lighting, and sand

Question
QUESTION: I have a juvenile bearded dragon, and the sales lady sold me a light she said gave him calcium, but he seems to always want to close his eyes, one at a time, or both. I don't know if this is normal or not, and I don't want to hurt him. The light is "repti glo 10.0 uvb 13w coil bulb" she also sold me sand, she said was edible and would not harm him in any way, but the more I research the more I see that it can be harmful to them, the sand is "all natural Reptilite calcium substrate"
thank you sooo much

ANSWER: Hello Jessica,

I hate to have to tell you but the "digestible" is a scam.  Sure, it is calcium based so that is true.  What they fail to tell you is when they ingest it, that it does not absorb well, & it clumps up like cement when it gets wet.  That will leave your reptile with a terrible impaction.  
I highly suggest that if you want to use sand, try the washed & sifted playsand that you can easily find at Home Depot or Lowes.  It is much safer, & doesn't clump when it gets wet.
The Reptiglo 10 coil bulb is not a good bulb, either.  Hagen, the company that developed the Reptiglo 10 tube & compact/coil lights, initially made the lights with the incorrect phosphor which emitted low wavelength frequency of UVB.  That is harmful & will cause or contribute to eye problems & health problem.  Personally, I don't like compact/coil lights because of the glare & they don't really put out enough UVB emissions for bearded dragons anyway.  I don't like any of the brands.  This is not the first compact/coil light that has caused problems though.  
It also does not put out the correct wavelength of UVB which is not conducive to D3 synthesis as well so he wont be able to absorb calcium very well, either.

I would recommend taking the light back for a refund, IF that is possible.  Ask if they have the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.  Do not let them sell you any compact or coil lights from Reptisun, at all.  If they do not have that, here is a link to where you can get it from online for a great price:

http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-rept

Until you can get a new UVB light, you can go ahead & turn the UVB light out & just keep the basking light on for him right now.  Are you using a bright white light for the basking light, or is it a colored light?  Once you get a new UVB light, you will need to make sure that the UVB tube light is placed directly beside the basking light, on one end of the tank for maximal exposure & basking area.  Since he is already closing his eyes off & on, the light is already bothering him.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie, thank you for answering, I'm using a regular 60watt light bulb for his basking light they said that was okay to use, but they seemed to not really know too much. Is that okay? and does the calcium light do the same thing the calcium dust you put on crickets does?

Answer
Hello Jessica,

Yes, the 60watt basking light is perfectly fine, as long as the temperatures are optimal.  It is a bright white light, correct?
The UVB light doesn't give calcium to them, but it allows their body to absorb the calcium properly by helping them to process & metabolize their vitamins more efficiently.  
So, by dusting the crickets with calcium 5 times per week, in combination with the UVB light, he should improve a lot for you.
Has he eaten today?

Tracie