Newbie viv questions

[mrbojangels]

My question may seem like I am from space but no I am from Yorkshire lol..........
If I were to have a baby...its a mum question I would not put it in a double bed..so is it ok to put a 8 week beardie into a 4x2x2..will it not get lost and get cold. Also the vivs are made of wood how long do they last about...Do beradies pee alot and make them damp or is the bottom water proof. Also do crix's get out of the air thingys. I will wait a while before the next 200 questions

[Jinx]

Originally Posted by mrbojangels

My question may seem like I am from space but no I am from Yorkshire lol..........
If I were to have a baby...its a mum question I would not put it in a double bed..so is it ok to put a 8 week beardie into a 4x2x2..will it not get lost and get cold. Also the vivs are made of wood how long do they last about...Do beradies pee alot and make them damp or is the bottom water proof. Also do crix's get out of the air thingys. I will wait a while before the next 200 questions

Baby beardies will need something smaller yes. a 2ft viv will do until they are a little older.
Beardies do both 'jobs' in one, they poop and the white stuff you see in it is called urate.
It will be wet yes but they do not 'pee' alot as you put it, so it should not be huge, and will dry quickly in the warm vivarium.
Vivariums are normally made of conti board, or wood effect, so are water proof.
But loads of people make their own, if real wood is used you have to varnish it with an appropriate safe varnish to water proof it.

A beadry should not get cold in it's vivairum providing you have a basking light attached to a thermostat and a thermometer to regulate temps.

Crickets should not get out of the air vents.

But all this depends on what you buy vivarium wise.

I make my own vivariums like many others do.

[markhill]

I put my BD into a 4x2x2 when she was only 2 months old and 6-7 inches long(including tail), she was/is doing fine, babies like to chase down their food and a large viv allows them to do so, if you want to use a smaller one save yourself some money and buy a big one then put a partition in it.

[captaincaveman]

Crickets should not get out of the air vents.

crickets always get out of air vents, or between the glass, and always the noisy ones

[Athravan]

Start with something smaller if you can, just so they can find the food.. the lighting/heating shouldn't be an issue if you are using the right equipment for the size.. but the crickets will hide for sure.

You have a substrate down on the bottom of the viv, which is usually made of wood (or occasionally glass) so they don't poop directly onto the viv.. it's just on the substrate. You can then pick it out or change it very easily. Also they don't "pee" really but have moist poops with white bits in so waterproofing shouldn't really be an issue

Vivs should last many years, at least 10+ if they are kept nicely. You can always revarnish or use an aquarium sealant if there are any problems with it. They tend to go quicker with high humidity species, but for a beardie they should last a good number of years.

Very very small crickets might get out of the ventilation depending on what size the vents are.. but really you should be buying a beardie that is at least 6-8 weeks old, or older.. and they will be on at least number 3 crickets and they will quickly move to standard crickets which will not usually fit out of ventilation. You also don't want to aim to just chuck a box in... you give them as many as they will eat, and then stop.. so there shouldn'tbe that many spare crickets to try and escape.

[mrbojangels]

Lots of great advice....Thank you I may buy the larger viv and use a divider....never thought of that....I guess it would have to be safe though.

[DeanThorpe]

Originally Posted by mrbojangels

My question may seem like I am from space but no I am from Yorkshire lol..........
If I were to have a baby...its a mum question I would not put it in a double bed..so is it ok to put a 8 week beardie into a 4x2x2..will it not get lost and get cold. Also the vivs are made of wood how long do they last about...Do beradies pee alot and make them damp or is the bottom water proof. Also do crix's get out of the air thingys. I will wait a while before the next 200 questions

Haha sweet post.
Just gona jump rigth in without reading any other replys..cos im trying to keep my fingers busy.
Vivs that you buy are kinda waterproofy..but will mess up if they remain damp.
But a Beardie really doesnt pee much...atleast nothing any layer of substrate atall wouldnt soak up [unless u use calci sand..then it would apparently magically float ontop of the sand..and kinda go all liquid android T2 kinda thing..really wierd, dont use calcisand] anyway sorry, also often its not even water piddle.. just white chalky stuff, often in the poo, theres a big reason for this but IM SURE soemone would have said already.
And I think an 8 week old beardie..MIGHT have probs in a 4x2x2 right away..But i really dont think it will.
Ours was 3 months old and yeh looked a little lost to us.. but didnt act it one bit.
Crickets wont get out through the circular vents that come on the flatpack vivs.. But could possibly through some other types of vents.
But they wopnt have a chance cos theyll be eaten or taken out within 10-15 mins.. and theyll be all like "whoa.. whast going on..i was all in the fridge a second ago and now its really warm... am i gona try escape? no im gona look at the floor and eat bits of stuff" and then BAM its toast..kinda.

[DeanThorpe]

Originally Posted by mrbojangels

Lots of great advice....Thank you I may buy the larger viv and use a divider....never thought of that....I guess it would have to be safe though.

Yes safe is good..
You could put him in the viv... then if he looks off then stick the partition in and cover it with fake plants so it looks more secure and permanent and cosy for him to get him chilled again and wait till he is bigger and open it up.. but well..he has a much larger area in view [your room/house] with more crap going on to deal with all the time than a bit of space in its imediate area..
I think its a lot easier to maintain a high bask of 110-120 degrees plus the good old cool end in a 4 foot viv than a 2 foot area is all why I am pushing it i guess sorry lol

[markhill]

Originally Posted by DeanThorpe

Yes safe is good..
You could put him in the viv... then if he looks off then stick the partition in and cover it with fake plants so it looks more secure and permanent and cosy for him to get him chilled again and wait till he is bigger and open it up.. but well..he has a much larger area in view [your room/house] with more crap going on to deal with all the time than a bit of space in its imediate area..
I think its a lot easier to maintain a high bask of 110-120 degrees plus the good old cool end in a 4 foot viv than a 2 foot area is all why I am pushing it i guess sorry lol

I agree, its much easier to get a good temp gradient with a high temp bask area in a bigger viv.