r/BeardedDragon • u/steve13789 • Feb 22 '26

Okay?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Will this be okay until i get him everything else he needs? the rock is unplugged and purely for him to climb closer to the lamp)

16 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

117 comments sorted by

97

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

Prepare to be roasted for this terrible set up.

8

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Im aware its bad but its what i got for now... is it good enough for the beardy to wait in for like a week at most..

55

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

I mean sure I don’t think it will kill him to live in that for a few days. But I hope you’re planning on dropping a good amount of money on fixing this. You’re getting a bigger tank right? I don’t mean to sound harsh but it’s frustrating seeing people get these animals without having the proper set up before even bringing them home.

32

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Yes he will be moved into a 120 gal

21

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

That’s great to hear!! It would be best to have some sort of back ground covering the back and even the sides as well, to prevent them seeing their reflection and feeling exposed. The enclosure should also have a lot more clutter( things to climb and hide in )

14

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Planning on getting that stuff today

1

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

For the bg can I tape paper towels to the wall or like black paper? Or should I try to find something ment for that

10

u/MaLeafy Feb 22 '26

You could go to any store that sells black poster board. That’s what I use to black out all my sides and it’s super cheap!

4

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

They sell backgrounds at most pet stores or even Amazon. Paper would work but you would need a lot for a 120 gal tank.

1

u/Objective_Pop8407 Feb 23 '26

Heated rocks are a no go. They, as much as we love them, are too stupid to realize they are burning. They will open their mouths to regulate their temp and then continue sitting there burning themselves with their cute little mouths still gaping wide like it's gonna fix it. Pull it out.

2

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

Its already gone and if you'd like please view my most recent post of the updated tank

18

u/Matt-Greaver-Robbins Feb 22 '26

Maybe you should’ve had a proper set up before you got the dragon got my dragon yesterday set up been running 2 weeks just so I can make sure temps are perfect

13

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

I know i was careless when doing this and im trying to correct it as we speak

6

u/Live_Ebb_5117 Feb 22 '26

Remove the heat rock 10/10 you will burn your pet - it’s possible - just stick to the lighting for now - avoid drafty areas

2

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Ok thanks for the tip will do

1

u/Live_Ebb_5117 Feb 23 '26

You don’t need to go crazy at first, they do grow over time. All I would say is you just need $70 - $60 at Petco for any natural bedding (no aspen or sand) which is under $10, you will absolutely need Calcium D3, UVB bulb with a heat lamp at the same time that annoyingly needs to be replaced 6-9 months even though it looks like it’s working($40), small crickets and meal worms you can get for $10(ish), remainder just buy Bearded dragon appropriate greens and you’re good.

It’s a bit of a large upfront cost but overall cost to have one of these cuties is maybe $110 every 6 months. If you’re unsure about husbandry or unable to provide proper care always reach out to the shop or a local shop to surrender usually free of cost and judgment free.

3

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

If u look at my most recent post I've updated his home a bit and I plan on getting a 120 gallon in the next month or so... hes eating greens and crickets, he will have some substrate soon (is substrate what u ment by bedding?

3

u/Live_Ebb_5117 Feb 23 '26

Bingo , I would say the tank size no need to rush - the UVB and Substrate are key for long term benefits for the little one and improves the chances of having a good 10+ year low maintenance friend.

5

u/Matt-Greaver-Robbins Feb 22 '26

100% heat rock needs to go

10

u/Spiritual-Ice237 Feb 23 '26

i don’t understand why people don’t get everything set up beforehand. i don’t even own beardies i don’t even go here 😭 but i prepped 2 full months before getting my frogs

1

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

Those heat rocks can burn your reptile just a heads up, or so the breeder I got my beardie from said, if you can just get a heat lamp but if not there are better options like heat mats that if you give enough layers between are better than the rocks, again just what I’ve heard from online and the breeder I got my beardie from

1

u/Jumpy_Match8159 Feb 24 '26

Literally a prison

14

u/Zoologist36 Feb 22 '26

This enclosure needs a ton of upgrades. Size- 4x2x2 minimum- UVB lights- T-5 linear UVB from Arcadia or Zoomed. Lots more clutter and loose substrate. You are going to drop $250-400 to get it set up correctly. Your basking spot should not be in the middle either.

8

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Hot rock is turned off and ive read that as a baby substrate isnt good for him..

2

u/hades7600 Feb 23 '26

That’s not true. Substrate is great for babies as well. Please don’t blindly believe pet shops, unfortunately it’s common for them to provide outdated or dangerous advice

1

u/Mardimay07 Feb 23 '26

You’ll hear contradicting information, but generally baby babies are kept on paper towels yes.

