Bioactive Bearded Dragon Tank Update. After a year, it's time to refresh this enclosure!

[@katiewyatt4399]

Man not only is this guy a lizard expert and a teacher, according to that certificate to the right he's a black belt in taekwondo. You sir, are a legend.

[@richardroyster405]

Too kind!

[@Brucelovesjulie]

I just found your channel, and I got to say I really enjoy your videos and the level of understanding you have is phenomenal.

[@rachel031404]

That’s a lifetime learner for ya!

[@MrBob58o]

Good stuff. Maybe consider burying small "planter pots" in the soil. A plastic kids cup with lid and a few holes poked in the bottom. The lid, with hole for the plant stem, would prevent access to the perlite and would limit moisture evaporation. I grew fresh micro greens in my beardy's terrarium and he loved eating the fresh sprouts

[@KineticTaco]

You remind me of my 8th grade science teacher. Mr. Messina. His love for fish and yours for reptiles makes me have faith in schools once again.

[@ChrissyB529]

Hey Richard I am a plant lover and I have a little trick you can use to get rid of the soil from the garden center that has the vermiculite and perlite in it. Some platers will so this if they need to acclimate a plant to a specific soil type. what you can try to do is manually massage the roots without braking them to get as much soil off as possible. Then you need to get a bucket of clean water so you can repeatedly dip/soak the roots while gently rubbing to loosen the soil and shouldn't shock the plant too much. then transplant it into the soil you have. then all you have to do is water like normal. This will help not damage the roots so the plants should be okay but sometimes they cannot acclimate and will die anyway. Any who, I am sorry for the ramble and I hope this helps you. I really love your videos and is giving me something to think about when it comes to picking a set up for my potential bearded dragon baby (I'm still in the learning phase of all this).

[@mindyaston7379]

I love how he's just hanging out and watching you. My girl is in my kitchen so she watches me all day 🦎❤️

[@bassingbasics6621]

Yeah my girls always on my roof

[@livingwithlizards3104]

First time I've seen a bearded dragon bioactive video that wasn't filmed right after setting it up. I've always wondered how things go for the lizard long term. Thank you for posting this follow-up video. Very informative to see a setup long term.

[@richardroyster405]

Thank you! Same time next year perhaps!

[@piratescode]

I just wanted to thank you for these awesome videos. I'm wanting to get my first bearded dragon and provide a nice habitat for them. But so many things that I found only spoke of all the dangers and expensive products that you must buy to not hurt them. So it is super refreshing to finally see someone that is letting them live normally while still being safe, smart, and responsible about it. Thank you again!

[@BreeBattery]

His love of the food bowl is so wholesome.

[@kellywicker8985]

You may try feeding greens at the first sign of hunger and add insects much later. Thank you so much for your details of caring for your Beardie 🥰🦎

[@seniorazer5249]

Good tipp, i will try :)

[@copernicuslives]

wow this is amazing most people that dont live in australia think its all dessert and thats not true this setup makes it look like the real outback love your work :)

[@PicnicForOne]

Also, thank you for this awesome tutorial on bioactive habitats and the subsequent check in, it helps to know it worked!

[@gamebred26]

The drainage layer you added is what's causing the soil to get too dry. You don't need it for an arid enclosure. It's pulling all the water to the bottom of the tank.

[@djfjfjkenend]

you should post again! i enjoy listening to you talk and i love your beardie:)

[@0claudiusx0]

Enjoyed this and the prior video. You are completely right about the misplaced fear on humidity. It's just not an issue for most situations. That being said though, I wanted to mention that thermometer/hygrometer combo you are using to measure you humidity, sucks. I have a few of the same ones that I've tested. The temperature is pretty accurate, the humidity is way off on it. You can test your hygrometer yourself to verify. Just google how to calibrate a hygrometer (many cigar sites have guides). But really, good job on the videos, and the information.

[@richardroyster405]

I appreciate the tip! One of the thermometer/hygrometer didn't make it one year so it stands to reason it isn't the greatest piece of equipment.

