A happy Lizard

[Megan]

Lincoln is a happy lizard today. He got his weekly bath, his cage completly cleaned, and his new light came! Switched from the tube UVB bulbs toa Mercury Vapor Bulb(Mega Ray) and I'm already noticing a much happier basking lizard.


Enjoy the pictures! First picture is a cage set up..nothing impressive yet, but I have a few ideas in mind--including a homemade fake rock cave/basking spot for him.

 

[Jenn]

What beautiful poses! Your lizard does seem quite happy. I've always wanted one...maybe someday when the fish are all gone...

 

[AlbertaGirl]

Aw, I love Lincoln! He does look happy. I use the Megaray with my bd too, and she loves it.

 

[Spoof]

He looks very satisfied! I've always loved those guys, never had the room for one.

What are you going to make your rock out of?

 

[Sasha]

He is so cute!

 

[Megan]

It's going to be made out of styrofoam. Found directions on beardie forum

 

[Midwest Exotics]

Very cute! Some day we will have one! hahaha

So is the risk of impaction not as great with beardies?? I know with geckos substrate isnt recommended for fear of impaction. (i personally love the way the sand & or chips look, natural, but use paper towels for our reptiles.)

Again, hes quite handsome & clearly happy about his fresh duds!

 

[AlbertaGirl]

Some beardies are OK on washed & sifted playsand, but I wouldn't recommend any other kind of particle substrate. Beardies can become impacted very easily. Some beardies can't even be on playsand if they like to lick their substrate. I use tile and it works great... it's easier to clean, anyway.

 

[ErinB]

What is a mercury vapor bulb? I've never heard of it. Does it still have the benificial UVB rays that Beardies need?

 

[Megan]

The Mercury vapor bulbs (MVB) are said to be much better then the traditional tube lights. The Mega Ray actually supplies the most rated UVB rays to date from what I've read. In just a few hours, I'm seeing colors on him that I have not seen under the traditional tube lights. Not only do they supply the UVB rays, but they also give off heat. Check out www.reptileuv.com for more information.

As far as the sand, Lincoln has been fine on the sand for several years. He is a pretty neat eater, and doesn't lick his bedding. We've used paper towels, and tile with him as well. the tile I thought was a pain in the butt to clean. I do have some tile on his feeding area just incase he looses some food onto the ground. Some people have great luck on sand with no problems, others have problems with their beardies. I think it comes down to knowing your beardie, and how he is as an eater.

"Little Lincoln" as my nephew called him is also kept on sand. He just recently went onto sand, as he was on paper towels until he was big enough to go to the sand (I wait until they are roughly a year to put them on the sand).