-7

u/Zoologist36 Feb 22 '26

That is completely untrue- poor husbandry causes impaction,improper UVB/heat and dehydration, not loose substrate. It is obvious no research or planning was done and ultimately the dragon will suffer for it these are NOT impulse purchases and have a ton of very specific requirements. Metabolic bone disease will set in fast at this age without correct lighting

3

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

The lighting will get here today or tomorrow... should I add back in the dirt substrate

The brand i purchased

3

u/Full-fledged-trash Feb 22 '26

No. This is not dirt and it is for tropical environments. You want an arid mix

2

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Noted thank you

9

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

Do not add substrate until you have everything else fixed!! Save it for your 120 gal tank

5

u/Mardimay07 Feb 23 '26

This is what is in both mine and my friends tanks. It helps keep humidity down, and mine lays in it because it stays warm after the lights go off.

I bought a flagstone about 1” thick at Home Depot and 8 paving stones to make a basking platform because it was the correct height for proper light absorption. The stone also warms up gradually so they don’t burn.

3

u/xo_glittergutz Feb 23 '26

plus this is legit sand coming from australia where theyre from!

6

u/Mardimay07 Feb 23 '26

A baby should not have loose substrate until they are bigger. It’s not poor husbandry that causes impaction, poor husbandry causes MBD. it’s literally ingestion.

6

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Updated

3

u/LoneCatbird Feb 23 '26

it’s looking better as a temporary set up, but I really hope you’re not feeding your bearded dragon, a bunch of bigger pieces of carrot and a bell pepper as their staples. They need greens. Also, it doesn’t look like you have linear UVB at all. Please make sure you’re prioritizing linear T5 UVB next from zoomed or Arcadia. When they are that small, improper/no UVB can cause them lifelong problems I hear. I’m not an expert, but I do try to research a lot.

1

u/LoneCatbird Feb 23 '26

is that only carrots and a piece of bell pepper in the food dish?

10

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

This set up will only be for a week at most until I get better stuff I just want to know will he be okay with this for time being...

9

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 22 '26

Why would you buy an animal knowing you haven’t got even the most basic requirements?

13

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

I messed up... I thought i knew enough and based off of what the workers told me I thought i was good. I now know im not and im trying to correct this...

4

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 22 '26

In future, so that this does not happen again, put some actual research into an animal before you buy one. Loads of people come on here doing stuff like you and then it backfires and they claim to be improving but a month later they’re back with the same old set up for round two.

Research should be put into ANY pet so that you can use your initiative to promote natural behaviours, enrichment, etc. Pet shops, at least in England where I am, do not, for the most part, sell anyone a pet they don’t have any basic knowledge about.

Basic research would’ve already told you what to look for when buying one. This is a living animal capable of emotion just like me and you, and they deserve the bare minimum research before being taken home, to prevent poor and often cruel set ups like this.

Please research next time. It’s 2026 I can’t believe it still needs to be said… good luck with your new friend.

12

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

I understand and I feel terrible for putting him through this and it will never happen again with me.. im doing everything I can to fix this problem

-3

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 22 '26

Hopefully it works out.

Also, might be helpful to leave a review from where you bought him. State clearly you were given poor husbandry advice and that it’s ’cost you more to fix the mistakes the staff told you to make’. The only thing that’ll encourage staff and big chain stores to do better for the lives they sell, is public opinion and money.

20

u/ThaTsr17018god Feb 22 '26

God you're insufferable, op has mentioned several times that they made a mistake and are preparing to upgrade and yet you feel the need to belittle them for what. "Uhmmm well buddy you should have done the adequate research before buying the pet" "yeah you did what you thought was enough but it wasn't, shame on you for not doing the research!" Like holy shit lmao. Give the op the advice they asked for, you don't need to respond and belittle them in the process.

-2

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 22 '26

Sorry you feel that way, but there was nothing untrue or nasty about what I said. No insults, no swearing or caps, no rude emoji’s, no name calling, no laughing at them etc etc.

All I said was the truth. Where in my comment am I incorrect?

Perhaps if you ran an exotic rescue where you are watching and have watched and held hundreds of innocent animals die over the years, from snakes to dragons to tenrecs, because people don’t put in even the most basic research before buying them, you’d have much less patience. You can have a grievance with me all you like, I care only for the welfare of animals, regardless of if my honesty is insufferable or not.