[@sawdustwhisper9397]

To get the dirt out of the roots is fairly easy. I knock off what I can as gently as possible. I soak them in water and than gently rinse off the soaked mud. You really can’t get 100 percent of it off but you will get all of the perlite out

[@my_isabell]

Great video! Thank you for showing Digi while you're redecorating his enclosure. Totally relaxed and calm... precious :) So many people show only their faces talking and explaining, which is not right. Love your attitude towards the cleaning crew - they also must be happy :) I came across to your video just now, why not earlier?!

[@maderastudio8493]

Alright, thanks for the update! He looks great, I really like that bioactive setup. Great video, wonderful beardy tank, very informative. Thank you for informed ideas/examples, and not getting into all the hype of things to do and NEVER do. My son and I are looking to get a bigger tank for our beardy. He’s grown so much. Considering making one. I do like this bioactive for the setup. Thank you very much, we really enjoyed your beardy videos. 👍 🦎

[@richardroyster405]

So much HYPE you are right!!

[@aubreyyoung6664]

I like how digi said earthquake 😱😄

[@bradbickwermert1061]

hey this is Ayden, Cindy Bickwermert grandson. Thanks for the Video!

[@lukefredriksen7417]

Great pair of video's, thank you! Love the idea of growing herbs in the viv. I used to feed my beardy dandelions, he loved them, flowers, stems and leaves!

[@enelis4492]

That food dish has 100% got to be a blessing. I am so getting it, thank you XD

[@NenetteSerrano]

Thank you for this video update! I plan on getting a bearded dragon soon and I've been watching a lot of videos on how to setup a tank. Your videos have been very informative and its helping me narrow down the things that I need for my future beardy. *New Subscriber here*

[@m3agz1]

May I suggest to join a group called bearded dragons and common sense care on Facebook. A few things he does is incorrect on care such as uvb lighting, feeders, and temperatures.

[@PicnicForOne]

For plants to put in your tank, soak the nursery mix off, transplant into clean soil a few weeks before putting into your tank so they have a chance to settle thier roots in after the soak/cleaning and will have some strength built up when they get into the tank.

[@abbieoffman4105]

this is good, not great, but good.

[@chelseyjohnson6380]

Thank you for this! :) I was wondering about getting a LED light for my plants as well!

[@m3agz1]

His light set up is not properly done for bearded dragon care. Needs to be t5 or t8 tube lighting that covers 2/3rds of the tank. To avoid your dragon to get metabolic bone disease which is irreversible and not a pretty sight. Bulbs and coil bulbs do not give enough uvb. A t5 gets mounted above the tank and the mesh or a t8 needs to be mounted inside.

[@chelseyjohnson6380]

@@m3agz1 Yeah, my comment was about LED for the plants. Not about the UVB for the dragon.

[@Brucelovesjulie]

Yeah your Beardy is beautiful and super alert, you know you're doing a fantastic job if you got a lizard that looks like that! :)

[@jonhidden-coley1553]

This is an awesome set up! We have just bought our 13 yr old son a habitat for Christmas, after asking for 2 years, we now feel he is old enough to help care for the dragon safely. We are in the UK and though the options for the substrate here seems to be the bagged gravel stuff, you and others on youtube kindly advise of dangers if consumed. It has made me want to try replicate the incredible natural tank like you have with plants.. It is fantastic & very interesting. Thank you so much. :)

[@121VeNoM121]

Hi, I'm also in the UK and in the process of upgrading to bioactive!. My recommendation for your substrate is Arcadia Earthmix Arid. It is a premixed substrate perfectly suited to bioactive setups for desert dwellers like bearded dragons.

[@richardroyster405]

There are many, excellent pre-made substrates. Good suggestion.

[@m3agz1]

His light set up is not properly done for bearded dragon care. Needs to be t5 or t8 tube lighting that covers 2/3rds of the tank. To avoid your dragon to get metabolic bone disease which is irreversible and not a pretty sight. Bulbs and coil bulbs do not give enough uvb. A t5 gets mounted above the tank and the mesh or a t8 needs to be mounted inside. I suggest to join this group on Facebook called bearded dragons and common sense care. To get the correct information on care for your dragon!

