A new(ish) BD mom with some questions

[MelissaM]

Hello all,
I've enjoyed spending several nights and way too many hours reading everyone's stories and advise. Here is the link for how I became a recent BD mom.

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=213473

So Tyler has adjusted very well the last couple of days. He's been eating like a good boy. His new home has been completely overhauled and properly setup. I'm still working on the heating levels but for the most part, he seems pleased.
His viv stats are as followed:
40g breeder/glass
75w basking with temps ranging from 97 to 105 (averaging 99ish) cool side 85 to 75
CHE (he's new home is set up in our game room which stays below 65 and with the mesh top, I was struggling to get the temps above 75) connected to a temperature controller set at 73.
10w HO T5 UVB

Today he was a totally ham. I let him hang with me while I was working out the temp issues and he had a ball exploding the living room

He ran around from the couch to the chair and jumping :shock: to the ottoman (while it was only pushed away 6-7 inches, it made my heart drop so I decided my leg made a better bridge)

hanging around

and he adorably wiggled his way next my leg for a little nap..xoxo

chilling before lights out

So all in all we've enjoyed getting to know him. My husband is a little freaked at the amount of time I have spent researching & constantly checking on him. I dont think he "gets" to joy a BD can be.

So heres my question... I noticed today this spot under his chin

It's only this one spot. It feels a little raised (on the scale). Any idea what that can be? I'm trempted to grab a pair of tweezers to see if I can pull it off, but afraid of hurting him.
A few other questions... Given the state he arrived in, I'm concerned about his weight. I know he's on the thin side, but how bad is he? I havent been able to weigh him, but measured him at 14 inches in length (he's approximately 8 months old). Where are the fat pads?

The UVB... Is it supposed to be in the middle (front to back of the tank) or back agaist the wall? I'm really freaking about the UVB thing since he hasnt had proper UVB at all. I got him the 10w HO T5 ultraslim, so I didnt know if I should be concerned about the angle & postion (I have it hanging under the screen with floral wire :study hurting his eyes. Yesterday, he was closing his eyes while he was basking, but maybe he was just soaking up the rays & not use to such a bright light.

Last one.... His feet are stained purple which I can only link to his food dish he was living with full of dried week old blueberries.

(Still soaking in ammonia...grrr)
will a shed help get rid of the dye? (His previous owner used carpet substrate)

You can really see it here.

ok, I think that's it for now. I know where to find everyone if something does, which we know will.

TIA
Melissa

 

[Taterbug]

The main fat pads are at the base of the tail and the top of the head behind the eyes. They also have pads near the armpits. He doesn't look skinny to me, rather trim.

Not sure about the spot te photo is blurry. Maybe a bit of retained shed or just coloring.

What bulb do you have? Is it a 5.0/6% or a 10.0/12%? Does it have a reflector? That will determine your distance the lower output can be closer but you may have it too close. The 10.0/12% with reflector should be about 12-18" away. It must be overhead and on the side with the basking light. What side front to back isn't a big deal as long as it's not glaring into his eyes.

Dirt and stains should come off with a shed or two.
He's a handsom fellow! Glad to hear he has found you!

 

[anwyn]

I'm a newbie too so nothing very useful to add, but he looks adorable! And clearly very happy with you already. If the feet stay blue, maybe just call him Socks?

 

[MelissaM]

The main fat pads are at the base of the tail and the top of the head behind the eyes. They also have pads near the armpits. He doesn't look skinny to me, rather trim.

Not sure about the spot te photo is blurry. Maybe a bit of retained shed or just coloring.

What bulb do you have? Is it a 5.0/6% or a 10.0/12%? Does it have a reflector? That will determine your distance the lower output can be closer but you may have it too close. The 10.0/12% with reflector should be about 12-18" away. It must be overhead and on the side with the basking light. What side front to back isn't a big deal as long as it's not glaring into his eyes.

Dirt and stains should come off with a shed or two.
He's a handsom fellow! Glad to hear he has found you!

Sorry for the confusing information. I got him the ReptiSun 10.0 T5 HO 24w hood/reflector. The tank is 36x18x15. Its currently 10" away from. I can't see how I can move it any further away at this time with the shallow height. As it is, I'm thinking I might need to raise his basking spot a little to get a higher basking temp. I've alread decided I'm going to build him a custom viv out of an old 6' dresser, but until I need to make this tank & light work.

I'll see if I can get a better pic of this spot I'm concern about. Tyler seems to feel a little blah today. He had a very smelly watery poop this morning and has moved off his basking spot all day. Hasn't touched his greens and even a dubia didn't peek his interest.
Does it mean anything when they lay flat with their stomach like a pancake?

 

[MelissaM]

I'm a newbie too so nothing very useful to add, but he looks adorable! And clearly very happy with you already. If the feet stay blue, maybe just call him Socks?

