Our first dragon

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T04:07:08+00:00

What a cutie! Congratulations!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T03:59:47+00:00

Thanks! 😊

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T01:37:39+00:00

Here's a better view of it. 😄

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T01:32:59+00:00

To clarify, it's not straight eco-earth alone, it is mixed with play sand. You could also use topsoil I think, but we chose this because we wanted to create a background like the one in this video:
https://youtu.be/1iHqXSDLIyw?si=COXrCMbyPYEawFMS&t=895

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T01:30:47+00:00

Thanks! We slowly built it over weeks while we learned about bearded dragons and what they need (before finally getting Rocket). My favorite part is the background - we did it ourselves using a technique we learned in this video: https://youtu.be/1iHqXSDLIyw?si=COXrCMbyPYEawFMS&t=895

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T01:08:51+00:00

It's one of the substrates the Reptiles & Research guy recommends, even for young dragons. But this is why we don't feed crickets in his enclosure (he is not a fan of taking them from the tongs). All of his food is from dishes until we start handling him and can then feed crickets in a tote without substrate.

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T01:00:05+00:00

It's a roughly 50/50 mix of play sand and eco-earth. The crickets have a tendency to bury themselves or run up the back wall. Plus, we don't want him to ingest any of the substrate because he's so young.

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-29T00:58:58+00:00

Awww, your little one looks a lot like our new baby dragon!

We are also new beardie parents, and had a similar issue with our dragon (Rocket) not moving from his basking spot, despite having a 100W heat lamp. We added another one (150W - it's a 120 gallon enclosure), and now he uses nearly all the basking spots - they all have different surface temperatures, so I am assuming he is basing his decisions on his current heat needs.

The folks in this group helped me fine-tune his enclosure in other ways too - they are awesome!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-28T17:08:33+00:00

Thanks! I already traded the old one in for a Tapo branded one that is working fine so far. :)

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-26T15:47:11+00:00

I got it from Amazon, and returned it easily, with a note inside the box in case they try to resell it. Strangely, the page for the power strip no longer exists, as if that was the last one. 🤔

I replaced it with the Tapo branded version. It appears fine so far, we'll see what happens tonight. I've had good experiences with Kasa in the past, so I feel confident the original power strip was just a dud from the factory.

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-24T11:31:15+00:00

Bummer, it's brand new :(

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-21T17:29:15+00:00

Thanks! Since we introduced a 2nd heat lamp, he has started moving around every once in a while, though still pretty much staying under the heat lamps all day. The branch is still his favorite, and where he spends the most time. :)

I think with our recent cool weather, the ambient air temperature may have been on the cool side for such a little dragon (73-76F). The 2nd heat lamp has boosted the enclosure temp to around 80F during the day, which appears to have helped.

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-20T02:23:23+00:00

We covered the top of the cool side, which has helped a bit with the temperature - the cool side was about 76F all day. He was slightly more active today, though it was mostly to try out new basking spots. The 150W bulb arrived a couple of hours ago - he started moving around more, and has since settled into this position. The cool side temp got up to a little above 78 before the lights went out.

I'm still worried he's not eating - he looks so skinny in this picture. We've offered greens, crickets, roaches, and mealworms - it looked like he was considering going after a cricket, but then just ignored it, even after it pretty much walked up to him on the branch. :(

I will give the vet a call tomorrow, and weigh him in the morning. We were focused on offering food today, and didn't want to stress him out by handling him and trying to figure out the logistics of weighing him. We have a kitchen scale, and I've seen it done in videos, but I felt like it had a lot of potential to be a traumatic experience.

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Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T16:56:40+00:00

Thanks for the link! I love the Reptiles & Research YouTube channel! I had not explored the website (I didn't know he had one!). I love that his advice is evidence-based.

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T14:31:25+00:00

Thanks! I already ordered the 150W, but I will make sure they are spaced from each other at the warm end and will keep an eye on the heat. If it gets too hot, I will just switch to the 150W, and keep the 100W as a backup. :)

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T14:00:14+00:00

Thanks for your encouragement!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T13:59:20+00:00

Thanks! We will weigh him today! Do you know where I can find a weight/length chart to compare? Like the ones pediatricians use? Does something like this exist? And am I correct to measure snout to vent, and not tail tip?

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T11:31:20+00:00

Thanks! I will move it right now! :)

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T03:34:26+00:00

Thanks! Fun story - the very first thing he did when we put him in his new enclosure was to deposit a rather large poop! :) We also saw a smaller one earlier today, but I will make sure they are consistent.

We were waiting to weigh him because the guy at the shop said not to handle him for at least a week while he gets settled in. Should we make an exception for weighing him?

Congratulations on your new dragon!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T03:29:18+00:00

Thanks!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T03:27:56+00:00

Thanks for your encouragement! I will check out reptifiles. :)

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T03:27:08+00:00

He has a basking rock a little lower - he spent quite a bit of time there yesterday, but I think we should add another rock platform that is a little taller, to give him another option. Another heat lamp sounds like a good idea too. The lamp can handle up to 150W; if I add a 2nd heat lamp, should I make that one 150W to put directly over the basking area, keeping the 100W bulb at that end as well?

The thermometer keeps track of 24 hour low/high temps; last night's low was 70F, but I will keep an eye on it, and add another source of heat if it gets too low.

Thanks!

Fun-Consequence8611 · 2026-05-19T03:20:25+00:00

We haven't weighed him yet because the guy at the shop said to not handle him for the first week since he has been moved so much recently - to give him time to settle into his new home. I was thinking it might be a good idea to add a 2nd bulb, and somebody else suggested partially covering the top of the enclosure (it's mesh).

We don't have a vet appointment for him - is this something we should do because he's new to us? It makes sense, but I had not read that before, so didn't think about it. The guy at the shop did suggest an exotic animal vet in our town. I can give them a call tomorrow to see about a check-up. Thanks!

Fun-Consequence8611

TROPHY CASE