[@katelong6216]

Your habitat is amazing! Thank you for sharing!! I'm working on converting my beardie's habitat to bioactive, and this video with the first video answered so many of my questions. But now I have more questions- does digi (sp?) like the habitat? Does he climb and play or does he just laze around? Does he ever dig up the plants? I tried to give Mushu (my beardie) some plants but she was digging a lot and just dug them up. Also, poop- does he poop on the rock where it's easy to clean up? Does he poop on the substrate? Does the clean up crew help keep the poop situation under control or do you have to keep on top of it? I'm assuming there were no problems with him eating the substrate/impaction, the leaf litter is a clever and natural way to deal with that problem. Thanks again for your videos!!

[@lisa-annen.7867]

I’m not a professional by any means, but 2 tips that may help: 1) feed him the salad 1st a few hours before the bugs since he’s not a fan and fills up on bugs 2) get some bee pollen and sprinkle that over the salad, it’s like a yummy salad dressing for lizards I’m loving your videos your bearded dragon is beautiful and your bio active setup is awesome! Best of luck!!!!

[@abesmith9517]

thanks so much! I'm going to get a bearded dragon soon so i want to give it the best life possible :)

[@richardroyster405]

That was my philosophy too! As an added bonus, I love taking Didgie outside. I sit in a lawn chair and let him roam. He clearly loves it.

[@abesmith9517]

@@richardroyster405 sounds like Diggie has a great life! wait did i spell diggie wrong?

[@Lexi-vp5kk]

@@richardroyster405 Oh my gosh. You spell Didgie the same as i do. That's what i named my dragon. How'd you come up with the name?

[@m3agz1]

His light set up is not properly done for bearded dragon care. Needs to be t5 or t8 tube lighting that covers 2/3rds of the tank. To avoid your dragon to get metabolic bone disease which is irreversible and not a pretty sight. Bulbs and coil bulbs do not give enough uvb. A t5 gets mounted above the tank and the mesh or a t8 needs to be mounted inside. Joking on Facebook a group called bearded dragons and common sense care. To get correct information on proper care for your dragon.

[@ethanmartinez2171]

Next time you can submerge your plants in water in a bucket or some type of container prior to get all the perlite out without damaging the root systems hope that helps i remember i had an issue ones time with my plants and needed to get rid of all the prior soil fast and thats what i thought of my plants thrived right after not too much stress on them

[@MalonLabe1776]

Omg I totally forgot. I cut 4 inches off a garden hose and ran it down to the screen on the humid side then add water so it so I'd goes into the rocks and soaks up thru the bottom. Never had an issue

[@Brucelovesjulie]

Bearded Dragons in the wild are subjected to 40% humidity pretty much all the time. So you're good!

[@annakristinahoffman3387]

so what’s killing the plants is root shock. you can fix this by slowly integrating them into the same soil , though this would require much patience and commitment lol

[@brianhayward9729]

i was scard my beard oh tank was not to well and now i know what to do you legend thanks.

[@kjamesjr]

Only thing I might add is adding some mealworms into the soil to help aerate. Don’t use straight earth worms.

[@juliamatthews7586]

I use a daylight bulb for my rare tropical houseplant collection. $4 at dollarama in Canada. Works great!

[@galaxypeople1612]

Awe he’s so cute

[@DW-kr6iw]

Really found your videos incredibly informative. Beautiful tank setup.

[@charlottecrawford5333]

if you soak your plants you can massage off all of the old soil! It is kind of tedious but it works if you're careful!

[@cloveypfeiffer3918]

Digi looks great! Love the videos 👍

[@bobfish3176]

Thx will try that food bowl! so tired fishing dead bugs from their water dish!

[@robbieburden8222]

My beardie only eats arugula for a veggie incase u have not tried it. Great videos

[@mjciara]

Ours loves arugula too.

