I hope you see this I have a male ball python is it okay that I have a 24 inch length by 18 in depth by 12 inch height enclosure in Exo Terra terrarium to be exact
Diamond looks super cute in the new enclosure. A follow-up once Diamond settles in would be great. I am always interested in how set ups evolve once the animals start using them
@thecasualtrollingpuma no because the cost of the tank should go without saying 🥴 you already know you need the tank now everything else is just showing you how to set it up
I just spent $365 at pet smart for everything. Excluding the bearded dragon. I got a 40 gal for right now bc he is just a baby and it was $139. I’m gonna upgrade in a couple months, I just need to save some money
That’s a really cool enclosure! I say ignore the people who complain about loose substrate, it’s mostly based on a irrational fear rather than actual facts. My beardie is on a top soil/sand/clay mixture and she LOVES it. She is a huge digger too, digs a little “bed” every night. I can’t imagine not having a substrate she can’t dig in :)
They mostly fear it because if you feed the beardie with insects by placing them in the tank than they could eat the sand. You can reduce this by feeding them outside of the tank and by using other materials to simply cover it up
Its more so the fear of impaction. People use loose sand and its basically like living in a litterbox or sandbox. Gets in eyes and private openings. I dont mind clay. Personally i use tile. Easy clean
@@ZenDragoonYT Right, and that is imo an irrational fear based on no real facts. Impaction is a minimal issue in the right set up. Here it's illegal to not use loose substrate so everyone uses a sand/soil mix and our bearded dragons aren't all dying of impaction :) I'm not saying you can't use other kinds of non loose substrate, I just think not giving your dragon the opportunity to act out natural behaviours such as digging etc is such a sad thing as it gives them so much enrichment. I don't think demonizing something before you have tried it is fair or rational! There have been multiple studies showing that bearded dragons dying of impaction is a lot less common than people think but there is a huge misconception that this always happens. In the end I think choosing what substrate to use is up to each individual but I think that decision should be an informed one based on facts, there are pros and cons to all substrates (substrate can be dusty, tile is hard on their joints etc) You have to choose between the risks vs benefits that you feel comfortable with. Sorry for the long rant I just always feel like I have to defend my stance on this and it's hard to make it short. Good day to you!
Its so nice to see someone use loose substrate!! It encourages their natural behaviours. Dont think most people know that They don't live on paper towel in the wild!! I love it well done!!
@@maritzanorrell1699 I use coconut fiber mixed with play sand and when I spot clean and clean up poop, the substrate that’s dirty sticks together and comes right out. Other than that I fully change out the substrate every few months depending on how it looks, but some people do every month. Just depends on your reptile and how well you’re cleaning it
Have you guys ever tried ground walnut as a substrate? I'm doing a bit of trial and error with the substrate my beardie is on now. Switch to that from tile and I think he loves it! But still concerned from a health/impaction stand point
The cheapest custom I could find still came to $500 and that was maybe a 20 gal I think not from kages because kages is like at least 3 times as expensive , custom is kind of a ripoff it just looks pretty, you can have a setup that’s just as good for half the price.
You’ve become my favorite person to watch beardie tips from. You own your feelings and give us real and valuable info. Sometimes you need informed opinions and options and you really give that to people who seeking information. Your vids are MUCH appreciated and diamond is just adorable, such a fun personality!!
Fairly new beardie mommy and just want to say thank you for so much wonderful information to help keep my little gentleman happy and healthy. I rescued him from a very bad situation but he is improving and happy as can be. I love your channel and your pets.
Just got my new beardie Marigold- 3 year old female rescue. She’s already so sweet and friendly and seems to really enjoy her 4x2x2. Thank you for your helpful videos!
oh well, being on a budget does not mean to have the animal suffering. Space is the most important detail of the enclosure. Be creative. Find a local carpenter, he'll do you an 120G enclosure for the price of a 40g... If you cannot go that big, maybe a beardie should not be for you
@thecasualtrollingpuma you are too binded to rules that don't actually exist and have no scientific background. "minimum size"... They are wild animals born in captivity! Minimum size tank is just the worst concept people in the pet community created. Because people like you understand that minimum is standard. It is not. Minimum is minimum. It means it's the worst you can give your pet that it can survive in. Go big, don't save on lightning, grab the most decor from the outside as you can (they are semi arboreal don't forget lots of big branches) and you will see how much you pet behaviours change
@@MrJkfixe I have a question about the wood from outside. I made a nice size enclosure for my bearded dragon and want to put some more wood inside for him. I found a pretty cool root from a large uprooted tree. I hear people say bake it to get rid of any parasites and or bacteria but how the hell would I go about doing this? No way it would fit in my oven and even if it did my wife would have my balls tacked to a wall if she came home and seen that root in the oven.
@@MINIHAHA1 ahah that's a very visual description. You can 1) have a bioactive tank, and if you trust the location where you collected it, it will help cycle the tank, don't worry about parasites, 2) find a big container where the root fits and leave him in water with a lot of salt for a week or two, with full water changes every couple of days, and then the same procedure for another week or two, but only with water to remove the impregnated salt
@thecasualtrollingpuma it's sad that you or anyone else gets so hung up on minimum sizes for enclosures that they bitch when that minimum size increases. Minimum in husbandry = the least you can get by with using/doing without being called out for abuse or neglect. Why get the animal at all if your plans for it don't extend beyond "I'm gonna only do the minimum unless I decide even that's too much!"? Maybe a pet rock would be your best bet.
