Petsmart Supplies Terrible for Reptiles!

[@noisyeyes9897]

I like the starter kits because most petsmarts will let you Exhange the items inside for new ones, or just let you keep their money value on a merch card. so free ish money or even less money spent on your enclosure.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Whoa! I didn’t know that! That’s actually really awesome! Thanks for spreading the info!

[@SpookySaurian]

Thank you so much! I recently bought a Leopard Gecko (and I'm planning on getting a Pixie Frog later in the year), and videos like this have helped me to maintain proper husbandry for my pets

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@InkDemon55]

My brother was gotta get a Pac-Man frog but my mom said no because they are hard to take care of so he got a parakeet

[@SpookySaurian]

@@InkDemon55 imo, I would've gotten the Pacman Frog, as they're actually the easier ones to take care of lol

[@CourtneyMathers]

im sure you know this but i just wanna say just in case, be prepared for the pyxie (african bullfrog), it it's a male he can get up to like 10lbs which is a chonky frog. 40 ish gallons *minimum* for a full grown froggy and they can live like 35 years in captivity. they are very small and deceiving as babys, but they get HUGE! and live very very long with proper care.

[@kimberlypillman2983]

Thank you for always being so educational about reptiles and also for explaining things in a way that us first time reptile owners can understand. I have always wanted a bearded dragon and this year hubby and I became empty nesters so we read up, watched videos and talked to people and only then did we get our dragon. I’ve still got a lot to learn but day by day we will get there. Thank you again!❤

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help and I will say thank goodness you understand me cause my biggest worry is not being able to explain things to new owners. The main goal of my channel was to guide new keepers into the hobby. So happy to hear I’m somewhat doing ok 😂 thank you.

[@kimberlypillman2983]

I was watching your channel one day a few months back and my husband stopped and watched with me then said “This guy is good!”. Just follow your heart. You are doing great!👍 😊

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@kimberlypillman2983 appreciate the kind words!

[@jimmymcgreason]

So happy I found your channel a couple weeks ago. I'm trying to backtrack and fix a bearded dragon habitat, and your videos. have been extremely helpful. Hoping to have a bioactive habitat set up soon.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@FVDB-zl3vb]

Thank you very much!! Already done my research but this always helps even more. With your videos my leopard gecko is thriving in his 40 gallon bioactive!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Let’s go!!!! Love to hear it! Thank you!

[@reginojacobo1050]

Thank you so much. All your knowledge has helped me a lot to keep my reptiles healthy. Great information.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help as always!

[@santosmedina4299]

My oh my has this helped and opened my eyes!!! Just picked up the starter kit and the dried food!! Thank you so so much for all the knowledge and help!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Glad this is getting to the right audience!

[@YochevedDesigns]

This was incredibly helpful. I'm getting ready to get my first beardie, and I took lots of notes. You've got a new subscriber!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! Welcome aboard

[@tomsgreengallery]

Bro, I wanna give you a shoutout for being so knowledgeable on this stuff. Helps us out a lot, thank you bud. 💯

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Appreciate that a lot! No problem just always want to help others out

[@lauriemartinez7387]

Thank you for making these videos! I bought a bearded dragon and I feel so overwhelmed and these are helping me. I’m fixing all my mistakes

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@chibilune3823]

Thanks so much for the video! I remember watching your videos before I purchased my first bearded dragon. 🙂 Your videos are awesome and very informative! Thanks for being the best! 😊

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@MCReptiles]

