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 #2095025


Livinglizard
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 Need some advice!

I know I have another post but this Forum is the only one I going to use for now on, not that there’s anything wrong with the others just get get Confused at what comes from were LOL, and I am going to try to use only this post LOL.

My question is can I drape Rex’s enclosure with a sheet or blanket at night? See when it starts getting dark I shut off the basking light and when it is dark I turn off his linear bulb you trying to copy the outdoors but the problem is Rex is in a high traffic area ( the living room) and the light get turned on and off till around 11 pm and I’ve seen him with his eyes open I know its hard to sleep for him, he does sleep in his hide but keeps his head out for some reason don’t know why but if I throw a dark sheet over the enclosure he wouldn’t get woke up at night and maybe be a little happier. Just wondering if if would be alright or bad for him don’t know so I ask just trying to keep my little buddy as happy as I can because I love him.

P.S. they say a dog is man’s best friend but mine is Rex LOL!!
11/13/09  02:06pm

 #2095031


SBM_Beardie
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095025


 Need some advice!

yeah its okay to do that. You can even put a rag over him. And its really okay to make diff. post lol. I was just saying u posted 3 all basically consecutive to each other lol.



11/13/09  02:32pm

 #2095033


Newfgal
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   Message To: SBM_Beardie   In reference to Message Id: 2095031


 Need some advice!

Quote:

My question is can I drape Rex’s enclosure with a sheet or blanket at night



Definately! For my beardies that are Brumating, I have blankets covering their enclosures, any light at all and mine will not sleep! lol...

And hey, if you have questions about anything and need help, make all the posts you want, you do not have to keep them in the same thread, and if you do, we may never see your new question :)

Nancy
11/13/09  02:46pm

 #2095034


DragonMyr
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095025


 Need some advice!

Yes, covering the cage is a good idea. This will block light and muffle sound which should help your beardie sleep better. They seem to be relatively light sleepers. My beardie, Taz, also sleeps like yours when he curls up in a cave. I went out and bought a brown-colored hand towel to cover him with. Sometimes I form caves with it too. Taz is hibernating right now and is actually "tucked in" under his "blankie". I find that he gets very brightly colored when sleeping under it so it must help. Beardies go to bed much earlier than the typical person, and everyone knows sleeping dragons don’t like to be disturbed! Go ahead and cover up your cage or just your beardie. Be careful to remove the coverings before the lights come on!
11/13/09  02:49pm

 #2095136


Livinglizard
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   Message To: DragonMyr   In reference to Message Id: 2095034


 Need some advice!

OK very good then because I started doing it last night LOL. Hay What should night time Temp. be for some reason I think mine is to low and if it is can I use a 75 watt black light heat bulb I use them for my cricket tubs, I’m breeding them to feed Rex and my Fence lizards cheaper LOL Crickets can get expensive LOL OK and one more thing I have know idea how to get Beardies to hibernate so I need a little help on that. OK I’m done. LOL just wanted to get this right. Later.


David
11/13/09  09:09pm

 #2095199


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095136


 Need some advice!

As long as the temps do not drop below 60-65f, no heat at night. They need the cooler temps to beable to shut down properly, heat at night will just cause alot of stress for beardies.

This should help you with Brumation :)

Once mature, {after one year of age}, Bearded dragons will usually go into a "shut down" period. They will become inactive, hidden in shelters, or laying on the ground and eating very little if at all. If raised indoors, babies hatched out in the summer will not have a shut down period until the following year, {at about 18 months of age}, but at times they may choose to sleep for a very short time, a few days...

During winter shut down, dragons must be kept at cooler temperatures, 60-70f at least, and no higher. If you cannot get to these temps, one thing you could do is place the tank on the floor to achieve cooler temps. Basking lights should be reduced to 75-80f, and left on only 8-10 hours a day, until you can completely shut them all off... Alot of people worry their dragons are getting sick during shut down, but it is quite normal for them to act this way in the winter months. Winter shut down can last from a few weeks to a five months. If a bearded dragon is healthy and paracite free, they will lose little to no weight during this period, and will remain in good condition, and will show no signs of disease, such as sunken eyes, gaping or twitching. One things that should be done befor shut down is to reduce, then eliminate food for the dragon about one week befor the onset of cooler temps. The owner can wait and observe the dragon closely, and then create shut down conditions, as soon as the dragon shows signs of reduction in activity and food intake.

At the end of winter shut down, you will notice a shift in behaviors following the increase in heat and lighting. They will return to normal as soon as they start to bask and eat again...If they wake and refuse to eat, it is quite normal as at times it sometimes takes a few days for them to eat again...



Nancy.



11/14/09  06:18am

 #2095210


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2095199


 Need some advice!

Thank you Nancy that helps me out never new it was so easy not realy much to know LOL.


David
11/14/09  08:18am

 #2095213


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095210


 Need some advice!