I would say a standing water dish isn’t necessary he’s not going to drink it and it’s just going to raise humidity levels which could possibly even lead to respiratory issues
I don't know, I have a standing water dish... or rather faux tree stump and a running repti waterfall in my dragon's enclosure. His humidity is always between 21 and 26%
Substrate makes such a huge difference in the overall look! Unfortunately tried a few different loose substrates for my girl but she’s 3 legged and just couldn’t get around that well on anything like that :( she has a yoga mat type thing now and she’s so active on it but it isn’t the most beautiful solution.
Aren’t there like a lot of different colored yoga mats my grandma has really pretty tan one that kinda looks like sand so maybe just look for different colors. Also how did she become 3 legged??
I 100% agree with the play sand except I also use a small food screener mesh to separate the kitty litter sized jagged particles for even safer ingestion.
Loved this video! I'm still not sold on loose substrate, but that's just me; loved that you focused on doing a tank up nicely on a budget! What size and type of UVB do you have in there? Is the top wire mesh or solid? I have a wire topped 4x2x2' and have the devil's own time keeping my basking area warm enough, even with a 150w bulb!
I just switched to play sand and top soil because of you. I got anew 4x2x2 and was going to give him a dig box but watched this and decided to go ahead and do it. Haven't seen him do anything like digging yet so we will see.
Its hard to know what to trust when there are so many opinions about substrate, diet and even not having hides or water bowls! Ill have to experiment a bit myself, but since you've had your dragon for a long time on loose substrate i might go with that, my current "substrate" is artificial grass and ive been noticing a slight green tint on my beardie's belly, i decided to search up new substrates for that reason, ill go ask my local vet friend that is a reptile keeper what he thinks on playsand + coco fiber from zoomed. Overall a very helpfull video that helped me gather my thoghts, and showed really good and well funded arguments for what to use. Me and my 5 month beardie, Eddie, thank you a lot!
A deep layer of a mix of manure-free potting soil, playsand, and clay is best. Burrowing enrichment is extremely important for beardies. And they should have a water dish and at least one hide.
Brother coconut fiber can cause Impaction it's way to dusty that with sand is just to loose why don't you use organic topsoil and playsand as long as your temperatures are right and there are no risk of impaction it gives your dragon a hard service very similar to what use to and it hold burrows well 🤷🏽♂️ just a suggestion
I used topsoil for about a year before, I found it would hold too much humidity. I tried coconut coir and could not believe how much less humidity it held.
@@WickensWickedReptiles what humidity did your tank get to with top soil? You can use top soil without it retaining too much humidity, especially when mixing it with sand and clay.
Great video! I just have two qs: 1. What ratio do you use for the various materials in your substrate? 2. Also, are the tanks you’re recommending in the video heavy? Like if you were to move house, how many people would it take to pick it up?
Awesome advice man im busy building a new enclosure for my almost 1 year old bearded dragon and this is really useful advice that i am for sure gonna keep in mind when finishing her enclosure.
I've seen so many enclosure with a full grown beardie in a 50 gallon tank with play sand, no lights and just a piece of mopani wood and people say that its the beardie's "Dream Home" so you know I have to share this video.
If I burned a hole in a piece of plastic (outside ) I think I would sand the edge - seems like it would be a little sharp - but other than that -HAPPY Diamond!
love the video! don't think i have space for a beardie just yet but it's on my list. Diamond getting your ear is hilarious. Also your comment about blue for boys and "why do we do that?" is hilarious to me bc i'm a preschool teacher and that's always a topic of discussion haha!
Hey Adam, I'm gonna be picking up a baby beardie tomorrow(about 85% Diamond's fault) and I'm probably going to order a 4x2x2 from Kages for his adult enclosure. What would you recommend for customization options?
For cheap substrate if you don't want loose substrate, astro turf. I cut 2 pieces to fit every enclosure, then when I change the substrate I take out the dirty turf and soak it/clean it, replace the newspaper underneath and clean before replacing with the clean and dry turf I keep above the enclosure. My reptile vets all prefer it, even for my jungle pythons that need slightly higher humidity, because it's easier to clean well. and I just give humidity hides for humidity
also for hides, PVC pipes and pipe connectors, I use for snakes, lizards, pet snails. Can be soaked, put in the dishwasher, bleached, left out in the sun for a week to disinfect then you forgot, so useful
You should do an analytics video. That would be very interesting! You could look at your first subscriber or which of my subscribers has the most subscribers? Idk just an idea
which outdated care guide from the 1980s did you get that info from. Anyone who's looked into caring for dragons since the Clinton administration knows "loose substrate for beardies is bad" is just a silly myth.
it amazes me everytime how diffrent the US reptilekeeping standards are in comparison to europe. Here in Germany the recommended enclosuresize for bearded dragons (also ackies, bts and similar sized lizards) is 150x80x80 cm ( equals roughly to 6x2,5x2,5 feet). stuffing ur beardie into a 40 gallon, like i have seen many people on youtube do, would be legitimate animal abouse over here. a 40 gallon is only about 10% larger than our recommended size for a single leopard gecko. So tumbs up from me for promoting larger cages ! even if they are still smallish for my european standards :D
@@angeliquevanrumst4573 try to give him a background to climb on. ive build one with diffrent platforms and crevasses to climb and hide for my uromastyx and hes just all over the thing. it gives a lot of enrichmet and also adds useable space .