[@donaldhoward653]

Great video. I learned quit a bit.

[@jodaddyswoodshop331]

Thanks For the update.

[@lesleysears9808]

You need a cool side. Growing Portulaca is great for dragons. Mine eat it, but not much faster than it grows. They like to eat the flowers and they are drought tolerant. Chickens live to eat them too.

[@Okamika44]

Here in Florida, we are lucky if we get tank humidity down to 50%

[@dpoulos3633]

My bearded dragon loves blueberries!

[@richardroyster405]

I've seen lots of videos of Beardies eating blueberries. There must be something about them.

[@mindyaston7379]

My beardie won't eat ANY fruit! She's such a girl and does what SHE wants 🤣

[@AsylumTrumper]

I need your help, I think I’m doing it all wrong. I have a red light and white light and I leave them both on all day, then at light I leave the red one on to keep her warm. I see you don’t have a red light, am I doing it all wrong? I bet I am cause she doesn’t seem to be growing to well, I really hope to hear back

[@isabellethomson9963]

Hey! Just found your channel and love your informative vids! Just a quick question: are you using any specific kinds of leaves, or just random ones from around the place? And how long and for what temp do you put them in the oven? I love the BioActive setup idea! Thanks for this :)

[@kobyakawamiyuki6358]

dont worry about pearlite i use it in my setup and it is tested with a all bd ages

[@abyss610]

have you tried the Rapashy bearded dragon food? its a powder you mix with hot water and let it set up like a firm jello. its a complete diet but could help get him to eat his veggies. i get the Bluey Buffet for my blue tongue skink and he loves it. from what i read it's hit or miss f you pet will like it or not.

[@GrizzlyDave85]

Terrific job, way better! awesome

[@richardroyster405]

Thanks, Grizz!

[@luked1572]

Where do you get your clean up crew from

[@plantingwithnat]

I have to ask where did you get the enclosure and stand from? I love the setup, I was worried about the substrate in the beginning, but I realize it's ok.

[@plentymech]

Thanks for the update, very interesting. Can you share any details on the light stands as I'd really like to track down the same? Your light set-up is more than sufficient IMHO.

[@m3agz1]

His light set up is not properly done for bearded dragon care. Needs to be t5 or t8 tube lighting that covers 2/3rds of the tank. To avoid your dragon to get metabolic bone disease which is irreversible and not a pretty sight. Bulbs and coil bulbs do not give enough uvb. A t5 gets mounted above the tank and the mesh or a t8 needs to be mounted inside.

[@eriklongfellow4787]

@@m3agz1 you are right i would rethink your lighting man the first people that had mentioned it are right for questioning you. Are they Mvb bulbs ?

[@GoobyOoby2702]

Really unfortunate for the dragon in this case as it's been in that condition for so long

[@theboysclub9778]

Dude you are amazing

[@richardroyster405]

I appreciate that!

[@elyssamorris3156]

You should try rinsing the plant roots with water 1st. Or you could propagate so plants in water so you don’t have to remove any peralite

[@ph00n0]

so the "cleanup crew" are you not worried about them making their way into your living space or is that nearly impossible?

[@mamashanshan2772]

You really have helped me and Slayer out!! Thank you!! He’s the sweetest guy ever! Where did you purchase your plants? At a retail? Is this ok?

[@baybay4954]

im not a professional but i think you can get them anywhere as long as you wash the original soil because it has un natural things in it, he has a video setting this tank up

[@baybay4954]

heres the link! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b56tqaRompWjhqM

[@richardroyster405]

Exactly this. I would also recommend buying plants a month or so in advance of putting them in the tank so that any commercial chemicals have a chance to leech out. Probably not a huge deal, but worth it if you are able.

