New beardie owners need any help?

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I got a thermal temp gun and its working great. Thanks
Like suggested before digital probes are best for actual surface basking temps -- I R guns are good have but they cannot read off certain materials - you want one on your cool side as well placed in the tank
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
Hi i feel like this is the time of year a handful of people get a beardie and need a little bit of help we all went through that when we first got our dragons so this is a forum if you need help but don't really know what to ask for if that makes sense and also if you ask for help on this forum I'll most likely respond fast because I get notifications on my phone when someone replies to my threads
thanks for asking for help^^

Hi! I just got my beardie, Cheeto, yesterday. I am currently hoping on getting them into the vet tomorrow (Monday) to figure out the gender and see if there’s anything to be concerned about. I have made the mistake of picking them up and handling them before they can get adjusted in their new home. Cheeto isn’t eating, and doesn’t move very much. I just had to pick them up and put them on their basking log, to hopefully create some kind of appetite. What should I do? I’m afraid to put crickets in there because they do nibble, and Cheeto isn’t moving. I think I stressed them out too much by handling them and letting my mom and sister handle them. Should I leave them alone with a salad in there for awhile? I feel awful.. the last thing I wanted to do was stress my new baby out:(
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hi! I just got my beardie, Cheeto, yesterday. I am currently hoping on getting them into the vet tomorrow (Monday) to figure out the gender and see if there’s anything to be concerned about. I have made the mistake of picking them up and handling them before they can get adjusted in their new home. Cheeto isn’t eating, and doesn’t move very much. I just had to pick them up and put them on their basking log, to hopefully create some kind of appetite. What should I do? I’m afraid to put crickets in there because they do nibble, and Cheeto isn’t moving. I think I stressed them out too much by handling them and letting my mom and sister handle them. Should I leave them alone with a salad in there for awhile? I feel awful.. the last thing I wanted to do was stress my new baby out:(
Yes please let him adjust and if hes not active something is going on --- the surface basking temps should be 105-110 for a baby under 5 months--- what are you using for a UVB? And hes in a 10 gallon tank or a 40 gallon tank --- hes going to go thru relocation stress but you must have your temps and UVB up to par for him to adjust and acclimate to his surroundings -- he does need to be eating a little nothing at all is not good -- they wont last w/ no food they are too little --- no more handling please -- he needs to be fed live insects every day 2-3 times and dusted ONCE per day w/ calcium D3 -- lets get the lighting and temps corrected and adjusted first -- that is the first thing -- critical -- digital probe thermometers please
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
Yes please let him adjust and if hes not active something is going on --- the surface basking temps should be 105-110 for a baby under 5 months--- what are you using for a UVB? And hes in a 10 gallon tank or a 40 gallon tank --- hes going to go thru relocation stress but you must have your temps and UVB up to par for him to adjust and acclimate to his surroundings -- he does need to be eating a little nothing at all is not good -- they wont last w/ no food they are too little --- no more handling please -- he needs to be fed live insects every day 2-3 times and dusted ONCE per day w/ calcium D3 -- lets get the lighting and temps corrected and adjusted first -- that is the first thing -- critical -- digital probe thermometers please
I have information on my basking and UVB lights on my profile. My UVB is 10.0 and 13 Watts. Cheeto is currently in a 20 gallon while I have a 120 gallon in the mail hopefully being delivered in the next couple of weeks. The thermometer I have in the terrarium is a stick on/tape thermometer but I also have a thermometer gun. I’ve left them alone for a bit and about every 10 minutes or so I glance in their enclosure and they have moved a little bit. I currently have a salad in there for them and I’m planning on waiting a bit longer before putting any crickets in there. I just used a thermometer gun to check the temperature of the surface of the basking log, and it reads 108 Fahrenheit
 
