Age Estimate??

[leibe001]

I just got a new beardie baby Friday and we are enjoying him tons, my question is do any of you have any idea how old he could be I measured him last night and he a 8 3/4" long from tip of the nose to tip of the tail. He is very active and alert and seems to be liking us as much as we like him. He is increasing his appetite everday yesterday we was up to 18 sm. cricketts in one feeding! Thanks for your expertise!

 

[sara24354]

Where did you get your dragon? The problem is this:without knowing hatch date there is no way of truly knowing how old a dragon is. Husbandry plays a big part and so do genetics. I am guess 3 to 4 months,but there's just no way to know for sure.Lighting (UVB and heat) feeding proper husbandry,etc.......all play a part in how big dragons get.

 

[leibe001]

He was from petco, and I know they didn't have the proper set up... but since he has been here he has had proper lighting and temps. He isn't doing the best with his veggies but I can usually get him to eat a couple bites of them if I drop them in from overhead because that is how his crickets come in he runs and eats without looking. If I can get a decent pic of his viv I will post it but I can't find my regular camera and my phone takes icky pics with the light. But his lights are the Reptisun 10.0 and he has a tight beam heat lamp (cant remember the brand and type). He is in a 40 gallon breeder tank with reptile carpet, which I think I am going to change to tile when we get our next payday. His temps are 80-82 on the cool side (daytime) and 75-78 (night time) while the hot side is 100-102 with the basking spot getting to 110-113. Takin with a temp gun. He has a couple of logs and rocks to climb on and seems to be pretty happy. We take him out for outside time anywear from 10-30 minutes almost everyday, somedays he gets an outside bath in the sun which he seems to love.

 

[leibe001]

Here are a couple pics of him.

 

[leibe001]

By the way anyone got any ideas of colors for him, he seems to turn more yellow and orange when he is out in the sun and under his basking light.

 

[Looneytoon]

The color it is in the sun is there true color. Reason is there is a better color spectrum from the sun. Most inside light spectrum don't show color well. Looks 4-5 months

 

[joeyb504]

pull out the reptile carpet the dragons toes can get caught and ripped off

 

[munchkins9802]

Joey--not true about the repticarpet. Their toenails will not get ripped off if on it (our older one has been on it all his life)
Other substrates are good too (just never sand or walnut or anything loose)

Yours looks to be about 4months. Temps look good and good UVB light choice on the ReptiSun

 

[joeyb504]

i was just talking from experience one of mine lost a toe

 

[munchkins9802]

joey sorry to hear about that. It is rare for them to lose a toe on the carpet---yes it can get stuck but not likely rip the toe off unless the toe had an unknown problem to begin with.