Amazing video and great advice when it comes to starter kits. Only thing I have mixed results with are the coiled uvb bulbs. The coiled not the folded tubed kind. I used to have a T5 with my dragon but when I tested for the uvb it wasn't outputing no where near as much as it should have. I had to place wood to get my dragon closer to the bulb to get the right amount. The bulb was only a month old and is inside her enclosure. I had a compact uvb on the shelf for emergencies when I don't have tub uvbs. That little compact uvb put out more uvb then the T5. Lol I was surprised that it even reaches further in the tank then the T5. It could be just the T5 bulb I have that's the issue. I even looked up other videos on here and seen someone else have the same results as I did. They tested compact coiled uvb against T8 and T5 and with those results the compact was better output and coverage in their test. I would love to see someone else test them all out correctly. So run all the bulbs for 40 hours to get them their burn time then test then like he did with a mesh top and no mesh. But lol don't test out the folded tub style uvb as they are meant to be used sideways not vertical. But again loved the video and keep putting out amazing videos. Can't wait to see what comes out in 2024.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you very much. I have tested many uvb bulbs and will say It truly depends on which t5 you use. I tested the reptizoo and they were incredibly weak most amazon ones are the same way. In this video I burned in the 26 watt zoo med coil uvb for 48 hours and at first it produced really good uvb coverage but after 6 hours it stayed at 2.5 16 inches under mesh screen I tested many 13 watt coils and they always gave me exact same results as well mounted correctly and incorrectly which was very weak. You do get nearly double uvb output sideways but going from 0.6 to 1.0 with the smaller coils is not that great. However the larger coils do give pretty decent coverage I will say but still not great from my tests

[@MCReptiles]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse this is the guy that got more or less the same results I did when I tested all my setups. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJK2eHSwiLB3hbMsi=BfCbD0_44qIIoi7S I used to breed bearded dragons for a few years and stopped due to moving so much for work. So I have used both for a few years now. On my test with tub style they do great when you have them inside the enclosure but even then have to have the animals have a way to get close to them. I got the same output he did when I tested a compact on top of mesh and a bulb t5 inside the enclosure. Lol uvb bulbs are hard to understand if you don't use a meter to test them. I have helped friends with their setups besides they add a T5 high output and think it will put enough uvb to find out that the reptile has to be 4 inches away to get the right amount of uvb. I hope one day someone can come out with cheaper reliable meters everyone can easily buy. It's the only way to find out what works in their setups. Someone that has a basking sight only on the ground level will need a stronger bulb then someone that has their basking sight 8 inches away from the bulb. I believe each bulb has its usage depending on the setup besides those folded compact bulbs you showed as the coiled style are the upgraded version as the T5 is to the T8 lol. Think that's why they usually add that folded style with the starter kits as they are cheaper and useless.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@MCReptiles I totally agree I do think the coil uvb bulbs do have some use for a lot of species. I watched his video and I got the same results for a lot of uvb he tested as well which is why I don’t recommend those uvb bulbs for dragons as they just don’t produce enough for dragons however there are tons of animals they do produce enough for. Just isn’t bearded dragons uromastyx and other high uvb craving reptiles that are all over the box. Also I haven’t tested the exo terra UVBs out yet tested tons of UVBs but still have never tested exo terra however I have heard they are some of the strongest producing coil uvb bulbs that have decent uvb. The only tube t5s I recommend are the Arcadia and zoo med as they produce great uvb. I have 30 of those and they all produce the exact same amount which on my large enclosures is very strong even at 2ft away. But you do have to get the right ones for the right distance. even on top of screen mesh they produce very strong uvb. The other t5 brands like reptizoo are terrible and do have to be like 4 inches away for any uvb

[@dylanjwicklund92]

Yeah, the good way to test your UVB bulb is to just turn it on by itself. In a darker room and you can see it fairly lights up the cage. It will light up just a tiny area underneath it.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

It can still light up and produce no UVB. That’s why a solarmeter is important but they are extremely expensive. Cause it can still be lit up but completely useless

[@Bio3ngineer]

💯 the equipment they provide is completely inadequate for reptiles and there’s nowhere near enough lighting in those for a proper bioactive setup

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

They have been upgrading recently so I’m really surprised. I found them selling solar meters at my petsmart I was floored!

[@Julia-rr7zu]

Just bought my first leopard geckos. Awesome video and tips. It’s always good to start with the best for your pets! Thanks for the video.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Congratulations 🎉 happy to help!