Just got a bearded dragon and was having a hard time getting her to like it and I had limited resources because I'm only 14 and don't have much money so this video helped a lot. And I love all of your videos sorry about the long comment but I just wanted to tell you that you've got my sub
This video would have helped me out 3 months ago when i went up to a 55 gal i swear i sunk $500 US into it. Between the 100 lbs of sand, rocks and decorations. Im so glad i know i can use regular play sand instead of the pet store available ones.
The substrate debate is so confusing and frustrating. I have my beardie on the Biodude's soil but he and the uv bulb keep killing his plants and it's not moist enough for the cuc so I might switch or do half tile with a bioactive "litterbox" 😂 One thing to be aware of: coco coir does clump and will expand a lot when wet; so it definitely has the potential to cause impaction on it's own. Not making a claim that it will though, especially if it's in a loose, dry mix, but it's worth mentioning. Love your videos!!
@@gryllidaeperkcal1369 Yes but I grow the same plants without artificial light. Unfortunately, the uv has been too strong for the plants, not the other way around😭 They would probably do better with more moisture but even then my beardie tramples them and leaves puncture wounds that kill them before they acclimate😂
@@emilymarie9796 UV alone actually kills plant. You need a grow light, some specie of plants do well under it but just about all of the plants used in bioactive shouldn’t be having it as the main light source.
@@emilymarie9796 I use a T5 6000K grow light fluorescent. Here’s a good brand with a fair price. You can get a T8 if that’s the fixture you’re using for the plants. www.amazon.com/iPower-Fluorescent-Output-Light-Bulbs/dp/B018WIOFUC/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=fluorescent+grow+light+bulb&qid=1609451451&sr=8-8
They also have pieces of wood in the arts and crafts section at some dollar trees. I glue them with gel super glue and let it dry. Can pretty much build anything
Is that safe? That's great to know. I wanted to build my wee Dexter some stuff. Because he likes my cats cat scratcher so much I thought I'd make him his very own. I wasn't sure what would be safe for him
We have a bio active set up for our beardie and he just spent several months brumating. He woke up today, and I can’t imagine this would have happened without a bioactive set up, since he was able to hide and partially bury himself.
Are you able to do a 2022 update to this? I’m about to purchase a 4x2x2 from Kages and would like to know the absolute best way to set up everything? I know this has a lot of information but I don’t really care about the budget, I just want to make the best setup possible.
I’d go bigger than 4x2x2’, it’s only the bare minimum and bigger is strongly recommended. They’re very active and will use every inch of space given to them.
Can’t wait to watch this on the morning I’ve wanted a beardie for years do they bite a lot ? Does it really hurt if they do ? Thanks for posting This up appreciate it
@@toxicmartoc thanks for reply tail whips aren’t great haha I got thrashed by a fully grown make iguana when my friend had one glad beardies aren’t that big I do hope if I can get one I will be able to tame it there super cute little dudes bless them thanks again stay well
@@WickensWickedReptiles awww that’s good 😊 thank you I got bitten by a dinner plate size tarantula few years back and it’s put me off getting bitten haha I know there worlds apart but did put me off haha 😆 stay safe and well and give diamond a chin rub from me he’s super cute 🥰
Most beardies, in my admittedly limited experience, don't bite or tail whip if they're handled regularly and get scooped up from the tummy rather than getting lifted from above. Babies are skittish and freak out easily, but by a year old, most are pretty chill. Join the forums at www.beardeddragon.org - you'll get tons of good advice there!
Stupid youtube tried to hit comment and hut dislike on accident 🙄 this is my go to for doing my bioactive. I got the biodudes substrate since im still new to the hobby and never messed with coco or sand before. But the setup and info is excellent here. I look forward to getting it done tomorrow. Of all the vidoes I have watched this one rrally is the one that puts me at most ease fromt he scary dont use loose substrate minions out there. Thank you for this and all you do to help advance our keeping and their happiness
I’m getting ready to get my first bearded dragon and I’ve gotten some conflicting information on water bowls. Do you have any issues with the bowls making the tank too humid? I was told that a good alternative is to water bowls is to give them a gentle mist to the nose in the morning to mimic morning dew along with misting their veggies daily.
I dont think the water bowl wouldn't cause a problem with the humidity but if you want to be absolutely sure you should do a trial and error with a thermometer and a food bowl first and if you see some issues with the humidity, I would take the bowl to a different place rather than the basking spot.
Water dishes are very unlikely to raise the humidity too much. Bearded dragons should have access to a water bowl. Humidity between 30-60% is fine, measured by a digital hygrometer. Misting their veggies is a good idea.
@@nightinggale6470 though I do agree with this in a way, I also disagree and it's safer to not have a water bowl for it can cause infections to your bearded dragon. I recommend watching cold blooded creations video about bearded dragon common pet store mistakes to learn more..
@@IonicShadow22 cold blooded creation’s video has some misinformation. Bearded dragons should be provided with a water dish. It’s not unsafe and will not cause infections. This video is worth a watch ua-cam.com/video/dEFuH_hG354/v-deo.html
Set-up can always be cheap except for the enclosure expect to pay 300 for average starter tank and around 500 for something like this. Good quality bulbs will cost you over 60 dollars for a set-up like this I'm Canadian. Very nice though love this enclosure.
