3 month barely eating still

[jaketj34]

Purchased a bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago and have not been able to get him to eat. Housing= 40 gallon tank but have a divider in tank to make it about 25-30 gallons after seeing that can help with stress for little guys. Basking spot 105-112. Warm side 90s. Cool side 85. Reptisun 10.0 uvb. Lights from about 8:30am-9:45pm (ceramic heater at night gets to about 70-73 ambient air temp)

Feeding= food offered 2-3 times a day greens offered in morning live feed at 3-4 then live feed around 7-7:30. offer crickets and used to offer mealworms. Was the only thing I had luck with when trying to make him eat but knew they could impact him and after seeing he threw up some of the shells of the mealworms I will not be feeding those. Now only eats between 5-10 crickets a day between the 2-3 feedings. Spends most his day in basking area does not seem to move besides to sleep. Drip water on nose every other day for water since he won’t eat greens or go to a water dish. Have kept handling to minimum besides getting out to clean tank and once to soak in warm bath. What should I do?

 

[KarrieRee]

Purchased a bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago and have not been able to get him to eat. Housing= 40 gallon tank but have a divider in tank to make it about 25-30 gallons after seeing that can help with stress for little guys. Basking spot 105-112. Warm side 90s. Cool side 85. Reptisun 10.0 uvb. Lights from about 8:30am-9:45pm (ceramic heater at night gets to about 70-73 ambient air temp)

Feeding= food offered 2-3 times a day greens offered in morning live feed at 3-4 then live feed around 7-7:30. offer crickets and used to offer mealworms. Was the only thing I had luck with when trying to make him eat but knew they could impact him and after seeing he threw up some of the shells of the mealworms I will not be feeding those. Now only eats between 5-10 crickets a day between the 2-3 feedings. Spends most his day in basking area does not seem to move besides to sleep. Drip water on nose every other day for water since he won’t eat greens or go to a water dish. Have kept handling to minimum besides getting out to clean tank and once to soak in warm bath. What should I do?

Reptisun 10.0 uvb is this a tube or a coil? If its a coil get rid of it please-- they are inadequate--- you need a long tube fixture like a Zoo Med I recommend this one since your using half the tank for now -- it will come w/a 5.0 bulb use that till you open up the whole tank then get this bulb for the full tank 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 --- w/ the 5.0 bulb you will need to have it UNOBSTRUCTED and placed directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches --- when you get the T 5 distance and placement can be different but that depends on your screen but for now use the 5.0 bulb--- it is common for them to go thru relocation stress and not eat as much but hes eating that is good its when they quit eating all together there is a issue--basking is too hot at 112- 105-110--- you want a CLEAR bright white basking bulb NO colored NO daytime bulb w/ the neodymium coating they are harmful to the eyes -- you need 2 digital probe thermometers to get accurate basking temps -- place the probe on the spot where he basks wait 10 min or so then get the temp -- you want surface temps not air or ambient temps -- Yes please NO more mealworms -- get him some BSFL www.symtonbsf.com DO NOT dust them they are a great compliment to his staple feeder feed as many as you want and use them as lures to the salad bowl drop them on his salads in front of him it will get his attention --- also use them to hand tame him -- you will need a bowl like this keep them in https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d or something similar to
here is a website for nutrition ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder Nutrition Content
if you have any more questions please ask --- the UVB will increase the appetite and his getting used to his surroundings as well --- let him acclimate to his tank ---

 

[jaketj34]