*snort* "Socks" love it. If the previous owner wasnt related, id change his name, but my stepson is already upset with the me that I took Tyler from him. SS visits almost every weekend, so he still gets to see him when he comes here.

 

[Taterbug]

Just hang the light outside the screen, the light you have is very strong and will do just fine thru mesh. With a fine screen it can be closer (9-12") but 12"-14" away might be easier for him to adjust too. At 10" away the UV index is somewhere around 10, which is way to high (7 is the max) and is probably why he had his eyes closed. You can make a light hanger from pvc pipe if you need.

Change and even sudden proper care can throw them out of wack. Of his poop gets worse or continues to be stinky a fecal check for parasites might be a good idea. stress can cause parasite loads to bloom, some dragons can get it back under control and some need to be wormed.

Pancake is pretty normal. Pepper pancakes to soak up heat better, usually from a warm surface he is laying on. He will also flatten out while standing and tip to do a little "solar panel" pose to soak up light.

 

[MelissaM]

Just hang the light outside the screen, the light you have is very strong and will do just fine thru mesh. With a fine screen it can be closer (9-12") but 12"-14" away might be easier for him to adjust too. At 10" away the UV index is somewhere around 10, which is way to high (7 is the max) and is probably why he had his eyes closed. You can make a light hanger from pvc pipe if you need.

Change and even sudden proper care can throw them out of wack. Of his poop gets worse or continues to be stinky a fecal check for parasites might be a good idea. stress can cause parasite loads to bloom, some dragons can get it back under control and some need to be wormed.

Pancake is pretty normal. Pepper pancakes to soak up heat better, usually from a warm surface he is laying on. He will also flatten out while standing and tip to do a little "solar panel" pose to soak up light.

UVB outside the screen? :shock: :shock: but that goes against everything I've been reading here, however I realize the reason why in this case. He only did the eye close thing the first day, but I went ahead and moved it out just now.
When I went into change it, I saw him gaping. I have a probe temp. taped on top of his basking spot. It read 99.7. He was sitting up on his front legs adding another 2" to the top of his head. Do you think this his way of telling me it's too hot?

 

[MelissaM]

So I just noticed the spot under his chin is now gone. Humm, that's weird. But relieving. Now I just need to monitor his poop.
Wow how my life has changed in a few days. Hahaha

 

[Taterbug]

Haha, welcome to the lizard life!

Yeah, the inside the screen is correct for the weaker (but more common) bulbs. Some caresheets/advice doesn't differentiate the two, which is a shame because the T5 are excellent bulbs. They are also visibly much brighter. If anything it's nice to be able to mount the bulb further away from the dragon. Make sure you offer him some shade or a couple hides to get out of the light if he wants. It's normals for them to bask sporadically throughout the day.

As for the basking posture, sounds normal to me your temps are safe and gaping is just how he keeps his brain cool while still warming his body. Lizards are pretty lazy so if he doesn't have to move any more than that he won't. If he always gapes it might be good to how down a couple degrees, but a little bit is nothing to worry about.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It is the reflector that is giving it higher readings. If you didn't have a reflector then you could have it at 10 inches, safely.
Are you using a bright white basking light directly alongside of it too?
Sitting the HO Reptisun 10 tube on top of the screen would work just fine, or should. The screen will filter out some of the UVI.
The basking can be in a range of 95-110 for him so he will move around & thermoregulate his body temperatures.
It sounds like you are enjoying Tyler! He will steal your heart if he hasn't already.
If his stools continue to be smelly you should get a fecal. Let him settle in a bit before getting a fecal in case it's just stress.

Tracie

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosure

 

[MelissaM]

Haha, welcome to the lizard life!

Yeah, the inside the screen is correct for the weaker (but more common) bulbs. Some caresheets/advice doesn't differentiate the two, which is a shame because the T5 are excellent bulbs. They are also visibly much brighter. If anything it's nice to be able to mount the bulb further away from the dragon. Make sure you offer him some shade or a couple hides to get out of the light if he wants. It's normals for them to bask sporadically throughout the day.

As for the basking posture, sounds normal to me your temps are safe and gaping is just how he keeps his brain cool while still warming his body. Lizards are pretty lazy so if he doesn't have to move any more than that he won't. If he always gapes it might be good to how down a couple degrees, but a little bit is nothing to worry about.

Yeah, I have given him a hide, but I really think he is just lazy. I've yet to see him go under it. He's either on his basking spot or huddled in the opposite corner at night. Other than the brief moments he gets his rear off the rock to poop or snack on his salad. So yeah, He perfectly fits in with my broad of other offspring of kids (we have 6 total, with 3 living at home still full-time). I've been slowly adding things to his new home as I don't want to stress him with an overwhelming (to him) set up.