[@johnsreptilepage6857]

I sub to your channel. Keep up the great work …

[@inwardvoyage4209]

Does the UVB light get enough tank coverage, I thought a bar like a T5 would be better? Otherwise there will be spots not getting adequate UVB

[@GoobyOoby2702]

You are correct, a tube uvb is mandatory and needs to cover 2/3rds of the tank starting by the basking bulb and overlapping with it

[@inwardvoyage4209]

@@GoobyOoby2702 Thankyou for confirming, I’ve seen the UVB tests done and bulbs like this usually don’t get much UV into the viv at all. Something that makes me concerned considering I see many many American vivs without the T5

[@ansnfbsknanssshshbsnsndnd5438]

Yes you are correct. A mercury bulb is no where near enough for a desert species like a bearded dragon. Very odd that he wants to provide a natural set up but gives suck a weak uvb source

[@aubreyyoung6664]

I really like watching him Eat

[@abesmith9517]

hey one more question, how much did you spend on all the bearded dragon features in the tank? I'm trying to make budget and it would be nice to have a price limit!

[@richardroyster405]

Let me estimate.... Tank was free. Leaves free, rocks free, limbs free. Plants about $3-4 each but on sale you could get them for cheaper. Soil mixture was probably about $50 total. Charcoal for drainage layer was free because I buy it anyway for my grill but iirc, a bag at Lowe's is less than $10. The lights are, by far, the most expensive part of the setup. The light domes were about $25 each and the UVB/Heat lights were $35 each. The grow light was $30. The lamp stands were $27 for the single stand and $32 for the double stand. So you can easily see where the expense is! Grand total, but still just an estimate, for my particular setup is $300.

[@abesmith9517]

@@richardroyster405 well ok then thank you

[@GodGunsGills]

@@richardroyster405 not activated charcoal?

[@TheBrownstains]

35$ for your bulbs?! 😬 😂 noooooooo!!!! 😆

[@abesmith9517]

@@TheBrownstains my tank was over 200 for everything. I am clearly doing something wrong

[@PicnicForOne]

I would love to know how Digi is doing now!

[@JJJTaylors]

I might have missed it, but what size food bowl did you order?

[@nashmancal5007]

You have the wrong light. your dragon is ok for now but it will not last long because of your light. You need a UVB light that spans 3/4 the length your tank. Read about MBD and you will know what i mean

[@capj64]

If you had watched the video....at the beginning he addresses the uvb light he uses.

[@MalonLabe1776]

Can't keep isopods because my guy is such a savage and he eats them all instantly

[@bostonmedeiros3459]

Maybe you should get aa thermometer

[@addisonsavannah138]

Hi, I have owned a Chinese Water Dragon and a Uromastyx in the past. I’ll be getting my bearded dragon soon and was wondering how much soil you used when you updated your bioactive vivarium, I would like to get it right the first time so I don’t have to re-do. Thanks so much for your help.

[@jennsherwood9090]

Can you please add a link for all the things in the soil.

[@snowps1]

That's odd. If the plants are getting UVA and UVB from the lamps, what are they missing from sunlight to be doing badly?

[@herpthings]

The reflector domes are limiting the spread of the light. So that corner on the left side of the screen was too dark. The domes are good for the bearded dragon, since they point the light downward so he can soak up the rays. That's why there are already two dome lights He mentioned right at the beginning of the video people said he's using "the wrong lights". Many people prefer 1 domed heat bulb for a high heat side and then a slender florescent UVB tube light which would add even light and UVB across the length of the enclosure. Still important for a beardie to have access to shade and hides, the guy's tank should be 120 gallons for an adult beardie so there are multiple hides and multiple shade spots. Anyway, adding long tube lights is better for plants too

[@NISZURI]

Hi dear friend, did the new LED lamp help the plants and they grew? Is it enough? How many watts is it? I ask because I also want to put in my terrarium some succulents, I love your videos!

[@m3agz1]

His light set up is not properly done for bearded dragon care. Needs to be t5 or t8 tube lighting that covers 2/3rds of the tank. To avoid your dragon to get metabolic bone disease which is irreversible and not a pretty sight. Bulbs and coil bulbs do not give enough uvb. A t5 gets mounted above the tank and the mesh or a t8 needs to be mounted inside.