I'm setting up an enclosure for a new hog island boa I'm getting in a few days. I bought a dog bowl from the dollar store and my wife hates it because it says puppy on it . But I explained to her the same size fake rock bowl is $30 at the reptile store and I just felt the dog bowl is cheaper and the boa will out grow it evently.
Thanks so much for watching guys! Get your Kages PVC here and use Code WWR at checkout for free door handles @www.reptilekages.com/wwr
if I was in the US, I would defs try these guys out
@@lyzzidc wait! They don’t ship outside of the US? I’m Australian and I was planing on getting one because im getting a bluey
@@Nike_IV I think they do ship outside the US, just shipping is more expensive
@@lyzzidc thx for clarifying
I hope you see this I have a male ball python is it okay that I have a 24 inch length by 18 in depth by 12 inch height enclosure in Exo Terra terrarium to be exact
This channel has got to be the most informed,unbiased and educational on bearded dragons
thank you very much!
Diamond looks super cute in the new enclosure. A follow-up once Diamond settles in would be great. I am always interested in how set ups evolve once the animals start using them
Sounds good! great idea
"a brand new setup for under $60."
Enclosure price: $450
.............
Exactly...
that’s the part that has to be that size, you cannot get anything smaller
@thecasualtrollingpuma probably
@thecasualtrollingpuma no because the cost of the tank should go without saying 🥴 you already know you need the tank now everything else is just showing you how to set it up
I just spent $365 at pet smart for everything. Excluding the bearded dragon. I got a 40 gal for right now bc he is just a baby and it was $139. I’m gonna upgrade in a couple months, I just need to save some money
WWR: "It's a cat bowl, but who cares."
*Diamond gives death glare in the background*
Diamond eats cats for breakfast, breathes fire on them first
@@WickensWickedReptiles That makes sense
I got my first bearded dragon a year ago and I'm going through a lot of trial and error, your video gave me a good idea of what he needs:)
ua-cam.com/play/PL1jBPLrR0jP3MrVvpy2mYSCAqwMJ-ob72.html
Thats why you don't get a pet before researching it. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️For some pets there is no trial and error its make one mistake and they die
Must be a pretty big mistake then.
That’s a really cool enclosure! I say ignore the people who complain about loose substrate, it’s mostly based on a irrational fear rather than actual facts. My beardie is on a top soil/sand/clay mixture and she LOVES it. She is a huge digger too, digs a little “bed” every night. I can’t imagine not having a substrate she can’t dig in :)
They mostly fear it because if you feed the beardie with insects by placing them in the tank than they could eat the sand. You can reduce this by feeding them outside of the tank and by using other materials to simply cover it up
Its more so the fear of impaction. People use loose sand and its basically like living in a litterbox or sandbox. Gets in eyes and private openings. I dont mind clay. Personally i use tile. Easy clean
@@ZenDragoonYT Right, and that is imo an irrational fear based on no real facts. Impaction is a minimal issue in the right set up. Here it's illegal to not use loose substrate so everyone uses a sand/soil mix and our bearded dragons aren't all dying of impaction :) I'm not saying you can't use other kinds of non loose substrate, I just think not giving your dragon the opportunity to act out natural behaviours such as digging etc is such a sad thing as it gives them so much enrichment. I don't think demonizing something before you have tried it is fair or rational! There have been multiple studies showing that bearded dragons dying of impaction is a lot less common than people think but there is a huge misconception that this always happens. In the end I think choosing what substrate to use is up to each individual but I think that decision should be an informed one based on facts, there are pros and cons to all substrates (substrate can be dusty, tile is hard on their joints etc) You have to choose between the risks vs benefits that you feel comfortable with. Sorry for the long rant I just always feel like I have to defend my stance on this and it's hard to make it short. Good day to you!
mine has sand and has had no issues
What brand of play sand do you use?
Its so nice to see someone use loose substrate!! It encourages their natural behaviours. Dont think most people know that They don't live on paper towel in the wild!! I love it well done!!
so true!
@@WickensWickedReptiles How often would you guys clean out that substrate??
@@maritzanorrell1699 I use coconut fiber mixed with play sand and when I spot clean and clean up poop, the substrate that’s dirty sticks together and comes right out. Other than that I fully change out the substrate every few months depending on how it looks, but some people do every month. Just depends on your reptile and how well you’re cleaning it
Have you guys ever tried ground walnut as a substrate? I'm doing a bit of trial and error with the substrate my beardie is on now. Switch to that from tile and I think he loves it! But still concerned from a health/impaction stand point
@@DamaLiam What brand of play sand do you use?
A video about Bearded Dragons wouldn't be complete without Diamond chewing on your ear.🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤
Love that enclosure man gonna have to get a custom cages enclosure for my pets
totally! they are amazing
I wish i could afford those big PVC enclosures! They look so good stacked!
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
The cheapest custom I could find still came to $500 and that was maybe a 20 gal I think not from kages because kages is like at least 3 times as expensive , custom is kind of a ripoff it just looks pretty, you can have a setup that’s just as good for half the price.
@@cloud9dreams854 I make custom cages for less. Hit me up on Facebook facebook.com/marketplace/item/360133872240959/
Don’t mind me just commenting for the algorithm.
you're the best!