Reptisun 10.0 uvb is this a tube or a coil? If its a coil get rid of it please-- they are inadequate--- you need a long tube fixture like a Zoo Med I recommend this one since your using half the tank for now -- it will come w/a 5.0 bulb use that till you open up the whole tank then get this bulb for the full tank 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 --- w/ the 5.0 bulb you will need to have it UNOBSTRUCTED and placed directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches --- when you get the T 5 distance and placement can be different but that depends on your screen but for now use the 5.0 bulb--- it is common for them to go thru relocation stress and not eat as much but hes eating that is good its when they quit eating all together there is a issue--basking is too hot at 112- 105-110--- you want a CLEAR bright white basking bulb NO colored NO daytime bulb w/ the neodymium coating they are harmful to the eyes -- you need 2 digital probe thermometers to get accurate basking temps -- place the probe on the spot where he basks wait 10 min or so then get the temp -- you want surface temps not air or ambient temps -- Yes please NO more mealworms -- get him some BSFL www.symtonbsf.com DO NOT dust them they are a great compliment to his staple feeder feed as many as you want and use them as lures to the salad bowl drop them on his salads in front of him it will get his attention --- also use them to hand tame him -- you will need a bowl like this keep them in https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d or something similar to
here is a website for nutrition ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder Nutrition Content
if you have any more questions please ask --- the UVB will increase the appetite and his getting used to his surroundings as well --- let him acclimate to his tank ---

Thanks for the response and ok I will lower his basking structure to bring that temp down a little. But as far as the light goes I do have a tube UVB light. I have the 22” 10.0 already so It would light the whole tank sitting on a wire mesh screen across the middle of the tank. Should I switch to a 5.0 for now like you said or is that ok for now. And also so I’m clear getting the fly larva shouldn’t replace crickets but just be given occasionally with crickets instead of mealworms.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thanks for the response and ok I will lower his basking structure to bring that temp down a little. But as far as the light goes I do have a tube UVB light. I have the 22” 10.0 already so It would light the whole tank sitting on a wire mesh screen across the middle of the tank. Should I switch to a 5.0 for now like you said or is that ok for now. And also so I’m clear getting the fly larva shouldn’t replace crickets but just be given occasionally with crickets instead of mealworms.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok the screen can be a issue -- is the screen a fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type? Distance and placement is crucial for the rays -- if its a fine mesh like the screen door it needs to go inside the tank ---- if its he wide hole type it can stay on top -- distance inside the tank 12-15 inches directly above wide hole type 8-10 directly above --it is up to you w/ the UVB bulbs but if you do the 5.0 bulb it will need to be UNOBSTRUCTED w/ the distance I gave you--------- BSFL are another staple feeder they can be the main but its going to take lot of them I would feed both the crickets and the BSFL --- feed as many as you want of the BSFL -- No meal worms for now hes too young and they are too harsh on their stomachs better suited for when hes older like 9 months or so

 

[jaketj34]

Ok. It is the tight screen type. It is 2 pieces tho that slide apart at the middle if that makes sense so for now I will leave a gap the width of the bulb and place the hood over that so it can be direct until I can figure out a way to Mount just the bulb in the terrarium. And last question, I was thinking of trying Dubai roaches if he doesn’t seem to eat more crickets in the next week or so

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok. It is the tight screen type. It is 2 pieces tho that slide apart at the middle if that makes sense so for now I will leave a gap the width of the bulb and place the hood over that so it can be direct until I can figure out a way to Mount just the bulb in the terrarium. And last question, I was thinking of trying Dubai roaches if he doesn’t seem to eat more crickets in the next week or so

You need to leave the bulb in the fixture-- you need that reflector it's extremely important- go w/ distances I gave you

 

[jaketj34]

You need to leave the bulb in the fixture-- you need that reflector it's extremely important- go w/ distances I gave you

Ok I’ll do some research. Thanks again

 

[Xjrosie]

Any updates? How is he doing?

 

[jaketj34]

Any updates? How is he doing?

He is doing great now. The key was Dubia roaches he loves them and is running to the feeding dish every time now. Tried offering crickets again and he would run from them and not eat. Also get the BSFL and he will eat those every so often.

 

[KarrieRee]

He is doing great now. The key was Dubia roaches he loves them and is running to the feeding dish every time now. Tried offering crickets again and he would run from them and not eat. Also get the BSFL and he will eat those every so often.

I hope you got your uvb situated

 

[jaketj34]

I hope you got your uvb situated

Yes that it fixed to. It was to close to him when mounted in the tank so I cut the mesh screen so he has direct light 8 inches above through the center of the cage and 10in from his basking spot.