[@NISZURI]

@@m3agz1 I have a uvb + uva lamp, my question was about the LED lamp you put in the video, did it help the plants grow? (I'm curious because I ordered the same lamp and still haven't arrived) And another question is does the bearded eat the plants?

[@gabului4673]

Quick question? What gallon tank do you have?

[@TheBrownstains]

Waaaaaay to small for that size lizard.

[@finestsickman216]

@@TheBrownstains exactly! It's a 55galllon bowfront. WAY TOO small

[@challengeking6521]

what's his name

[@adubzzz]

What size is the enclosure? I can't figure out where I could find some like these! Thank you for these videos.

[@traquisbunting3257]

That’s a 72 gallon bow front aquarium.

[@DanielNelson]

What kind of isopods?

[@squeaky313able]

Can a beardie eat isopods instead of the roaches. Mine doesn't go for the roaches really.

[@Nazoirr]

You are no lizard master, why? COIL UVB

[@snowps1]

Is there a video about your substrate?

[@NomadTrailRider]

Do you mist your tank to water the plants? If so how often do you do that?

[@hollon327]

Where did you get your isopods and springtails

[@reeffish]

What is the charcoal that you use as the drainage layer?

[@NomadTrailRider]

Where do you order your roaches at? Can you link that? Do you breed them to keep a nice supply of them?

[@highc6866]

Is this possible or do I need a biology degree?

[@shellyfunk]

Did you replace the whole substrate or just a little?? Thank you

[@richardroyster405]

I did not remove any substrate, just added more.

[@miltowncorey]

Another update????

[@aubreyyoung6664]

Because he really likes that protein the bugs have protein

[@daskaterkyle2]

how is the smell on a bio active setup? Do the aromatic plants help much?

[@richardroyster405]

It is odorless unless I stick my head all the way in it and then it just smells like dirt and leaves slightly. Didgie likes to hang out under the rosemary plant so every time I pick him up I get a strong smell of rosemary!

[@avianagrace2287]

Isn’t humidity 30% and higher at risk for giving a bearded dragon a respiratory infection?

[@katiek.5614]

Technically yes! But it really depends on the individual animal... if the animal is handling the environment just fine and all physical exam check ups come back great, then it’s not a big deal. Bearded dragons are hardier than a lot of other reptiles thankfully. Now let’s say you’re talking about an animal as fickle as a chameleon?? Yikes, you better follow that care guide as close as you can!

[@richardroyster405]

No. Check the weather in Australia in the south central area. Daily humidity has a wide range even in the scrub land. Humidity isn't the problem. Airflow, mold, and mildew is the problem. Some folks that live in Florida, especially breeders, keep their beardies outside which has high humidity but lots of fresh air.

[@iiirecu8913]

Did you glue your rocks ?

[@brianhayward9729]

how much did this cost?

[@Matspyropowerhouse]

What humidity do you personally aim for ?

[@Matspyropowerhouse]

Didn’t watch all the way through till I asked /nvm

[@elliot9856]

Hey I’m thinking of getting a beardie I was wondering how many gallons your tank is?

[@1976mcfarlane]

40 breeder is the smallest you want to have for adult. A 4ftx2ftx2ft is optional amount of space for an adult.

[@xrkdino2393]

how often do you change the soil?

[@jmorris999]

You should never have to change it. Adding new organic material and the cleanup crew doing their thing keeps the soil healthy.

[@lunytunez3634]

when he misses his food that could be a genitic problem

[@aubreyyoung6664]

I miss digi already

[@richardroyster405]

Thank you, Aubrey!

[@brianhayward9729]

as a watching you said crickets never feed bearded dragons crickets most of the time crickets are alredy sick by the time you buy them!

[@lotusflover4703]

Isn’t that way too small tank??😲

[@emmahansford6844]

I love your video and i was wondering if you cold send a video of why I should get a beard drogaon to my mum please please I really want a bear dragon and i think if you send a video mum wold say yes and my name is luca