[@hamadahmed915]

Would love to see a video on MVB

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Definitely want to do one. I need like 3 pairs of each one though. That way it’ll be a really good test but that’s super expensive haha

[@Mr.Surrena]

I am a firm believer they should have a build your own starter kit. Kinda like the same concept as building a computer at microcenter, but your building a starter setup or a bioactive setup area that would be awesome even if the bioactive setup area was just once a week or once a month. But they need to change they're ways. The petsmart in my area lack the knowledge to care for pets.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah that would be really cool to have a area for beginners to build a starter kit but I agree the employees even in my area lack the expertise so it would be hard to implement

[@michoe24]

There really should be a new manufacturer delivering quality starter kits. It’s insane how neglected the market is.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That’s exactly what I’m saying!

[@cow_lick1956]

Hey. I have a question. I built the open top enclosure that you posted with the sliding doors. Great build. We put our beardie in and I have two 100w heat lamps and it seems to not be getting nearly hot enough. Not sure what the issue is. I do need to raise her basking area but the ambient air isn’t hot enough. Not sure what to do

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

As long as the ambient air is above 75f you should be ok just make sure the basking spot is an appropriate temps. I would raise the basking spot.

[@tyler9mm614]

I got the zoo med tropical uvb and heat lighting kit. it comes with the folded uvb bulb and the blue uv heat bulb. I'm using them for my green anole. should I buy different bulbs? is the blue one ok for day time if I have other sun colored lights also?

[@Dingos_exotic]

I would change the blue bulb and get a normal one but I'm not sure about the ubv

[@bonfiresquire]

I went into a local pet store where a breeder told me I got too big of a terrarium for my bearded dragon. I ordered a 120 gallon tank for him and told him I got a uvb bar light and he told me a 40 gallon tank with a coil uvb light was enough for them. when I asked if that was one of the two lights above his tank he realized he didn’t even have a uv light above his cage and had to grab one… thanks for all the info feels like I’m getting told wrong info by all pet store/ pet smart employees

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Yeah that sounds like a regular pet store crazy they always seem like they have no clue what they are doing. Haha. I will tell you a 120 is perfectly fine and you definitely need uvb that is a t5 Arcadia or zoo med. no coils!

[@dbzcollector9963]

You just saved me cause I was planning on getting a leopard gecko this weekend and I was originally gonna get one of those uvb coil bulbs thinking it would be sufficient enough to not give it D3. Now I can get a proper fixture for my tank. Since it’s probably gonna be a baby or juvenile I’m gonna get a 20 gallon long tank that’s only 12 inches high but I plan on upgrading by the end of the year or when Petco has their 1$ per gallon sale. Should I mount the fixture a litter higher or would it be fine to just lay it on the top screen?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Oh yes petco is actually having that sale right now I went yesterday. So with a leopard gecko the Arcadia shadedweller 7% will be good on top of screen for a regular leopard gecko. If you get a albino gecko you can raise it up like 3 inches above the screen

[@dbzcollector9963]

⁠@@ChiefSweetsUniverse yeah I just checked this morning what luck! So I decided to go with a 40 gallon would that be too much for baby/juvenile? Or would providing multiple hides help with stress? I thought it would be better and cheaper if I just went right out and got a bigger tank than having to upgrade in a couple months.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@dbzcollector9963 oh yeah that would be perfect you may need two heat lamps for it maybe two 75 watts or 2 50 watts so you can make a larger basking area but its perfect. yes clutter it up and the leopard gecko will be fine!

[@dbzcollector9963]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverseawesome I’ll make sure to pick up an extra heat lamp thanks!

[@xth3if_ofsoulsx109]

How do you feel about a mecury vaporbulb for a red ear slider??

