Baby Bearded Dragon and Food

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Beardie90

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Hi there,
I recently got a baby Bearded dragon about 4 months old. I'm on my second full day with him. Having trouble with food for him. The first night I had him he only ate 5 crickets for me. The reptile place said he may not eat the day I got him since they fed him the day before (which I thought was weird to say sice baby Bearded dragons should eat 2 to 3 times daily).So he ate 5 crickets the night I got him. The next morning he didn't eat any, the afternoon he didn't eat any, and then that night he did eat 5 crickets. Then today he hasn't eaten anything. The crickets he got are about medium size, I realized they may actually be too big for him, so I bought baby crickets. He's only eaten the medium sized ones so far (before I got the baby crickets). Also before I feed him I am practicing him getting used to drinking water, I do this with a syringe, he'll sometimes really a drink or will lick a drop off his head. I'll also put water on a small dandelion green to get him used to veggies.
So hope I fed him the first night was in a Tupperware and went right after the crickets (I put him in the Tupperware to count how much he eats),the second day I tried the same thing but he was more scared of the Tupperware, so I put in the enclosure with the crickets. He was having trouble going after the crickets, so I decided to try to hand feed, The hand feeding went well, he ate about 5 of them. Then today tried the same routine and he won't eat any not even hand fed. Should I be worried? Is he still in shock from living in a new place? Am I moving him around too much? I try not to move him, only for feeding.
Cage setup is a 40 gallon tank (This is why I feed him in the Tupperware container since the tank is too big for him to catch the crickets and why I tried hand feeding and why I also divided the tank in half with cardboard so he would have an easier time catching the crickets. It didn't work well)
His basking spot is 107 degrees, warm spot 85 to 90 and cool spot is 80 degrees. The original basking bulb is 100 watt. The original UVB bulb is 13 watt. I wanted his basking spot to be 110 so I got 150 watt basking bulb and I did a lot of research on the UVB and was worried he wasn't getting enough UVB. So I got a 15 watt UVB light that covers 2/3 of the enclosure and it had a hood. Then it got too hot in the enclosure (went up to 115 to 120!) Also I noticed him squinting while basking so I thought the UVB was too much. So then I went back to the original setup of bulbs and now back to the beginning temperature and UVB. I think the 2nd UVB added to the heat. Should I try the second UVB with the 100 watt basking bulb?
He still closes his eyes while basking. So now I wonder if he's too tired. I think I ruined his sleep schedule?
Sorry for the long post! Thank you so much for any help!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Please read this and get rid of the coil UVB you went from bad to good back to bad!
viewtopic.php?p=1945606
Your dragon is going to go thru relocation stress --- its normal for them to be off the food but you want them eating something of which he is -- you need to offer salads every morning and I recommend you do not feed him crickets bigger than the space between his eyes length wise - what is the tube fixture you got for UVB? You need a digital probe thermometer to get actual basking temps-- after you read the link I posted come back and tell me what your using and I will give some tips on feeding him -- DO NOT LEAVE CRICKETS IN THE TANK OVER NITE they will come out and bite and cause infection
Karrie
 

Beardie90

Member
Original Poster
Thank you Karrie,
I originally had the ReptiSun10.0 Compact Fluorescent and the Repti Basking Spot Lamp (100 w). I'll switch back to the UVB I bought, which is The T8 15watt that has the hood, the maker is Grand Adventure (tried to find the Reptisun brand one but the store was all out). I have three digital thermometers for each section. I ordered a temperature and UVB gun to get better readings ? Thank you for helping! Seriously greatly appreciate it! Do you leave a salad out all the time? Thank you again ?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Can you get the Reptisun T 8 bulb for that fixture- I have never heard of it? The Reptisun is one of the best on the market at this time-- I will post the nutrition website in the morning+ he needs salads every morning w/ some BSFL as lures to the salad bowl-- I will get some websites posted in the morning for you and give you some tips on getting him to that bowl
Karrie
 

Beardie90

Member
Original Poster
Thank you so much Karrie?
I'm so sorry the light I bought is this, a world of wonder by Thrive (a great adventure was another name for them I saw lol, but here's the link to see you what it looks like.

https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/light-fixtures/thrive-20-inch-terrarium-strip-light-fixture-5290790.html

A lot of the stores I went to were out of the Reptisun but I'll keep looking or just order it, not sure if the Reptisun bulb can be on the Thrive one, I'll look into that. Also I'll hit the stores up to get BSFLs, thank you! ?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
If you can find the BSFL let me know but I will post websites for you - I know the zilla fixture will take a T 8 Reptisun not sure about the thrive I am thinking it will - is it a 18"?
Karrie
 

Beardie90

Member
Original Poster
It's a 20 inch. I do have a zilla fixture (bought as a backup, so like you said I could get the Reptisun bulb and put it in the zilla fixture). ?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Yes use the Zilla fixture but take the clear plastic cover off and leave it off after putting in the Reptisun -- it needs to go inside the tank directly above the basking decor approx 6-8 inches -- if you need help w/ hanging it please ask i will post some ideas for you
Here is the nutrition website ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
Here are some websites for staple feeders and insects
http://www.dubiaroaches.com
http://www.symptonbsf.com
http://www.mulberryfarms.com
http://www.reptilianarts.com
I have ordered from all of these places - check them out and I would look at getting some small super worms from mulberryfarms.com - horn worms are going to be too big unless you can get some small ones -- he wont be able to eat real big ones and they grow really fast - butter worms are good for babies - silk worms are another staple feeder and the BSFL are great for babies get large and use them to lure to the salad bowl as well use as many as you want and dont dust them -
You will need a dish like this to keep the worms and insects in dubias work great for luring to the food bowl - • https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?pf_rd_r=R0HNPKXJ2ZARWAT5MPAH&pf_rd_p=c5b6893a-24f2-4a59-9d4b-aff5065c90ec&pd_rd_r=0173f98f-f39b-4d44-9f76-6ae4d88c419b&pd_rd_w=AuGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
Make sure you add those worms in front of her to get her attention
Karrie
 

Beardie90

Member
Original Poster
Thank you so much again!
I ordered from mulberry farms and I bought dubia roaches. He loved the roaches! We're still working on him learning to eat salad, still won't eat it even with the roaches (one the BSFL come in I'll try with that too)? If the crickets are gut loaded you still calcium dust them correct? Thank you for all the websites! Seriously huge help ?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Yes dust the insects- do not dust the BSFL - they are calcium enriched
Karrie
 
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Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

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