Your welcome, and good luck :)

Nancy
11/14/09  08:27am

 #2095214


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095210


 Need some advice!

Ok I’ve heard alot of stuff about what to put on the bottom of an enclosure, what is the best. I have Crushed and grounded Walnut shells, but there is Calcium sand, sandbox sand. So what would everyone suggest? One pet store owner told me the best is Calcium sand, and another told me Walnut shells, but I keep hearing about sandbox sand on this site? Confused!!


David
11/14/09  08:28am

 #2095227


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095214


 Need some advice!

Never use calcium sand, ever, due to the taste of the calcium which beardies love, and once they eat enough of it, it klumps in their intestines causing blockage, and at times even death. Walnut shell is basicly the same, it just can’t be passed correctly leaving the beardie impacted or dead...With the calcium also, I have noticed with both my clutches of babies, every time I dust the feeders and they eat them all up, they will run over to the calcium dust on the bottom and lap it up until it’s all gone, they love the taste. I have my babies on washed and sifted childrens playsand, which has to be sifted again due to tiny pebbles in it. Temps must be kept and 110-115f for playsand, and the beardie must stay well hydrated as well due to the high temps....I have used playsand off and on for years with never having a problem, you just need to make sure the husbandry is perfect.

Nancy
11/14/09  09:19am

 #2095235


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2095227


 Need some advice!

Ok how would I sift the sand? I keep my Basking temp right about 113*F But in order to do this I have to use two lamps One is a 100W UVB Zoo Med Spot lamp and the other is a 75W Critter Culture heat basking heat lamp without uvb/uva I also have a 10.0 flo. bulb that covers across the whole tank I’m thinking 15W. The two Basking lamps makes it covenant to copy the outdoors (aka) sunrise, mid day, and sunset. LOL I will be losing the Walnuts for Rex’s new home and be putting in play sand thanks to you. By the way Humidity is it low and easier the keep low in play sand, because I think Walnut shells draws moister or some thing I’ve managed to keep it from got above 55% but lowest I’ve got is 40% I’ve tried sun drying it I’ve tried baking it 350 for 20 mins and still no results.

Thanks Nancy

David
11/14/09  09:38am

 #2095244


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095235


 Need some advice!

What I do to sift the sand is get one of those pasta sifters at wal mart, just get the one with the small holes to keep the tiny rocks from falling back into the sand, works like a charm, lol...

35-40% humidity is good for beardies, they do need some, and no, the sand will not make the humidity to high unless it’s really wet, I always let mine dry out a few days as well, or just bake it...

Nancy
11/14/09  10:09am

 #2095351


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2095244


 Need some advice!

Well I got some sand and put it on black plastic outside in the sun for six hours while I was working on Rex’s new house by the way just got to seal it up and cover up some little gaps with caulk to keep crix from getting out drill some port holes in each side make hole for Basking lights and put strip light in but the inside came up a little short 47 7/8" long 27" tall and 14 1/2" wide. Instead of opening to glass in front can you make the top open just wondering if that’s alright? Let me know so I can determined if to frame the glass instead of making the doors?



11/14/09  06:14pm

 #2095356


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095351


 Need some advice!

Sounds good but the new enclosure should be at least 18" wide for a full grown dragon. You can have the top open, but will your beardie beable to see out of the front? I am sure he would like to beable to :)

Nancy
11/14/09  06:22pm

 #2095382


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2095356


 Need some advice!

Oh yes It’s a big hole in front right now waiting on a answer about Glass from a friend, but if he don’t have the right size I have some Plexiglas but it’s got a light brownish tint to it tried to clean it but still brown I don’t know if it would be ok or not I would like the Glass better but if he don’t have the right size then I will have to go with the Plexiglas I can’t afford to buy Glass it costs to much here so I’m hoping he has some. For the width I will make it wider not sure how but I will figure it out hows 20" sound!?


David
11/14/09  07:47pm

 #2095524


Newfgal
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   Message To: Livinglizard   In reference to Message Id: 2095382


 Need some advice!

20" for the width sounds good. The thing with beardies is they should beable to turn around in their enclosure with out touching the sides, and if they can, you know it’s time to upgrade, lol...Thats great he will beable to see out the front to, sounds good. I hear ya about glass, it is very expensive! For Plexiglas here where I live, it’s 100$ per sheet! Yikes! I wanted to use it for my beardies enclosures, but all of them being 6 feet long, it would have costed me a small fortune! I am glad I went with the screen :)

Nancy
11/15/09  06:53am

 #2095637


Livinglizard
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2095524


 Need some advice!

You can do a screen front I didn’t know that. I can get that cheap. How do you keep the heat inside for him? That’s a big area to just stay open for heat to get through OK got to finish sifting the sand I have about 75 pounds of sand for the enclose sounds like a lot but it’s really not LOL.


David
11/15/09  03:45pm


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