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Hmm wouldn’t do it unless you had a solar meter

[@reaganmcfarland1372]

hi, I got my leopard gecko around a year ago from a family friend and they obviously malnourished him and gave him mbd. He's now around 4-5 years old and eats every 3-4 days but he hates the heat lamp I have for him. He really only likes the ceramic lamp which has no light. I don't know if I'm just ignorant but he seems to hate basking in real light. Everything else is really usual and normal except this. Just wanted to comment and ask for advice, also I love your channel, so informing and intriguing.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Hello thank you! Yes they aren’t daytime baskers like bearded dragons they will only hang around like 30 minutes before lights out or a little in the morning. Sleep all day then are active all night. They have snake eyes that will allow them to see much better at night that’s why he doesn’t like the light so much. Not ignorant at all very normal behavior

[@reaganmcfarland1372]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thank you so much for the fast reply, that makes much more sense now.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@reaganmcfarland1372 happy to help

[@kittyvine823]

I got a question, so please answer this cause no one else can; Do I have to put a substrate in my Dragons habit? I clean him daily if needed, but he lives in a 40 Gallon with a tile on his floor. I really don't think he needs anything else on the floor. Of course I pay attention to him with food and music But, is cage/crate/enclosure substrate that important?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

It is pretty important. We are noticing that tile as substrate is causing joint damage similar if we just sat around and walked on concrete all day everyday. Also it has the same issues of having low humidity and stuff but tiles aren’t anything like reptile carpet and can be cleaned very easy. So if you want to continue with tile that’ll be fine.

[@YourNormalRobloxian]

I have a bearded dragon and I would say everything on the starter kit is perfectly fine unless you want the most perfect perfect tank

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

The uvb is horrible been tested and even vets deal with dragons in the thousands who come in with metabolic bone disease such a huge problem in the reptile community. That is not fine.

[@faberadk]

hey you sound like you no what you are im getting my first beared dragon any tips

[@BamBam-ty4ns]

I have 4 crested geckos so I shouldn’t have the red light on at night I get scared because even with the red night light tank gets to 60

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Use the deep heat projector 50 watt to get temps up if needed. Since it will only produce heat and no light

[@symbioticanimalalliance674]

Someones a Arcadia sponsor, notice how he never mentions Vivtech or the new T5 in the aquarium hobby that have UVA and B and aren't all fancy and red or "sunrise".

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Lmao I will bet you $10,000,000 I’m not. I only mention Arcadia because they sell it at petsmart lol I also mention the zoo med t5 which is harder to find at a lot of petsmarts so that’s why I mention the Arcadia one more. I wish there was better alternatives but even vivtech has shown to have really short lifespans uvb lifespans around two months.

[@AlexAllenKale]

Hi I was wondering if you could make a crested gecko guide

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes will do!

[@Bongobongo992]

I wake up late so I keep my lights on till 12 and off till 8-11. Is that okay?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You could have a timer let it come on at like 10am and go off at like 8pm

[@Bongobongo992]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Sweet thank you!

[@Mr_Racooner]

so basically no uvb except arcadia is good and reliable?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Zoo med t5 as well. The 5.0 or 10.0

[@Lemon_boy404]

Turning off my beardies night light feels so wrong

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Most people feel this way since they think they will freeze to death but it’s perfectly ok as heat leaves when the sun goes down and it cools off

[@MrSito1987]

@ChiefSweetsUniverse Please help! Just got my first bearded dragon and I’m trying to figure out what would be the best UVB set up for a enclosure that measures 46x18x18? I was sold a kit that was not the greatest with a coil UVB and a small enclosure so im trying to put together a new enclosure which I purchased a 46x18x18 and i want to set it up with all the right requirements for my bearded dragon to be happy and healthy!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

The Arcadia 12% t5 ho 24 inch is usually the best for that size

[@MrSito1987]

Thank you!

