Bearded Dragon First Timer

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I will be getting a BD soon, this is the first time I will ever be owing a BD, would you please help me in what are all the things I need to buy - everything, before I bring this little guy home, he is only 1.5months old and I am a little scared that I might do something wrong, there is just too much information on the internet , please help
thanks
Taryn

ANSWER: Hello Taryn,

Wow you are getting a tiny tiny dragon!  When will you be getting him?  
How much money do you have to spend on his total setup?

I would start with a 30 gallon tank, so you wont have to upgrade to a larger one until he is an adult, around 10+ months.  Or, if you start with a larger one, just partition it to a smaller area so it doesn't overwhelm him at first.
Do not use loose substrate for a baby.  My recommendations are non adhesive shelf liner, paper towels, tiles, or butcher's paper.  He will not get impacted on any of that.  
You will need to decide what type of UVB light you want.  You have 2 choices.  You can use either a flourescent tube light or a mercury vapor bulb.  However, you can only use a mercury vapor bulb if your tank is a 30 gallon or larger.
The best flourescent UVB tube bulb is the Reptisun 10.  You can buy that from here for a great price:
http://www.petmountain.com/category/286/1/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs.html

They also have a flourescent tube light fixture as well for you to get.

Do not get any Reptiglo flourescent tubes, or compacts.  Do not get any compact or coil lights from any brand.  Do not get any  Zilla lights or ESU lights.  

If you decide on a flourescent tube bulb, you will need to use a bright white basking light in combination with it such as a halogen flood bulb & place it directly beside the UVB tube light.  The tube bulbs can be 6-8 inches from your dragon.

If you decide to use a mercury vapor bulb then you will need to get a ceramic based light fixture that looks like a dome.  Get the 10 inch so that the light wont be sticking out in front of the face of the dome fixture.  
A great mercury vapor bulb is the Megaray & you can get that light here:
http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100-watt-self-ballasted-flood-uvb-lamp.php

You will also need some calcium & a vitamin.  The repcal calcium is a great calcium supplement, & the herptivite vitamin is the best vitamin around, too.

As far as measuring the temperatures, you will need a digital probe or a temp gun for best accurate readings.  

Let's start with this.  Jot all of that down, do some research on that to decide what you want, &  we will go from there.  There is not a whole lot left.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Hi Tracie, thank you so much for your advice, at the moment we are buying
Black Bearded Dragon - going to name him/her "Marley"
Infared Light 50 watt
Basking Lamp 50 watt
UV-B Light Energy Saving BULB or Fluorescent
Crickets
Driftwood
Food Bowl
Water Bowl
Tank 3 FT
Calcium for crickets (once a week)
White pebbles until 3 months
All this info I got from the the pet shop where we are buying the little guy, im soooooooo excited i cant wait to spend all my time with "Marley" they are just tooooo gorgeous, hope all of the things above are right ? we still have to get the tank decorations but we will buy all the things set it up first then get the little guy any ideas for tank decor for him / her ?
Thanks
Taryn


Answer
Hello Taryn,

You do not need an infared basking light.  The bright white basking light is plenty.  They do not do well under colored lights.  The basking light that you got from the petstore is ok, but a 50watt may not be warm enough to get the basking temps to 95-110.  I use a halogen & they work very well & are cheaper than reptile basking lights.
What brand of flourescent tube UVB light did you get?  
The calcium will need to be given 5 times per week to ensure that he is getting plenty of calcium for his growing bones.  
Do not use loose substrates, & that includes rocks, pebbles, etc.  An accident can happen with that.  You would be surprised what types of things they can swallow!  
So, please do not use the pebbles.  Use tiles, paper towels, or non adhesive shelf liner.  
Don't forget to get a digital probe thermometer, or a temp gun to monitor the temps.  You are getting a tiny baby & if the temps are not proper, he will not do well.
Please let me know the brand of UVB flourescent tube you got.  
Thanks.
Marley is a great name.  :-))

Tracie