beardie setup ?

I am setting up a 125 gallon aquarium for 2 beardies and have a couple questions. As far as the basking lamp goes what is a good wattage to maintain the proper temperature? It will be set on top of the tank. Also, at the moment my tank has no screen top till I build one, could they possibly escape? The tank is 2' high, 2' deep and 4' long and the highest point they could reach is about a foot high. One more question are 4' long UVB/UVA fluorescent bulbs expensive? Could I get away with a 2 foot bulb?

Thanks!:confused:

Alright, first off, you will need a bigger cage for two beardies. That one is that bare minimum for just one, and even after that housing beardies together is not only not recommended but an extreme danger to their health. For a cage that big get a mvb bulb. - Matt

how is that too small of a cage? when all the reptile stores near me have babies in 10 gal tanks and are 3-4 in a tank?

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Originally Posted by furniture_guy

how is that too small of a cage? when all the reptile stores near me have babies in 10 gal tanks and are 3-4 in a tank?

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They have theirs in too small cages as well;) They will also be selling them. If you look half the time they will be missing toes or tips of their tails because of cage mates, and when they get older male and male will fight, male and female, male WILL breed female to DEATH, and female and female might work, but there are still dominance issues and it rarely works out. Two beardies need a 6x4x2 cage, and if you cannot provide it, then stick with one beardie. Just like humans they love space that they might not even use, if you were sharing a a bed room with lets say your wife, and you just got a new house, would you pick the smallest kid bedrooms or one of the bigger ones?

Ive kept my two in a 4 foot by 2 foot cage for years and they have more then enough room.For the uvb buy a powersun or a mecury vapor bulb from reptile supply,they work alot better for me rather then the tubes.

Thanks for the info on the tank size and lighting! One more question, I have a 50 watt repti heat cable will that provide enough heat through the glass and my astro turf substate? or would it be possible to put it between the glass and substrate?

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Alright, first off, you will need a bigger cage for two beardies. That one is that bare minimum for just one, and even after that housing beardies together is not only not recommended but an extreme danger to their health. For a cage that big get a mvb bulb. - Matt

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125 gal is bare minimum for one beardie?:confused:

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Originally Posted by Funky#2

125 gal is bare minimum for one beardie?:confused:

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Yup, one adult beardie. Much easier to build one though, cost about $100 to build one and set it up.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Yup, one adult beardie. Much easier to build one though, cost about $100 to build one and set it up.

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Once again the CARE SHEET provided on this site says the complete opposite, it's getting pretty confusing with all the contradicting information going around. This site's care sheet says a 40 gal is minimum for an adult, but 55 gal is prefered. I'm not implying who is right and who is wrong, but the differences are pretty significant.

A 55 gallon is more then big enough for one beardie.:D

Generally, with lizards, it's different than snakes. No tank for a lizard can be too big, but can be small. While with ball pythons, many tanks could be much too large.

I think 125 is a bit overboard.. but 55 is definitely preferred for an adult beardie. :]

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Originally Posted by Funky#2

Once again the CARE SHEET provided on this site says the complete opposite, it's getting pretty confusing with all the contradicting information going around. This site's care sheet says a 40 gal is minimum for an adult, but 55 gal is prefered. I'm not implying who is right and who is wrong, but the differences are pretty significant.

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Judy is having me look over it and change things;) I wouldnt go under a 75 gallon at the very least. You should know not to trust just one caresheet, no matter who it comes from. bp.net did not write it, a member did.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Judy is having me look over it and change things;) I wouldnt go under a 75 gallon at the very least. You should know not to trust just one caresheet, no matter who it comes from. bp.net did not write it, a member did.

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But bp.net did approved it.

Either way its good that they are making the adjustments that are needed.

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Originally Posted by Funky#2

But bp.net did approved it.

Either way its good that they are making the adjustments that are needed.

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All in all its a good caresheet, there is just a few things that needed to be changed. Bp.net did aprove it but bp.net is not a beardeddragon forum. Like I said for the most part its a great caresheet, and ive submitted the changes to judy and im waiting for a reply.

Two dragons should NEVER be kept together. You never know when one might turn on the other, even as babies when I got mine the place had her with two other cage mates ripped out her back toe nail and it never grew back, as well as bit 3 inches of her tail off. Please, do not take the chance!

Housing juvie\adult beardies together is possible, but not recommended, espeically for beginners. It can stress them out (even seeing other lizards in the same room) and in some cases, lead to fights, wounds, and death.

40 gal breeder tanks are fine as a min. If you can build your own or otherwise go bigger, that is great. They are not climbers, so go for floor space over higher sides (breeder tanks are great in this way).

MVB rocks. Basking spot heat and UVB all in one.

If I were you, I'd get another 120 and keep them separate. Beardies normally live alone in the wild, and do not get along well with others. There are, of course, exceptions.

Be safe and get a big screen to place over the top, weighing it down with a rock (or the lamps will work).

For UVA/UVB, you'll want to either go with a ReptiSun 10.0 (http://www.reptilesupply.com/product...roducts_id=555) (make it 36", not much smaller), or a MegaRay (http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-...d-uvb-lamp.php) of whatever wattage you desire. Other UV light manufacturers are untrustworthy and the lights don't work properly and can hurt your Beardie.

Best of luck to you, and keep the questions coming!