[@InkDemon55]

Are the blue daylight bulbs good because they didn't have a another one and so far king has been doing good i just don't know if hes done shedding

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Do they work yes but they don’t mimic the sun as well as the regular basking lamps

[@InkDemon55]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse is it normal for them to borrow underneath their water bowl

[@Nickaroonii]

I get the starter kits, just for the cage, bowl, and decorations lol

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

If you find it on sale understandable

[@Lemon_boy404]

When i first got my beardie, i made the mistake of having a uvb light and he almost died 😬😬😬

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You definitely need the uvb light

[@Lemon_boy404]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse I had the cork uvb from the starter kits

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@Lemon_boy404 ooof haha understandable

[@Diddy-w1n]

merry Xmas sir

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Merry Xmas to as well!

[@AlexAllenKale]

I like making my own substrate for my bearded dragon

[@AlexAllenKale]

It’s fun

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Me as well! It is extremely fun

[@northbaybassanglers1068]

I have the bearded dragon starter kit. DO NOT BUY IT 😂 I’ve spent so much more money thanks to that starter kit. Only thing I have been able to use is the 10 gallon tank. Oh yeah I’m only able to use it for 2 weeks. Now I have to buy a 20-40 gallon. The whole kit is junk. The lamp is even trash because you can only use 40watt max bulbs. 80watt combined. BUY EVERYTHING SEPARATE A WEEK BEFORE YOU GET YOUR LIZARD GET HIS HOUSE SET PERFECTLY BEFORE BRINGING HIM HOME. I’ve done nothing but stress trying to get his environment perfect since I’ve owned him an he’s in there living with all the changes. I feel bad but now I know. From my own experience. Definitely should make a video on how important it is to have his home ready before he’s home

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Very common experience for people who buy the starter kits unfortunately. Yes it is very important to have it all setup I think I will make a video like that! Thank you!

[@northbaybassanglers1068]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse I have him in a 40 gallon tank now. An I have the humidity under control. Underground burrows, hiding spots, stuff to climb on. Thanks for all the videos you’ve posted they all helped. It almost looks like I know what I’m doing. He definitely loves to explore the “Cheech Desert”

[@zoeperkins3087]

Yessss. My husband and I got the kit and I was trying to research some stuff in the store and now I'm gonna have to change her whole habitat within the next week! So I'm learning everything now, that way when I change it in a week it'll be perfect and I won't have to continously change her and stress her out more 🥺

[@northbaybassanglers1068]

@@zoeperkins3087 tbh my lizard is more social since I spent so much time with her and moving stuff around her environment. I have her house so perfect now. She comes by her name when I call her and loves to be held. She likes my dog too. I got lucky. But enjoy your lizard! They are so much fun

[@franciscoandrade4895]

Lmfao why are you giving reptiles human emotions they are completely different I’m glad you started a channel but your to new in the hobby to give advice dont bad mouth products if you dont use them

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Bro I been in the hobby for 19 years what you mean? What emotions did I give them? Also I’ve tested tons of these products scroll through my channel

[@franciscoandrade4895]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse I mean first of all you say heat mats are dangerous instead of saying any and all heat elements should have a thermostat then you say walnut sand is bad because it’s trash but so is coconut husk we use for snakes also you mist a breaded dragon instead of giving him a water dish to soak in this are just signs of a beginner or someone who hasn’t been in the hobby a long time I’m just wondering if you been in the hobby so long what have you kept

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@franciscoandrade4895 I did say that they are dangerous without a thermostat. At 10:50 I mention the thermostat. In the wild bearded dragons legit drink water when it rains. I’ve been breeding dragons forever everyone knows babies like to drink water droplets and do it really easy and won’t drink from a bowl. Tons of breeders know water bowls are useless a lot of times. I’ve kept Chinese water dragons, iguana, bearded dragons, uromastyx, African fat tailed geckos, tokay geckos, ball pythons, turtles, leopard geckos, chameleons, green anoles and much more now snake wise only corn and ball pythons. Now I used to use coco coir in the past but it always gave me issues. Like I said you can use it I just hate it. Personal opinion there I say that as well in the video. Being in the hobby so long is what led me to these opinions lol. Back in the day I use to use reptile carpet and all that stuff too this was 10+ years ago.