@@WickensWickedReptiles hey!! i was just wondering what morph Diamond is ? he’s super pretty and i’d love to get one similar..
ua-cam.com/play/PL1jBPLrR0jP3MrVvpy2mYSCAqwMJ-ob72.html
@@veetoopretty ua-cam.com/play/PL1jBPLrR0jP3MrVvpy2mYSCAqwMJ-ob72.html
@@veetoopretty he doesn't have a morph hes just a regular normal one.
You’ve become my favorite person to watch beardie tips from. You own your feelings and give us real and valuable info. Sometimes you need informed opinions and options and you really give that to people who seeking information. Your vids are MUCH appreciated and diamond is just adorable, such a fun personality!!
Fairly new beardie mommy and just want to say thank you for so much wonderful information to help keep my little gentleman happy and healthy. I rescued him from a very bad situation but he is improving and happy as can be. I love your channel and your pets.
We've been wondering when Diamond was going to get his new enclosure. Nice 👌
He's super happy it seems
Dude, you deserve way more subs than you have. Keep up the great work!
I appreciate that! thank you, feel free to share with your friends :)
@@WickensWickedReptiles I like to throw your videos up on the TV so my younger boys can watch and learn :)
He is gaining subs like crazy
This channel has helped me with so many different animals.
so happy to hear that!
That lil moment of Diamond derping on the bowl was priceless
hahaha yea
Maybe it needs to be sanded for extra grip
I say it frequently. The quality of your videos is amazing and I can't wait until you hit 1 million subs.
“This is a piece of driftwood I found on a hike-“
Diamond: oooo father made me a slide
hahaha yep!
Just got my new beardie Marigold- 3 year old female rescue. She’s already so sweet and friendly and seems to really enjoy her 4x2x2. Thank you for your helpful videos!
That is awesome!
Perfect timing. Getting a beardie in 2 weeks!
Perfect!
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
I just bought a 120 gallon for my bearded dragon!! Thanks for the amazing inspiration!!
This guy is so underrated
oh wow, thank you so much
@@WickensWickedReptiles no problem
Diamond slowly sliding off of the bowl is the most beardie thing I have ever seen
“budget enclosure”
“120 gallon”
now wait a fucking minute
oh well, being on a budget does not mean to have the animal suffering. Space is the most important detail of the enclosure. Be creative. Find a local carpenter, he'll do you an 120G enclosure for the price of a 40g... If you cannot go that big, maybe a beardie should not be for you
@thecasualtrollingpuma you are too binded to rules that don't actually exist and have no scientific background. "minimum size"... They are wild animals born in captivity! Minimum size tank is just the worst concept people in the pet community created. Because people like you understand that minimum is standard. It is not. Minimum is minimum. It means it's the worst you can give your pet that it can survive in. Go big, don't save on lightning, grab the most decor from the outside as you can (they are semi arboreal don't forget lots of big branches) and you will see how much you pet behaviours change
@@MrJkfixe I have a question about the wood from outside. I made a nice size enclosure for my bearded dragon and want to put some more wood inside for him. I found a pretty cool root from a large uprooted tree. I hear people say bake it to get rid of any parasites and or bacteria but how the hell would I go about doing this? No way it would fit in my oven and even if it did my wife would have my balls tacked to a wall if she came home and seen that root in the oven.
@@MINIHAHA1 ahah that's a very visual description. You can 1) have a bioactive tank, and if you trust the location where you collected it, it will help cycle the tank, don't worry about parasites, 2) find a big container where the root fits and leave him in water with a lot of salt for a week or two, with full water changes every couple of days, and then the same procedure for another week or two, but only with water to remove the impregnated salt
@thecasualtrollingpuma it's sad that you or anyone else gets so hung up on minimum sizes for enclosures that they bitch when that minimum size increases. Minimum in husbandry = the least you can get by with using/doing without being called out for abuse or neglect. Why get the animal at all if your plans for it don't extend beyond "I'm gonna only do the minimum unless I decide even that's too much!"?
Maybe a pet rock would be your best bet.
I would say a standing water dish isn’t necessary he’s not going to drink it and it’s just going to raise humidity levels which could possibly even lead to respiratory issues
I don't know, I have a standing water dish... or rather faux tree stump and a running repti waterfall in my dragon's enclosure. His humidity is always between 21 and 26%
Amazing content. I've discovered your channel 5 days ago and i can't stop watching!
Welcome aboard! thanks so much for watching
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
Substrate makes such a huge difference in the overall look!
Unfortunately tried a few different loose substrates for my girl but she’s 3 legged and just couldn’t get around that well on anything like that :( she has a yoga mat type thing now and she’s so active on it but it isn’t the most beautiful solution.
Aren’t there like a lot of different colored yoga mats my grandma has really pretty tan one that kinda looks like sand so maybe just look for different colors. Also how did she become 3 legged??
I enjoy your videos so much. Just got my first bearded dragon today and am super excited about my new roommate ☺️
Literally the best beardie video I’ve seen yet! I’m new to beardies so this helps a lot!
Oh wow thank you!
I'm an aquarium nerd and my kids now want a reptile so here we go!
Your channel has helped out a lot! I’m getting a bearded dragon this Sunday, wish me luck!
I 100% agree with the play sand except I also use a small food screener mesh to separate the kitty litter sized jagged particles for even safer ingestion.
Thank you so much! I just got a bearded dragon today n it’s tank is setup perfectly now thanks to your advice!
