Beardie won't eat and is VERY skinny!

Hello,

Do you have any pictures of your dragon along with the tank setup that we could see?
How many hours of heat & light does he receive daily & how are you measuring his
temperatures?
We normally recommend waiting to feed superworms for them, until they are at least 6
months of age so that they can fully digest them. He is probably around 6 months or so
now, correct?
Superworms are fine to be fed, as long as they are fed with other protein sources too like
dubias or crickets, or even silkworms & hornworms.

Tracie

does he go everyday?

He doesn't go everyday because of lack of time to digest that I talked about in the first post. I am going to start feeding him before school too. I just don't have a lot of time to do it. He has time to bask during the whole day from 6:00 to about 9:30 (on school days). On weekends at the most it would be like 7:30 to about 10:30 or 11:00.

Kaelwizard":312kct65 said:

He doesn't go everyday because of lack of time to digest that I talked about in the first post. I am going to start feeding him before school too. I just don't have a lot of time to do it. He has time to bask during the whole day from 6:00 to about 9:30 (on school days). On weekends at the most it would be like 7:30 to about 10:30 or 11:00.

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You might need to invest in a timer to keep his daylight schedule steady. You can get them rather inexpensively at lowes or walmart. I use the ones that you push the buttons in to set the time.
With your schedule it, sounds like you need to feed him in the morning and, leave a good salad in the viv to get him over the hump. Just remember not to feed him after 7:30 pm if lights go out at 9:30.

Charlie's is set for 6am to 8pm and never deviates. So far he is happy as a pig in slop, LOL!!! "Other than he doesn't really like me yet, LOL!!!" He will be 5 months old next week and, is 16" long.

Maybe I should get a timer. That way he can go to sleep with the lights out at the same time everyday.

He still has refused food so far. I will update later.

Edit: Nvm. He ate some dubia roaches.

how is he doing now? Is he eating the dubias?
Karrie

No he is not. We want to take him to a vet but we are afraid it will scare him. He used to be a great eater and was active but it is like he flipped a switch. Everything about him just changed.

Please post some pics of your tank and lighting--- it really plays a huge role in their eating digesting and overall health-- if he is still losing weight he won't last long if he's a baby
Karrie

Flash:
Basking light:
Tank (getting him a 40 gallon soon):
He also has a Reptisun t5 tube.

Is the T5 a 5.0 HO or a T 5 10.0 tube? Difference is stregnth of tube? Is your UVB on top of screen or in tank ? Sorry I can't tell- my guess it's your UVB he's not getting the rays he needs- that would cause him not to eat
Karrie

KarrieRee":1nuzouec said:

Is the T5 a 5.0 HO or a T 5 10.0 tube? Difference is stregnth of tube? Is your UVB on top of screen or in tank ? Sorry I can't tell- my guess it's your UVB he's not getting the rays he needs- that would cause him not to eat
Karrie

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It is on top. Can't really put it anywhere else. As far as I remember it is a 5.0. Honestly I think all that screen top stuff is overly cautious. The light should be plenty strong enough to get as much UVB in there as he needs. That is just what I think anyway. If UVB can get through the ozone layer it can get through a screen top. I'm not trying to turn this into a debate. Besides. He got this way after we got the light. His basking light is an all in one too.

I would say the 5.0 is not strong enough---- what size tank? If its a smaller tank take the screen off and see what he does-- he really needs to start eating soon --- he doesnt look good to me
Karrie

KarrieRee":1tw2wvhs said:

I would say the 5.0 is not strong enough---- what size tank? If its a smaller tank take the screen off and see what he does-- he really needs to start eating soon --- he doesnt look good to me
Karrie

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He is in a 20 gallon. Might be able to get a tank tomorrow or sometime this week. I have no where to put his UVB light without the screen on though.

Since it's a 20 gallon take the screen off and lay it vertical or back to front if fixture is long enough or straddle it from side to back -- kitywampus-- if that works you can build his area up to the bulb--- take the cover off the bulb--- you want him 8-10 inches from spot
Karrie