nails. On the other hand the soil mix is more in tune with their wild surroundings and plus I heard they like digging.. I think. In this case I want to see which option might be better or if I got the soil mix formula correct...Leaning towards the formula.

However for now, the Zen Mat is my starter.

> Hides and Decorations

I plan to have 2 hides for the hot and cool side and for the middle I'm thinking about adding a large driftwood. Perhaps even a ramp or so. I'm not sure what types would be best for each locations, since I'm still searching along and will most likely make a few drawings for design.

As for decorations I heard about these magnetic ledges that can be put to the back of the enclosure and adding some plants in it ( Fake for the mat and tile , real for the soil from the Biodude). Again still looking into it, but I don't mind any recommendations/suggestions here.

> Lighting and Heat

Finally the part that I'm struggling with a bit is the lighting and heat.

>With a 120 gallon, I plan on getting a 34" inch UVB Fixture from Arcadia with a T5 HO Bulb for them too...Would a 14% be a good idea ? Or a 12 %?

As for heating , I think any might do with the dome part..Not sure but with the bulb I think a halogen / a normal basking bulb for reptiles. However I need to double check to see if 100-150 W is still good for them.

Now ,my main 2 problems for those is ....

> How do I maintain a gradient with the temperature?

I'm having a hard time with this since I have a feeling with the way I set it up will make it so that the temperature though out, which I really don't want that at all. :(

>Also how do I hang up these 2 lights from the inside?

I want them to get the best lighting as they can and I want to master the way I check for these temperatures as well.

I will be buying a new for thermometer gun but I'm a little lost on the gauges so I would like some recommendations for that if I can. Same thing would go for a digital timer that'll be easy to set up and change.

>Is there anything else I might need to measure this out with?

> Diet and dramatic watering

I think I know what I'm doing for the diet part, especially with the bug care of it all. For the fruits and vegetables, besides finding a quick guide , I plan on making like...A salad plan for them. Which I need to build that up more before getting started. However I have a question about the vitamins.

>I know the food usually needs to be dusted with calcium (I'll most likely use the D3 one, please correct me if I'm wrong) , however are there any other vitamins should I be concerned about?

Also a dramatic thing on my end..Maybe dramatic - I'm aware that some of these dragons are stubborn with their greens and water. Previously with the slight experience I tried to tick one with bugs under the greens but...I think that lizard was smart. I also just waved the greens around like crazy, it was 50/50. So I'm wondering.

I saw a few things that people tend to sprinkle on top of the greens like bee pollen, flower toppers and flavored calcium.

>Just to double check, which one would be safest for them ? Is there something else I can add to make them just the slightest interested?

Now the potentially dramatic part ...The water.

I saw a video or few about giving them a water fountain since they like moving stuff which makes sense in a way.

>Would you guys think that's too much on my part? I know some refuse to drink their water as much and want to make sure they stay hydrated. 😭

> Other Stuff

For this final section, I have a list of things that I also plan on buying for the bearded dragon as a whole. Based on all the stuff I saw and read. Needed to make sure it's accurate before I start buying.

• F10SC RTU Veterinary Disinfectant (Or a reptile safe cleaner)

• Thermometer Gun

• Timer

• Digital temperature and humidity gauges x2

• 2-3 Hides

• Rocks and/or climbing branch

• Substrate of choice

• Background (Or one of those foggy stickers?? Most likely background)

• New UVB Fixture and Bulb

• Basking Bulb and dome

• Reptisafe (for the water)

• Large Bug Keepers x2

• Small tub and soft toothbrush (Bathing)

>Is this list correct? Should be something that I need to add or remove?

I'll take on any suggestions and recommendations before getting started. Most likely I'll start the buying during the summer.

**I'll most likely make another post about a cage design in draw just to double check everything eventually. I plan on buying the bearded dragon itself last( if allowed) . :)

Hello,

I'm going to be a first time snake owner and I'm most likely going for a Rosy Boa (If the 40 gallon is good, if not then I'll see of I can go bigger or find a different snake)

At the moment I'm doing some research before I start buying stuff. So far I've been searching around and found most of my answers from "TheBioDude" , "ReptiFiles" and a few tiktoks/YouTube videos here and there. I see that they all have different options, so I came here to see what you guys think about it ! Plus to see how accurate I am so far.

I'm sorry for this essay but I'm in a deep thinking mode and I don't know how to make this shorter.