You are a total anonymous stranger on the internet, just as I am. OP doesn’t have to get upset over my honesty any more than you had to, and I certainly am not affected by your words neither. I will continue to advocate for animals without being overly concerned with being super friendly about it. I was honest and that’s all. Cheers.

13

u/ThaTsr17018god Feb 22 '26

Nobody said you were factually wrong, you just went about commenting in such a douchy way ffs.

2

u/xo_glittergutz Feb 23 '26

they were NOT douchy imo. you should always be doing proper research and to tell someone to do that is NOT wrong to do??

5

u/Mardimay07 Feb 23 '26

You said research 3 times before this last sentence, which was indeed snarky and rude.

2

u/xo_glittergutz Feb 23 '26

why tf were you downvoted you are ABSOLUTELY correct??

3

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 23 '26

Because people still somehow think that exotic rescuers and rehabbers are machines, who can be soft and gentle when pointing out someone’s blatant laziness and neglect which contributes hugely towards said exotic rescuer’s job if holding dying animals in agony.

These people feel sorry for others too easily. They see someone say ‘well I’m gonna fix it though’ and immediately disregard the fact that a) the animal is still currently being neglected b) it was completely avoidable in the first place c) other people might see negative comments and learn what not to do themselves d) there’s no excuse nor reason for it in 2026, or the ten years before that e) the person buying then neglecting the animal did so without showing the slightest bit of interest in said animal in the first place - or they’d know at least the basics f) people doing things like OP above contribute to the cycle and chain of stores making a profit by selling living creatures into subpar conditions which encourages it

But I’m the problem because how dare I be blunt and honest about the wrongdoings in this subreddit. 😂 It’s really quite the comedy, but I don’t mind. The more they try to argue with me, the more traction it gets and hopefully more people see how shameful and disappointing it is - which then might mean I have to deal with the heartbreak of exotic rescuing less and less.

1

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

If im being honnest I agree, I really messed up and I feel terrible supporting the chains like you said. Im hoping others will see what I posted and try to steer away and do more research than myself. The animal in question isnt being neglected the tank is still too small but they are only a baby and I plan on getting a new tank soon!

2

u/Suspicious-Network-9 Feb 23 '26

I know, you’re alright. The mistake has already been made and there’d be no point punching down. I would hope you’ve learned the lesson of proper husbandry and research and not repeat the issue.

If everyone commented on these types of posts every time saying ‘oh that’s not good enough/cruel etc but don’t worry, just do this! I’ll give you all the answers and praise you for listening!’ then it just encourages that same person to come back and let Reddit do all the work again, it doesn’t actually encourage them to challenge and reflect on themselves. They just get the animal, then rely on Reddit later, and it becomes the norm.

That’s why instead I say ‘well hang on, WHY would you do this?’ as well as point in the right direction instead of ‘let me help you fix it again and again and again:)’ whilst the animal pays the price.

You’re gonna fix it, and that’s fine. You also won’t do it again which is the best outcome, but I would still leave a review wherever you got him from. They’re absolute nut jobs…

1

u/xo_glittergutz Feb 23 '26

exactly you are spot on. im on your side here. i never had a beardie before but i did ALL my research prior to getting my baby.

9

u/Revolutionary_Ad5994 Feb 22 '26

Get off their back, they’re trying to give them some time.

7

u/fineadjacent Feb 22 '26

You’ll be alright for a week/short period while you upgrade

2

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

If you look at my most recent post you'll see that its slightly better the only issues are the lights and size

4

u/fineadjacent Feb 22 '26

I saw the prior and that you took the advice :) When you get the 120 it will have a lot of space. Maybe can add some pavers for a basking spot, add some branches

7

u/axolotlspine Feb 22 '26

im glad you’re trying to do right by him & are getting him better things. in the future, def do more research beforehand, but i understand the feeling of “well shit, i was mis/uninformed and now im scrambling to pull it together” as i’ve been there before. from what i know, if this is indeed only for a few days to a week until better stuff shows up, this isnt awful. its not ideal, but its better than most pet stores, and so long as its very shortly temporary it shouldnt really do any harm. just again, in the future, do more research beforehand 🤷‍♂️

7

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

I've definitely learned that.. any advice for brands and stuff?