I’m getting a rescue bearded I’ve been loving adams videos for a while now and now I get to put his knowledge to use
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
Loved this video! I'm still not sold on loose substrate, but that's just me; loved that you focused on doing a tank up nicely on a budget! What size and type of UVB do you have in there? Is the top wire mesh or solid? I have a wire topped 4x2x2' and have the devil's own time keeping my basking area warm enough, even with a 150w bulb!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just switched to play sand and top soil because of you. I got anew 4x2x2 and was going to give him a dig box but watched this and decided to go ahead and do it. Haven't seen him do anything like digging yet so we will see.
your beardy will love it!
I am trying to find a coconut coir on Amazon and I am a little confused. Can you recommend one , please ?
Holy crap Adam your “Master Level Reptiles” video has 56k views in 1 week🤯
crazy right
Its hard to know what to trust when there are so many opinions about substrate, diet and even not having hides or water bowls! Ill have to experiment a bit myself, but since you've had your dragon for a long time on loose substrate i might go with that, my current "substrate" is artificial grass and ive been noticing a slight green tint on my beardie's belly, i decided to search up new substrates for that reason, ill go ask my local vet friend that is a reptile keeper what he thinks on playsand + coco fiber from zoomed.
Overall a very helpfull video that helped me gather my thoghts, and showed really good and well funded arguments for what to use.
Me and my 5 month beardie, Eddie, thank you a lot!
A deep layer of a mix of manure-free potting soil, playsand, and clay is best. Burrowing enrichment is extremely important for beardies. And they should have a water dish and at least one hide.
This was super helpful, you should do it for other pets as well! Would love to see one for Little Foot
Brother coconut fiber can cause Impaction it's way to dusty that with sand is just to loose why don't you use organic topsoil and playsand as long as your temperatures are right and there are no risk of impaction it gives your dragon a hard service very similar to what use to and it hold burrows well 🤷🏽♂️ just a suggestion
I used topsoil for about a year before, I found it would hold too much humidity. I tried coconut coir and could not believe how much less humidity it held.
@@WickensWickedReptiles what humidity did your tank get to with top soil? You can use top soil without it retaining too much humidity, especially when mixing it with sand and clay.
Great video! I just have two qs:
1. What ratio do you use for the various materials in your substrate?
2. Also, are the tanks you’re recommending in the video heavy? Like if you were to move house, how many people would it take to pick it up?
I would recommend doing a ratio of 60:40. 40% sand. And the enclosed can be dissembled, so you can move it with 1 person if needed. Hope that helps!
If it’s a pvc enclosure, it’s pretty light. But you may need another person just because the size is kinda awkward (at least for me, I’m 5’2”)
Awesome advice man im busy building a new enclosure for my almost 1 year old bearded dragon and this is really useful advice that i am for sure gonna keep in mind when finishing her enclosure.
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
Hmm little suspicious either Adam is a time traveler or we are just backwards.
time travel bruh
@@WickensWickedReptiles how often should I be feeding a baby beardie
I laughed out loud when you said “do people still do that” 😂 I literally asked myself the same thing last week
hahahaa
I've seen so many enclosure with a full grown beardie in a 50 gallon tank with play sand, no lights and just a piece of mopani wood and people say that its the beardie's "Dream Home" so you know I have to share this video.
thank you for sharing :)
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
If I burned a hole in a piece of plastic (outside ) I think I would sand the edge - seems like it would be a little sharp - but other than that -HAPPY Diamond!
Love watching your vids, you’ and Diamond are so charismatic !
Thank you so much!! Diamond blushed
I'm adopting a teenage beardie soon and these videos are so helpful. Thank you.
love the video! don't think i have space for a beardie just yet but it's on my list. Diamond getting your ear is hilarious. Also your comment about blue for boys and "why do we do that?" is hilarious to me bc i'm a preschool teacher and that's always a topic of discussion haha!
Dont mind me just watching because I'm getting a pet bearded dragon next weekend
Looking to upgrade my own adult male beardie and this rlly helped. Thanks! :)
happy to help!
I’m getting a bearded dragon soon so this was really useful thanks
glad it helped!
Hey Adam, I'm gonna be picking up a baby beardie tomorrow(about 85% Diamond's fault) and I'm probably going to order a 4x2x2 from Kages for his adult enclosure. What would you recommend for customization options?
for sure UVB and basking fixtures! Use the link below (In description) and code for a discount :)
That smile you made when she lid off the bowl would have me swipin right 😻😅
I really want to get a beardie one day, saw this and subbed, awesome quality video
thansk so much
For cheap substrate if you don't want loose substrate, astro turf. I cut 2 pieces to fit every enclosure, then when I change the substrate I take out the dirty turf and soak it/clean it, replace the newspaper underneath and clean before replacing with the clean and dry turf I keep above the enclosure. My reptile vets all prefer it, even for my jungle pythons that need slightly higher humidity, because it's easier to clean well. and I just give humidity hides for humidity
also for hides, PVC pipes and pipe connectors, I use for snakes, lizards, pet snails. Can be soaked, put in the dishwasher, bleached, left out in the sun for a week to disinfect then you forgot, so useful
Naturalistic looks nicer...and its more comfortable for the animals. But yes if it gets the job done and thats what you prefer..go for it.
I use this but you make sure it’s the non loop Astro turf variety :) I’m considering bio active when I upgrade
So how often do you clean a tank with coconut coir/sand mixture or top soil/sand mixture that's not bioactive?? Love your channel, just subscribed 😁
thanks for watching. Every few months
I just got one of these majestic creatures after sadly my Chinese water dragon passed away . Nice video new sub
what type of beardie is Diamond? im looking into getting one soon myself and Diamond is absolutely beautiful :D
This video is everythang!
