Hello, I'm new here!
After looking round at a few reptile shops (and being showered with information from the VERY helpful owners) me and my dad have decided to buy a bearded dragon.
At the minute we're saving, this gives us time to read up on them I suppose!
The latest shop we went into we were told that when we get a bearded dragon we'd have to start with a small tank and buy a new one every so often as it grew, is this what most people do, or is it fine to just buy the 4 foot one straight away? It's not really that much of a problem getting different sized tanks, because my brother wants a leopard gecko so the tanks from the bearded would be used for that when (or if!) he gets one. I was also wondering how much people paid for a 4 foot tank? We've been looking at the wooden ones because apparently theyre better insulators, and in the shops they're atleast £130 but I found a website that was selling 4 foot ones for £80 (with free P&P on everything over £50!) and there's also people on ebay that live near us that are selling vivariums cheap, but I was just wondering what other people normally pay?
and I was also wondering abput 'Kricket Keepers', I've been reading through a few older posts and I noticed someone recommending one, when I saw them I thought my dreams had been answered! Because I've had a bit of a fear of the crickets escaping, but then I realised not many people had mentioned them. So I was wondering if a kricket keeper was a good idea or not?
Thanks for any questions that can be answered!
zoe xx

Welcome.

I can assure you that Bearded Dragons are amazing animals.

People's opinions vary greatly. I know people that have put babies straight into a 4 foot Vivarium and they've been fine. I think aslong as their healthy + eat properly the size shouldn't be a problem. Unlike snakes who need the small space for security.

Somepeople on this forum build wooden vivariums for a small price which are usually much cheaper than retail, you can check them out. The only person I can remember off the top of my head is Lotus_Nut.
You may find it is even cheaper to build your own vivarium (Like I do.)

And yes, Wooden vivariums are far better for Beardies than glass tanks for a number of reasons.

As for the crickets, I keep mine in a RUB (Really useful Box) and breed them. You'll find plenty posts about that as you explore the forum.

Cheers!

i got my wooden 4ft for £80 at the cupar garden centre fife, and two full set ups 30" for free on free cycle

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1.1.0 bearded dragon pitter & patter
1.2.0 dwarf yellow headed geckos R.I.P Nero
1.1.0 fbts
RFUK Member no 9418

I would say that as long as you have plenty of decor and places to hide, they will be fine in a 4ft, my rankins went into a 4ft at 5 weeks old, and they were fine, the only issue I had was finding them

also whats the website that does 4ft vivs for £80???

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SHCT Female for sale http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...leos-sale.html

Not my Shop but would reccomend to anyone! www.elitereptiles.co.uk PM for directions

i did not get it of a web site i went there personally and haggled him down to £80 google cupar garden centre £99 delivered

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1.1.0 bearded dragon pitter & patter
1.2.0 dwarf yellow headed geckos R.I.P Nero
1.1.0 fbts
RFUK Member no 9418

Oh thankyou! I'd never thought of asking someone to build one, I'll defo look into that! Thankyou




Basic Vivariums

It's not a set up, just the viv but it's still a good price I think!
The bloke in the shop also told us if we wanted he would do us a set up and he'd knock money off the lizard, but he didn't mention a price!

Im doing 4 footers at the mo for £60

You probably know more than me, but I'm just checking. Surely if you have loads of decoration and places to hide the BD will get lost and not know where it's food is more than it would do if the viv had a simple layout.

I'd agree with having not so many hides. Will be really easy for your Beardie to get lost in the big tank and will make it harder for them to find food.

Was gonna recommend MarkandWend for your viv but they already mentioned so...

We put our Beardie into her 4ft tank at about 4 months old. She was tiny but never seemed to have any problems. We were feeding her out the viv in a separate tub though so it was a smaller space and also the bugs didn't go hiding in her viv. You could buy a plastic tub to feed her in then you wouldn't need a Cricket Keeper either. You could just knock the bugs out of the tub they come in, into the feeding tub with some Calypso dust.

Depending on how old it'll be when you get it, you could get away with it going into a 4ft one.

Alright I'll keep age and size in mind when buying one!

and also - whats everyones opinion on sand in vivs? My mam used to work in a pet shop and she seems to think that you can put gravel in? I'd be happy just using news papers like, but sand looks pretty!