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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I have information on my basking and UVB lights on my profile. My UVB is 10.0 and 13 Watts. Cheeto is currently in a 20 gallon while I have a 120 gallon in the mail hopefully being delivered in the next couple of weeks. The thermometer I have in the terrarium is a stick on/tape thermometer but I also have a thermometer gun. I’ve left them alone for a bit and about every 10 minutes or so I glance in their enclosure and they have moved a little bit. I currently have a salad in there for them and I’m planning on waiting a bit longer before putting any crickets in there. I just used a thermometer gun to check the temperature of the surface of the basking log, and it reads 108 Fahrenheit
Ok so the coil UVB is terrible---- please replace as soon as you can w/ one of these this is absolute critical for the dragon ----
120 gallon tank coming I am going to recommend this fixture so you can use the 5.0 bulb that comes w/ it on the 20 gallon tank when you order the fixture please order this bulb as well it will need to go into the 120 gallon tank ---
24" Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood and this bulb
22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
this dragon will not eat w/ correct UVB he cannot digest his calcium he is being fed -- critical for MBD -- and other health issues ---- when you get the UVB please post back on here and I will help you get it placed on the 20 gallon tank -- please do not move him to the bigger tank till he is moving around and eating -- more stress from another move is not going to help and if hes is really young you want him in a tank so he can easily access his food --- please feed the crickets he needs the protein we can adjust him to the salad later but I want him eating something --- please drop water on his nose to get him to drink he needs hydration -- keep dropping till he quits licking ---- please get 2 digital probe thermometers --- and a digital probe hygrometer as well Exo Terra Digital Hygrometer | Dubia.com this needs to be place on the center back wall of the tank -- optimal humidity is 40-50% nothing under 20 and over 70% ---
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
Ok so the coil UVB is terrible---- please replace as soon as you can w/ one of these this is absolute critical for the dragon ----
120 gallon tank coming I am going to recommend this fixture so you can use the 5.0 bulb that comes w/ it on the 20 gallon tank when you order the fixture please order this bulb as well it will need to go into the 120 gallon tank ---
24" Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood and this bulb
22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
this dragon will not eat w/ correct UVB he cannot digest his calcium he is being fed -- critical for MBD -- and other health issues ---- when you get the UVB please post back on here and I will help you get it placed on the 20 gallon tank -- please do not move him to the bigger tank till he is moving around and eating -- more stress from another move is not going to help and if hes is really young you want him in a tank so he can easily access his food --- please feed the crickets he needs the protein we can adjust him to the salad later but I want him eating something --- please drop water on his nose to get him to drink he needs hydration -- keep dropping till he quits licking ---- please get 2 digital probe thermometers --- and a digital probe hygrometer as well Exo Terra Digital Hygrometer | Dubia.com this needs to be place on the center back wall of the tank -- optimal humidity is 40-50% nothing under 20 and over 70% ---
Thank you so much for the help. I will start with placing 5 crickets in the enclosure and wait for about 10 minutes to see if Cheeto will eat them. How long should I wait before taking the crickets out? I have small brown crickets that have been snacking on an apple since earlier this morning. I will see if I can go to my local petco and get the things you listed.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Thank you so much for the help. I will start with placing 5 crickets in the enclosure and wait for about 10 minutes to see if Cheeto will eat them. How long should I wait before taking the crickets out? I have small brown crickets that have been snacking on an apple since earlier this morning. I will see if I can go to my local petco and get the things you listed.
Please get what I posted most do not carry the zoo med 24" but will have a 18-20" those are T 8 's you want one that will go into the 120 gallon tank when your ready to move him- for now we want him in the 20 and w/ the 5.0 bulb -- please get a plastic tote NO Glass place him in it direct sun for 15 min per day do not leave him supervise him you don't want him to burn up - do this till you get the uvb-- this is going to perk him up -
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
Please get what I posted most do not carry the zoo med 24" but will have a 18-20" those are T 8 's you want one that will go into the 120 gallon tank when your ready to move him- for now we want him in the 20 and w/ the 5.0 bulb -- please get a plastic tote NO Glass place him in it direct sun for 15 min per day do not leave him supervise him you don't want him to burn up - do this till you get the uvb-- this is going to perk him up -
Cheeto didn’t eat the crickets, so I took them out after waiting for about 15 minutes. And you mean just put them in a plastic container with no lid and put them outside? (Supervised of course) I thought I shouldn’t be handling them anymore?
 
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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Cheeto didn’t eat the crickets, so I took them out after waiting for about 15 minutes. And you mean just put them in a plastic container with no lid and put them outside? (Supervised of course) I thought I shouldn’t be handling them anymore?
He needs the UVB ---- that coil is doing no good --- try again later w/ the crickets after some outside sun ---- he may eat then --- I dont know what the temps are where you are so please do not leave him --- he may start to gape (mouth open) that is good hes adjusting his body temp --- try 15 minute intervals a couple of times per day --- at this point the handling for is crucial -- please let me know when you get the UVB
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
He needs the UVB ---- that coil is doing no good --- try again later w/ the crickets after some outside sun ---- he may eat then --- I dont know what the temps are where you are so please do not leave him --- he may start to gape (mouth open) that is good hes adjusting his body temp --- try 15 minute intervals a couple of times per day --- at this point the handling for is crucial -- please let me know when you get the UVB
It’s about 87 Fahrenheit where I am right now and I am currently sitting outside with Cheeto. I was able to find the UVB you are talking about on Chewy and I can hopefully order it and it will be here in 3-4 days. Should I continue putting them outside with my supervision for 15 minute intervals until then?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
It’s about 87 Fahrenheit where I am right now and I am currently sitting outside with Cheeto. I was able to find the UVB you are talking about on Chewy and I can hopefully order it and it will be here in 3-4 days. Should I continue putting them outside with my supervision for 15 minute intervals until then?
Yes -- chewy is fast --- do this everyday till it comes -please shut the coil off --- when it gets there please post back on here I will help you get it set up -- watch his behavior after getting him outside --- is he soaking up the UVB rays now ?
 

hakusmom

Member
Beardie name(s)
Haku
Yes -- chewy is fast --- do this everyday till it comes -please shut the coil off --- when it gets there please post back on here I will help you get it set up -- watch his behavior after getting him outside --- is he soaking up the UVB rays now ?
I brought them back in after 10 minutes. They started flicking their beard and scratching themselves with a hind leg.. almost freaking out? I considered giving them a bath to help with the shedding but I put them back in the enclosure instead. Someone is in the room trying to fix a light feature so the power is currently off, but only for a very short amount of time. When the power comes back on I will ensure that the UVB stays off.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I brought them back in after 10 minutes. They started flicking their beard and scratching themselves with a hind leg.. almost freaking out? I considered giving them a bath to help with the shedding but I put them back in the enclosure instead. Someone is in the room trying to fix a light feature so the power is currently off, but only for a very short amount of time. When the power comes back on I will ensure that the UVB stays off.
Spray him in the tank -- take a soft baby toothbrush if you can and gently brush the loose shed --
 

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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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