Funny AF too.
Thank you for sharing.
My one month old b. dragon 🐉 appreciates you 💕
hey thanks so much for watching!!!
You should do an analytics video. That would be very interesting! You could look at your first subscriber or which of my subscribers has the most subscribers? Idk just an idea
well Snake Discovery subscribed a while back so... she wins I think hahba
This video is right on time for me since I am about to do my first bioactive beardie enclosure and was unsure on the substrate mix! Thanks man
which outdated care guide from the 1980s did you get that info from. Anyone who's looked into caring for dragons since the Clinton administration knows "loose substrate for beardies is bad" is just a silly myth.
this video had me dying laughing multiple times LMAO -- diamond is so precious and also the video was super informative !!
I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
@@dragonsmarttt AHHH i don't have a facebook ;; but thnk you
hey thanks so much for watching!
Good salesman! That’s all I get from this Chanel
Hi Adam just giving you an update on my pink tongue skink we got a few weeks ago he shed today for the first time any tips on taming him
That is awesome!
Thanks Adam
I wish I found this when I first started researching. Im glad I found it now 💚
Wow! This is amazing
Thank you so much!
@@WickensWickedReptiles no problem, as person who grew up with bearly no money this is perfect
My parents doesn't know that bearded dragons need all off this but I say that to them maybe this video will make them want to make a good inclosure
I hope so
Love the Beardies! GOD I WANT ONE SO BAD! Heh my mom would have a heart attack.
It’s for a school project...
I’m trying to convince my mom to let me have one
Gotten no where so far lol
it amazes me everytime how diffrent the US reptilekeeping standards are in comparison to europe. Here in Germany the recommended enclosuresize for bearded dragons (also ackies, bts and similar sized lizards) is 150x80x80 cm ( equals roughly to 6x2,5x2,5 feet). stuffing ur beardie into a 40 gallon, like i have seen many people on youtube do, would be legitimate animal abouse over here. a 40 gallon is only about 10% larger than our recommended size for a single leopard gecko. So tumbs up from me for promoting larger cages ! even if they are still smallish for my european standards :D
Have my beardie in a 150x70x60 and still think he'll get bored so I have to take him out often 🤣
@@angeliquevanrumst4573 try to give him a background to climb on. ive build one with diffrent platforms and crevasses to climb and hide for my uromastyx and hes just all over the thing. it gives a lot of enrichmet and also adds useable space .
@@angeliquevanrumst4573 I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
@@angeliquevanrumst4573 I would love for you to join my bearded dragon Facebook group! Type “Dragon Smart” and you’ll find us! ❤️
@@marvinbange1216 he already has.a selfmade background with different stages 😁
Hey, I was wondering if u could do an ackie monitor care vid. I'm very interested in getting one
Yes I can
Just got a bearded dragon and was having a hard time getting her to like it and I had limited resources because I'm only 14 and don't have much money so this video helped a lot. And I love all of your videos sorry about the long comment but I just wanted to tell you that you've got my sub
Can you do one for Leo’s?
already have, check it out
This video would have helped me out 3 months ago when i went up to a 55 gal i swear i sunk $500 US into it.
Between the 100 lbs of sand, rocks and decorations.
Im so glad i know i can use regular play sand instead of the pet store available ones.
I hope you aren't using pure sand, that is not safe for reptiles.
@@SohiHien
No, i use mostly rocks and the sand is mostly to fill the gaps between rocks
For the algorithm
you're awesome
My baby girls enclosure cost $35,000. She just roams the house!!!!
wait.... where the hell can you buy a house for 35k?
The substrate debate is so confusing and frustrating. I have my beardie on the Biodude's soil but he and the uv bulb keep killing his plants and it's not moist enough for the cuc so I might switch or do half tile with a bioactive "litterbox" 😂 One thing to be aware of: coco coir does clump and will expand a lot when wet; so it definitely has the potential to cause impaction on it's own. Not making a claim that it will though, especially if it's in a loose, dry mix, but it's worth mentioning. Love your videos!!
thanks so much for watching
Are you only using UV for the plants?
@@gryllidaeperkcal1369 Yes but I grow the same plants without artificial light. Unfortunately, the uv has been too strong for the plants, not the other way around😭 They would probably do better with more moisture but even then my beardie tramples them and leaves puncture wounds that kill them before they acclimate😂
@@emilymarie9796 UV alone actually kills plant. You need a grow light, some specie of plants do well under it but just about all of the plants used in bioactive shouldn’t be having it as the main light source.
@@emilymarie9796 I use a T5 6000K grow light fluorescent. Here’s a good brand with a fair price. You can get a T8 if that’s the fixture you’re using for the plants.
www.amazon.com/iPower-Fluorescent-Output-Light-Bulbs/dp/B018WIOFUC/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=fluorescent+grow+light+bulb&qid=1609451451&sr=8-8
i keep coming back to this video to get inspiration for my beardies future 120 gallon, it’s always helpful LOL
I hope it helps :)
@@WickensWickedReptiles it absolutely does! ❤️
They also have pieces of wood in the arts and crafts section at some dollar trees. I glue them with gel super glue and let it dry. Can pretty much build anything
Is that safe? That's great to know. I wanted to build my wee Dexter some stuff. Because he likes my cats cat scratcher so much I thought I'd make him his very own. I wasn't sure what would be safe for him
We have a bio active set up for our beardie and he just spent several months brumating. He woke up today, and I can’t imagine this would have happened without a bioactive set up, since he was able to hide and partially bury himself.
