My brand-new dragon won't eat and is scared

Beardie name(s)
Fernando
I just got my baby bearded dragon last Thursday. The lady at the pet store dropped him but I checked him out and did not see anything wrong after that so I was not worried. But he has not been drinking or eating. I sprayed him and also put a water bowl in the tank. He does not move from his basking spot. I have tried mealworms, kale, and crickets and he will not mess with any. At first, he would eat a few but over the past few days, he has been refusing to eat. He also gets scared/stressed every time I walk into the room and I did not think that was normal either. I have been giving him baths but that is the only handling he has gotten. He has pooped and it seems fine. But he is just really lethargic and I am wondering if I should bring him back to the pet shop and get a different one.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I just got my baby bearded dragon last Thursday. The lady at the pet store dropped him but I checked him out and did not see anything wrong after that so I was not worried. But he has not been drinking or eating. I sprayed him and also put a water bowl in the tank. He does not move from his basking spot. I have tried mealworms, kale, and crickets and he will not mess with any. At first, he would eat a few but over the past few days, he has been refusing to eat. He also gets scared/stressed every time I walk into the room and I did not think that was normal either. I have been giving him baths but that is the only handling he has gotten. He has pooped and it seems fine. But he is just really lethargic and I am wondering if I should bring him back to the pet shop and get a different one.
No please keep him for now --- pet stores dont have a clue as how to take care of a dragon -- we need to go over the UVB your using if its in a dome it needs to be replaced -- you need to get a surface basking temp w/ a digital probe thermometer --- place the probe on the spot where he basks and wait 10 min or so you want temps of 105-110--- hes going thru relocation stress so his eating is going to be off but we must get the UVB and surface basking temps on par --- do not feed any more meal worms they are too harsh on babies stomachs --- please NO more baths for now they are too stressful - drop water on his nose see if he will lick or you can use a dropper for that I use my hands / fingers -- its going to take some time for him to adjust to his tank and surroundings -- let me know what your UVB is so I can help get you set up for a UVB--- what size tank is he in ?
 

SkittlesK

Juvie Member
Beardie name(s)
Kamo
I agree.
Husbandry is what you should look at first...
Lighting & heat is very important...It helps with the process of digestion.

If you feel he's sick you can take a quick stool sample to the vet.
Find a good reputable reptile vet to work with..
 

Fernandothebeardie

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Fernando
No please keep him for now --- pet stores dont have a clue as how to take care of a dragon -- we need to go over the UVB your using if its in a dome it needs to be replaced -- you need to get a surface basking temp w/ a digital probe thermometer --- place the probe on the spot where he basks and wait 10 min or so you want temps of 105-110--- hes going thru relocation stress so his eating is going to be off but we must get the UVB and surface basking temps on par --- do not feed any more meal worms they are too harsh on babies stomachs --- please NO more baths for now they are too stressful - drop water on his nose see if he will lick or you can use a dropper for that I use my hands / fingers -- its going to take some time for him to adjust to his tank and surroundings -- let me know what your UVB is so I can help get you set up for a UVB--- what size tank is he in ?
I just ordered a T8 hood for a tubular UVB bulb but right now it is the coil UVB bulb that came with the tank. I am ordering some dubias too and I will use crickets in the meantime. I will not do any more mealworms. He is in a 40 gallon tank. When should I restart baths? Is there anything I should do about him not eating?
 

SkittlesK

Juvie Member
Beardie name(s)
Kamo
I just ordered a T8 hood for a tubular UVB bulb but right now it is the coil UVB bulb that came with the tank. I am ordering some dubias too and I will use crickets in the meantime. I will not do any more mealworms. He is in a 40 gallon tank. When should I restart baths? Is there anything I should do about him not eating?
I'm familiar with Mercury Vapor Bulbs...
Not too familiar with these bulbs but very common on these forums.
Most people on here are familiar with those bulbs hopefully someone will answer soon...

The Dubias are good to get.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I just ordered a T8 hood for a tubular UVB bulb but right now it is the coil UVB bulb that came with the tank. I am ordering some dubias too and I will use crickets in the meantime. I will not do any more mealworms. He is in a 40 gallon tank. When should I restart baths? Is there anything I should do about him not eating?
ok so did you get a Zoo Med hood ? What brand ? The T 8 is okay but for a 40 gallon tank I would of gone w/ a T5 ---- your T 8 is going to need to be unobstructed NO screen and directly over the basking decor 6-8 inches --- it will need to be changed out in approx 5 months --- I would not start bathing him till he is adjusting to the tank -- you will know when he really starts eating - in the mean time drop water on his nose rinse the greens your serving and try and get him to that bowl for the greens- watch his poops - if the white urate is dry chalky looking and the dark poop looks dried out hes dehydrated -- your correct surface basking temps and UVB is going to get him to eat --- dragons will not eat w/ out proper temps and UVB - the UVB is what helps him absorb the calcium hes ingesting and the correct basking temps is what starts digestion ---
 
Beardie name(s)
Bartholomew
The baby could have parasites if it’s not eating for three days and also NO mealworms for babies they can cause impaction because of there thick skin mainly do Dubia roaches and crickets. And for babies the first couple of days there going to be skittish and scared so yeah. Also bearded dragons cant see still water so that explains the water part they mostly get their water from the bugs and greens Or they just drink water from the baths.
 

Fernandothebeardie

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Fernando
ok so did you get a Zoo Med hood ? What brand ? The T 8 is okay but for a 40 gallon tank I would of gone w/ a T5 ---- your T 8 is going to need to be unobstructed NO screen and directly over the basking decor 6-8 inches --- it will need to be changed out in approx 5 months --- I would not start bathing him till he is adjusting to the tank -- you will know when he really starts eating - in the mean time drop water on his nose rinse the greens your serving and try and get him to that bowl for the greens- watch his poops - if the white urate is dry chalky looking and the dark poop looks dried out hes dehydrated -- your correct surface basking temps and UVB is going to get him to eat --- dragons will not eat w/ out proper temps and UVB - the UVB is what helps him absorb the calcium hes ingesting and the correct basking temps is what starts digestion ---
I got zoo med. I don't think I can cancel the order.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Josh's Frogs
Ok if they dont have the 24" you can go w/ a 30" -- never mind they are out of those as well --- you can use it for now -- for some reason Zoo Med 24" fixtures have been very hard to find and most people are out of them ---- you can go to a Arcadia Pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb - Pet Smart carries them you will want to upgrade to the T 5 for a larger tank ---
 

Fernandothebeardie

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Fernando
Ok if they dont have the 24" you can go w/ a 30" -- never mind they are out of those as well --- you can use it for now -- for some reason Zoo Med 24" fixtures have been very hard to find and most people are out of them ---- you can go to a Arcadia Pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb - Pet Smart carries them you will want to upgrade to the T 5 for a larger tank ---
Update. I got the Arcadia T5, he is now eating the roaches and is not acting scared.
 

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