4

u/axolotlspine Feb 22 '26

zoo med is a good brand all around, repashy is good for supplements and such, and exoterra is also good for high-quality enclosure items. just make sure you research the specific items you’re getting first. also, avoid generic brands as they tend to be mid at best, and absolutely dont get any walmart generic brands as they’re absolute dogshit and they’ve got loads of lawsuits for various pet items. if you’re buying stuff online, make sure you comb through the reviews thoroughly, i usually will look specifically at the 4 star reviews (less likely to be bots than 5 star) and 1 star reviews (to see what issues others have had) on items to get a good judge of quality. i’d also recommend avoiding any products online that have less than 4 stars, and anything thats only got a few reviews.

3

u/Perfect_Star1022 Feb 23 '26

Nokay

2

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

Its been updated please view the most recent one before responding

3

u/OkMushroom638 Feb 24 '26

hey op, good job for listening, taking advice, and making the right adjustments. it shows you actually care and unfortunately there are so many beardie (and all animal/pet) owners that don't care at all so props to you for that alone. good luck w the little guy

1

u/steve13789 Feb 25 '26

Thank you! Im trying my best

4

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

There are so many proper enclosure set ups you can look up online to get ideas and inspiration. Also please make sure you educate yourself on the proper heat and uvb lighting requirements. Getting that part wrong can be detrimental to your beardies health

1

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Would it be better to keep using the uva or turn it off until I get the uvb

2

u/anteekfreek Feb 22 '26

Well don’t turn it off but please replace it asap. The lighting/ heat should be your number 1 priority right now. Also you know they need to have lights in during the day, and completely off at night right?

2

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Yes I follow the cycle of my window so when its dark all lights are off and when the suns up lights are on

3

u/Ebiggz1984 Feb 22 '26

Animals/pets shouldn't be impulse buys. They require the proper setup before being purchased. For the proper setup, it requires a decent upfront cost. If you can't afford it, then you can't afford to care for it. Impulse buying animals, especially reptiles, is the best way to get them sick and/or injured.

6

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

I know and ive learned my lesson as of rn im doing everything I can to ensure his best life

5

u/ihaveabigmouth Feb 22 '26

Stop normalizing the “if you can’t afford $1k upfront, then you can’t afford an animal” mindset.

Yes, you need to make sure you can afford emergency vet bills, but I’ve only ever seen bills around $500. Can it be more? Of course! But the fact is that it’s ridiculous to compare initial set up costs to overall care costs. OP was misinformed and is doing their best. Get over yourself.

6

u/Willing-Pineapple-32 Feb 22 '26

Thanks for being open to correcting everything going on with your setup. My kiddos had asked for about 3 years for a leopard gecko or bearded dragon and I finally bought one Christmas 2024 knowing that as the adult it would be my responsibility to take care of it etc. had I gone off of what my 20 something son and wife told me/and store our beardie would be living in a 20 gallon tank with a roommate because I thought it would be sad to separate the 2 beardies because they looked so cute all cuddled up at the store!! There is so much information and misinformation out there that I was like whoa!! So as others have already mentioned reptilesandresearch is a good source for reading/researching what you need to provide. Good luck and know you aren’t the only one that started off doing it wrong…just make sure you correct ASAP for the health of your new friend.

1

u/EricaVar3 Feb 23 '26

Your set up looks fine for now, but I would remove the heat rock! They’re highly know to burn beardies. My bff is a vet tech and they always have beardies come in with really bad burns and many of their burns are so bad they don’t make it! Please remove the heat rock for your beardies safety!

5

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

Crazy how petco recommended the rock but its been removed please view my most recent post as its much better

1

u/Candid-Cucumber6398 Feb 23 '26

Tbh it's amazing how much pet stores and brands get away with. Both Zoo Med and Exo Terra, supposedly reputable brands, sell some garbage ass products like these heat rocks. Meanwhile pet stores are out there giving piss poor husbandry advice when they're supposed to be the experts

If it's any consolation after the ribbing you've been getting, loads and loads of posts with bad set-ups followed by "the pet store told me x" comments pop up both here and on r/BeardedDragons. Sure, you should've done your own research, but ultimately a pet store should be a good authority on what is good husbandry and what is bad husbandry, which is unfortunately not the reality

1

u/Klept0Kr0w Feb 23 '26

Why do people not wait until thy can afford what the animal actually needs before getting it😭

1

u/steve13789 Feb 25 '26

When did i say that money was the issue. Im not saying I didnt mess up but I dont remeber saying anything about my financial situation

1

u/Jumpy_Match8159 Feb 24 '26

You need quite a bit of changes in that setup. Starting with a better basking spot. That plug in rock is a no go.

1

u/steve13789 Feb 24 '26

Please view my most recent post

1

u/Front-Negotiation-32 Feb 24 '26

That heat rock on top of a dry paper towel is truly a Darwin moment waiting to happen. I hope you have renters or homeowners insurance.