They can brumate without a bioactive setup too
I love it have a great day have a cool day have a super day wicked wickens reptile
thank you!!!
I just got my dragon today! This helped thank you 😌
thank you for watching!
I have glass pie dishes that I use for my water. It’s perfect. Not deep but big enough for an adult to get into comfortably and splash around
Genius
Thank you I am going to get a bearded dragon and have been making a big list of care notes for it this helped me alot
I'm getting a free bearded dragon tomorrow like you did lol. Super excited.
That is awesome!
Are you able to do a 2022 update to this? I’m about to purchase a 4x2x2 from Kages and would like to know the absolute best way to set up everything? I know this has a lot of information but I don’t really care about the budget, I just want to make the best setup possible.
to be fair, this enclosure is exactly the same today
I’d go bigger than 4x2x2’, it’s only the bare minimum and bigger is strongly recommended. They’re very active and will use every inch of space given to them.
This is gonna help because I'm going to get a bearded dragon soon also you've earned a sub today
thanks so much for watching!
Your channel is really good you seem like a good person!
I appreciate that!
Can you help me with how you clean up the poo when he has a dirt substrate? Would love a video on cleaning and how often you have to do it. Thanks!
same as cat litter. Scoop it, that's it
Great vid as always.
Appreciate that!!
I use Birdsand for years. The positive is no dust you only have to sieve the shells
I highly recommend switching to a soil/playsand/clay mix, it’s the most natural option and holds their burrows.
Can’t wait to watch this on the morning I’ve wanted a beardie for years do they bite a lot ? Does it really hurt if they do ? Thanks for posting
This up appreciate it
I've had my beardie for six years and although he isn't super tame,he has never attempted to bite but he does whip his tail if he is in a bad mood
@@toxicmartoc thanks for reply tail whips aren’t great haha I got thrashed by a fully grown make iguana when my friend had one glad beardies aren’t that big I do hope if I can get one I will be able to tame it there super cute little dudes bless them thanks again stay well
Not at all, only if they think you're food and even then not bad and so rare
@@WickensWickedReptiles awww that’s good 😊 thank you I got bitten by a dinner plate size tarantula few years back and it’s put me off getting bitten haha I know there worlds apart but did put me off haha 😆 stay safe and well and give diamond a chin rub from me he’s super cute 🥰
Most beardies, in my admittedly limited experience, don't bite or tail whip if they're handled regularly and get scooped up from the tummy rather than getting lifted from above. Babies are skittish and freak out easily, but by a year old, most are pretty chill. Join the forums at www.beardeddragon.org - you'll get tons of good advice there!
Stupid youtube tried to hit comment and hut dislike on accident 🙄 this is my go to for doing my bioactive. I got the biodudes substrate since im still new to the hobby and never messed with coco or sand before. But the setup and info is excellent here. I look forward to getting it done tomorrow. Of all the vidoes I have watched this one rrally is the one that puts me at most ease fromt he scary dont use loose substrate minions out there. Thank you for this and all you do to help advance our keeping and their happiness
Really got me wanting one of those Kages enclosures in 8x4x4 for the Tegu I don't own... yet.
do it up!!!
@@WickensWickedReptiles I’d love to! A big high white male would be cool haha
My dragons just hit around 8 months and her cage is pretty bare so this helped thx
awesome!!!
I’m getting ready to get my first bearded dragon and I’ve gotten some conflicting information on water bowls. Do you have any issues with the bowls making the tank too humid? I was told that a good alternative is to water bowls is to give them a gentle mist to the nose in the morning to mimic morning dew along with misting their veggies daily.
I dont think the water bowl wouldn't cause a problem with the humidity but if you want to be absolutely sure you should do a trial and error with a thermometer and a food bowl first and if you see some issues with the humidity, I would take the bowl to a different place rather than the basking spot.
Water dishes are very unlikely to raise the humidity too much. Bearded dragons should have access to a water bowl. Humidity between 30-60% is fine, measured by a digital hygrometer. Misting their veggies is a good idea.
@@nightinggale6470 though I do agree with this in a way, I also disagree and it's safer to not have a water bowl for it can cause infections to your bearded dragon. I recommend watching cold blooded creations video about bearded dragon common pet store mistakes to learn more..
@@IonicShadow22 cold blooded creation’s video has some misinformation. Bearded dragons should be provided with a water dish. It’s not unsafe and will not cause infections.
This video is worth a watch
ua-cam.com/video/dEFuH_hG354/v-deo.html
Set-up can always be cheap except for the enclosure expect to pay 300 for average starter tank and around 500 for something like this. Good quality bulbs will cost you over 60 dollars for a set-up like this I'm Canadian. Very nice though love this enclosure.
his face when diamond slipped down was 🤬🤬 - really gonna upstage me now!?!
I'm setting up an enclosure for a new hog island boa I'm getting in a few days. I bought a dog bowl from the dollar store and my wife hates it because it says puppy on it . But I explained to her the same size fake rock bowl is $30 at the reptile store and I just felt the dog bowl is cheaper and the boa will out grow it evently.
good call
reed wetzel Name your snake Puppy! Problem solved! ;)