But just to summarize in case you guys don't want to read this long essay (I don't blame y'all):

-🐍-

Basically, I have a hopefully basic list of stuff (Bottom of post) that I might buy for a 40 Gallon that was given to me (and hopefully the right size for them). In this case , I just want to make sure that my research is accurate before I start buying the stuff. I'm also having some issues with the heating when it comes to the gradient part of this and really want to improve on it before I get the snake. Like a ..."2nd" pair of eyes.

I also want to see how others set up their enclosures for them so I can hopefully be accurate as much as I can. I'll also take up any tips and recommendations, in the case I missed anything.

-🐍-

Now the long version, I'll quote every question! :

- Set Up Planning -

I currently have a 40 gallon tank that has the sliding lid on the top ( I'll have to find something to guard the top) from my mother due to having a slight experience with a different reptile a while back.

> Substrate

With the substrate I noticed it's Aspen Chips , a mix of play sand and Reptisoil (or top soil). I also saw something from the ReptiFiles which made me slightly suspicious with the sand (I know that's bad for Bearded dragons, I think it might be bad for all reptiles at this point).

So far I saw that these were recommended as well:

Exo Terra Stone Desert
Zoo Med ReptiSand
Exo Terra Desert Sand
Zoo Med Excavator Clay

Most likely if I were to pick I might go with Aspen or play sand/soil mix.

However - small question here since I'm curious;

>Would be bad if I were to add those together? Like soil mix on the bottom and the Aspen on top. I know they need 3-4 inches to borrow regardless. I'll still go with the one that's most likely better for them before I do anything else.

>Also ,for humid hides; I heard some say they need it , some say they didn't need it. If needed could I get a container of some sort and fill it with a bit of soaked sphagnum moss?

> Hides and Decorations

I plan to have 2 - 3 hides , one on each side which is hot, middle , and cool side (with a water dish).

However I'm not sure what types would be best for each locations. Like cave style , rock stacks , flat ones (for heating side). I'm currently still looking into that part at the moment.

>As for decorations I heard about these magnetic ledges that can be put to the back of the enclosure but...Would that make sense for a snake? Other than that I'll most likely add some fake plants it. Again still looking into it, since I'm still a little lost on this part. 🙏

> Lighting and Heat

Finally the part that I'm struggling with a bit is the lighting and heat.

With the 40 gallon I have UVB fixture that's about 22" inches from Hygger Zoo and the bulb itself is from ZooMed ReptiSun. It's a 10.0 UVB T5 HO. I'm actually thinking about changing the fixture to Arcadia. Either another 22" or a 34" . Anything to give off a more powerful light but the thing is , how do I hang it from the inside? (This question goes the same for the basking light)

I recently heard that putting it over the screen gives off less light for it and I want to improve on that.

As for heating , I have a pretty large silver done with a clamp on it. I have a very slight experience with a Bearded dragon and for a while I was told 100-150 W was a standard.

>Would this be the same for a snake? Also how do I maintain a gradient with the temperature? I'm having a hard time with that too since it likes to stay the same temperature all around.

I will also be buying a new for thermometer gun but I'm a little lost on the gauges so I would like some recommendations for that if I can. Same thing would go for a digital timer that'll be easy to set up and change.

>My final question for this one is about a heating pad (or a Radiant Heat Panel) I saw that some said it's recommended and some say it isn't. If it's recommended where would I put it? 🤔 I just don't want to risk overwhelming the snake with too much heat , especially in the summer where it turns into hell itself in Florida. At the same time I am paranoid if it's not warm enough.

> Other Stuff

For this section, I have a list of things that I also plan on buying for the snake as a whole. Based on all the stuff I saw and read. Needed to make sure it's accurate before I start buying.

• F10SC RTU Veterinary Disinfectant (Or a reptile safe cleaner)

• Long soft tip tweezer

• Thermometer Gun

• Mister

• Digital Timer

• Digital temperature and humidity gauges x2

• 2-3 Hides

• Rocks and/or climbing branch

• Substrate of choice

• New UVB Fixture and Bulb

• Basking Bulb and maybe new basking dome

• Reptisafe (for the water)

• Maybe Tank Heat Pad or something related to it

• Repashy Calcium and/or D3 Calcium (Currently researching their diets at the moment)

>Is everything as accurate? Do I need to add or remove anything? I'll take on any tips, suggestions and recommendations! 🙏

**I'll most likely make another post (or just make a new comment here...I don't know how to update a post, I'm not on here too much :( ) about a cage design in draw just to double check everything eventually. I plan on buying the shake itself last( if allowed) . :)