Baby Bearded Dragon Issues

[jlclark26]

Hi! I got a new bearded dragon about a month ago. It was doing well for a while, but recently it stopped eating. I tried to give it some different things to see if maybe it was just being picking, but that wasn't the case. It has also been very sleepy the last couple of days. I talked to someone at a local pet store yesterday about my bearded dragon and he told me that usually the UVB light is the issue. I got one of those long lamps for more UVB coverage. It has only been a day, but there has not been any improvements. Do you know about how long I should notice a difference in my bearded dragons behavior and eating habits after giving it better UVB coverage? Do you have any other suggestions for what I could do to get it to eat and be more active?

 

[KarrieRee]

The long tube is recommended but what brand did you get and what bulb? NO Thrives NO Zillas please - coils are the worst --- placement and distance is key here --- basking temps should be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- once you tell me what your using I will help you more but for now I need to know what your using --- where in the tank is it? inside the tank or top of screen?

 

[jlclark26]

The long tube is recommended but what brand did you get and what bulb? NO Thrives NO Zillas please - coils are the worst --- placement and distance is key here --- basking temps should be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- once you tell me what your using I will help you more but for now I need to know what your using --- where in the tank is it? inside the tank or top of screen?

Right now my bearded dragon is in a 20 gallon tank. The 40 gallon shipped but one of the glass panes was cracked. I am waiting for a replacement. I don't remember the brand of the tube UVB light or bulb. It wasn't Thrive or Zillas. It whatever the brand the local pet shop sells. I threw away the boxes. It isn't a coil, that I do know because the employee said those are not good to use. It is a 6% UVB which is what the he told me would work for the 20 gallon tank. He said I would need to go high once I got the 40 gallon tank. The light is on top of the screen. It is almost the length of the top. I believe it is 24 inches long. The employee also told me to get a thermometer with a probe. I sat the probe on top of the basking rock. It got up to 109 degrees so I removed it.

 

[KarrieRee]

Temp is fine ---- but take pic of the bulb or look on the bulb is it a Reptisun 10.0 T 8? the bulb will tell you the brand and look for a T 8 please -- I am thinking that is what your using and it will be perfect for the tank but it MUST BE UNOBSTRUCTED -

 

[jlclark26]

The brand of the bulb is Arcadia. Not to ask a totally dumb question, but you're saying that the lamp needs to go in the tank right? Once I do that, do you know how long it usually takes for bearded dragons to start acting more normal?

 

[KarrieRee]

Immediately-- you will notice a difference the Arcadia is a great bulb - see if you can get a 12% bulb I am thinking you are using a Forest bulb you want a Desert bulb -- I was looking for a 10% bulb but all I can find are the 6-12-14 bulbs - please post a pic of the tank and the UVB - what kind of fixture are you using? I am going to have you set the UVB fixture width wise on your tank w/ the screen half on but the screen up to the UVB fixture w/ the UVB on one end of the tank ---
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on the XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pic it should post

 

[jlclark26]

Sorry, for the late response. I am including a picture of his tank set up. I ended up leaving the probe on his basking rock for a little bit and the temperature got pretty high. I moved it some so that it wasn't right above the high part of the rock. I measured the temperature again at the high point that the light touched and it got up to 105 degrees. I also did some research and it said that maybe my bearded dragon was dehydrated. I gave him a both. He did lift up his head quite a bit to drink some water from his head. I am also including some photos of him so you can tell him if he looks ok. The end of his tail is black and under his little chin. I feel like I did everything wrong for him, so please help me get things right.

 

[KarrieRee]

Looks like hes got some stress marks going and some distress --- the screen on your tank is a fine mesh like a screen door ? If so you need to obstruct it - the UVB need to be unobstructed w/ a piece of decor like the hammock or the log piece directly under it 12-15 inches away for a T 5 of which it looks like it is -- correct me if I am wrong --- basking temp is ok at 105 - is he eating? You can rinse his salad before serving and that will give him moisture even if hes eating a little bit of them you want him eating some make sure his insects are gut loaded as well feed them at nite before lights out they will eat over nite making them good and full before feeding the dragon -

 

[jlclark26]

The temperature where I had the lamp at first got over 110 so I moved it over a little bit. In the new location the temperature is 105. He is not eating. He hasn't eaten much in days and he has been sleeping a lot lately. He lays so flat and still. I am often looking close just to make sure he is breathing. I am going to put the lamp inside the tank so that it is not obstructed at all. The lamp came with some mounting pieces.

 

[KarrieRee]

What lamp are you talking about? The UVB or basking lamp? The basking lamp is going to be too hot inside ----the UVB please look on the bulb and tell me what it is it will say T 5 or T 8 on it you will need to look closely at it

 

[jlclark26]

I'm talking about the basking lamp. The area it was over was getting too hot, so I moved it some. The UVB lamp says T5 on it.

 

[KarrieRee]

So your T5 is still on top of the screen? What kind of screen do you have? Fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type -- this is crucial --- you dont want temps over 110- leave the basking bulb on top of the screen -- and dont put it in the tank --- are you still using the 20 gallon? Do you have a 5.0 bulb ? The Zoo Med fixture would of come w/ a 5.0 bulb if that is what you got? Let me know please- also I would move the platform/ cave to the other side of the tank and place the log piece you have under the basking light - its going to give a gradient heat for him to sit on the piece and he will be able to pick the temp he wants to bask at -- get your probe thermometer after you move it under the lamp and see what the temp is at the highest point --- I would remove the hammock all together those mesh hammocks cause injury to the dragons as they tend to get their nails caught in the mesh if you want another hammock get a cloth or a fleece one http://www.pamperedbeardies.com
With the smaller tank the T 5 is going to be pretty strong - so since that is what your using I would take the screen have it half way on and place the UVB going width wise having a distance of 12--15 inches above him and you can use the screen butting it up to the UVB w/a the basking lamp on the screen - you will haft to place the UVB on the very end of the tank - try and get your lights so they are directly over him next to one another --

 

[jlclark26]

This is the 20 gallon tank. I am waiting for a replacement of the 40 gallon tank. I got rid of the hammock. He is under the basking rock, so once he comes out, I will move it to the other side of the tank.
Is this what you mean for the set up of the lights?

 

[KarrieRee]

Sort of but it will work have the uvb directly above w/ distance 8-10 inches screen looks wide holed so it can stay on top - watch his behavior see how he does

 

[jlclark26]

Thank you so much! He hasn't improved much yet, but hopefully he will soon!