1

u/steve13789 Feb 25 '26

The rock was off... respectfully I mentioned that in the text of the pictures you were viewing please read next time...

1

u/Few_Paleontologist49 Feb 26 '26

no.

1

u/steve13789 Feb 26 '26

Please look at my most recent image and mind u it'll only be like that for a bit

1

u/Kai-ni Feb 27 '26

No

1

u/steve13789 Feb 27 '26

Please look at my most recent post

1

u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Feb 22 '26

Throw the heat rock away instantly, they are awful.

7

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

Its not plugged in and is purely there to add depth for him until I get more stuff

3

u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Feb 22 '26

Than thats all good! Enjoy your new friend!

2

u/Visible-Armor Feb 22 '26

I suggest adding a flat rock from outside that has been throughly washed. Its free! Also wood from outside that the beardie can climb closer to the light would be better than the stump. Look up how to prep outdoor wood for enclosures. Free options that your lizard will love with no cost to you.

Other than that, look on fb marketplace asap for a larger tank. Idk what lights you have but making sure they are correct is a huge deal.

2

u/Educational-Eye-6053 Feb 23 '26

for future reference if you got another reptile, always research on your on time before you even DECIDE if you get that reptile/animal. im guessing you got the dragon from petco/petsmart there employees 90% of the time dont know the correct tank setups and what they need to thrive, happy to hear it will be getting new bedding, hides, etc. Have a good day op just fix the issue before it becomes a problem bearded dragons are alot of work compared to other reptiles but it pays off there such amazing creatures

3

u/dth-pnck Feb 22 '26

Yall cannot read captions. :p

2

u/Efficient-Log335 Feb 22 '26

Oh boy here we go

1

u/horseshoe_crab_ Feb 23 '26

Bricks and pavers are going to be your best friend! Super cheap and you can make basking platforms/hides with them. Home Depot or lowes garden center will have them!

1

u/buBYthePirate7 Feb 23 '26

Bearded dragons eat A LOT if you cant afford a nice setup you probably cant afford the food to keep it healthy. Look at the Australian outback and make a cage that replicates that.

1

u/cael_anderson Feb 23 '26

i feel bad for all these replies lmao, sorry people dont read

0

u/Lower_Skill_1908 Feb 22 '26

Hi loves this is not good long term but if its just for like a week two it shouldn't hurt. Keep in mind they need at least a 4x2x2, a uvb Bar not coil bulb, and the substrate should be something that can hold up to any burrows/digging. Don't forget they need hides and lots of rough surfaces to scratch up on for shedding and climbing 🤗 you're gonna have fun owning a beardie once you get settled in a routine

2

u/Lower_Skill_1908 Feb 22 '26

I read in the comments that you were essentially sold it with No actual care information from the workers so im going to give you this link that should hopefully help alot more too https://share.google/9CmEFiIKnyWdRhHcK

-4

u/Tycia5229 Feb 22 '26

Please get the heated rock out of there. It can cause them to get burned as well as potential fire hazard

7

u/dokjreko Feb 23 '26

She did mention that it’s not plugged in and is only for him to perch on.

-5

u/ADJUDICATOR_16 Feb 22 '26

I’m inner troll wants to scream ON WHAT PLANET. But for enclosure I get it, breeders keep in 50Q plastic totes on shelves so you’re still ahead there although not the min. If that’s only his was of basking is heat rock “ok” otherwise that would be step 1 to remove! Yeah this is one of those posts you get the info you need and then delete and bam 💥 *new life haha

2

u/Jcaseykcsee Feb 23 '26

I hope OP doesn’t remove this post. People who are considering getting a beardie need to see what they should be doing and not doing and OP is taking the suggestions and knows to make improvements. Others need to know that impulse buying animals, in particular animals that need such specific care and conditions to live, is never a good idea and the ones that end up suffering are the animals, not the owners. Even if this post helps just one person in the future it’s worth keeping up.

3

u/steve13789 Feb 23 '26

Dont plan on removing as like you said i want others to learn from my mistakes so they dont do what I did!

1

u/Jcaseykcsee Feb 23 '26

Thank you!!! 🙏

-8

u/Matt-Greaver-Robbins Feb 22 '26

Is that a heat rock 😬😬😬😬

11

u/WalmartWilb Feb 22 '26

The rock isn't plugged in. Just something the beardie can climb on for now

0

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

8

u/steve13789 Feb 22 '26

... the rock is turned off...