Baby beardie not eating. long lasting relocation stress?

[wfdenham]

Hey all

I got a 2nd beardie about a month ago. He was a baby born on 5/28.

I have him housed in a 20 gal long. 10.0 reptiSUN t8 with an in tank fixture. I have a 200w basking light in a dome fixture with a dimmer sitting on top of screen. 105-110 basking measured with ir temp gun. 80 cool side. 20-30% humidity. Carpet substrate.

My problem is that since getting him he has not been eating regularly at all. I've tried feeding him crickets but he won't chase them. I offered phoenix worms in a bowl and he will eat a couple if I leave them in there after I leave for work. The most I've seen him eat is about 15-20 worms in a day but typically the number is more around 5-10. I've never seen him eat his veggies or fruit.
He also has stress marks.

He is very skiddish of me, so I try not to bother him too much other than petting him once a day and giving him a bath every couple of days.

He is housed in my reptile room away from much noise.

While basking he will close his eyes and blink periodically. He also lays very low on his tree while basking... not upright. I never see him move around his viv much except to wall surf.

He poops once or twice a day. Looks normal to me nothing notable.

The past two days he has gone into partial shed for the first time since getting him. He has eaten hardly anything in the last two days as well.

He was bought from a very reputable breeder who I've been back and forth texting with. But I figured I could get some outside advice...

He seems extremely stressed but I don't know what else I can do and I'm begining to become very worried. Please give me advice.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. What kind of basking light are you using? is it coated ? Are you taking his temps on the basking spot? Is the uvb mounted in the tank? Are the uvb and basking light on the same side? Sounds like something is bothering him with the lighting.

 

[diamc]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear that your beardie is worrying you.

So your baby is 2 months old today and you've had him about a month? Seems like he should have pretty much settled in by now.

If you are using a 200 watt basking bulb and have it dimmed down, you could more than likely go with a lower wattage bulb, possibly even a 100 watt should be enough for such a small tank. How far away are you holding the temp gun to get the readings? Is it a bright white basking bulb without a coating?

Good that you're using carpet substrate. No impaction risks there.

What is the distance of the UVB to him while he's in the basking spot?

What size are the crickets you're feeding and how often are you dusting them with calcium & vitamins? Since he is so young, he may not show any interest in veggies until he is much older but good that you're offering them anyway in case he wants to nibble on them. What veggies & fruit are you offering?

The more often you handle him, the sooner he will get used to you. Always try to pick him up from the side rather than overhead. Have you tried putting a slightly worn shirt in with him to help him get used to your scent? You could also wrap him in a small blanket or towel after his bath when he's tired and gently rub his back, they like that and he should go right to sleep on you which also helps with the bonding.

Do you have any other reptiles in the room with him? If he is in there by himself all day without much noise, he probably gets startled when someone goes in there. Would be a good idea to try to move him to an area where there is more activity and human interaction, is that possible?

Good that he is pooping at least once a day and that it looks normal. Getting ready to shed is a good and shows he is growing some.

You could pick up some chicken or turkey baby food and mix some of that with a small amount of squash or sweet potato baby food, use a plastic medicine dropper or syringe and put drops on his nose for him to lick off. You could even add a small pinch of calcium to the mixture. They like the attention from feeding that way and the meat will help give him protein intake and a boost.


Would it be possible to post a picture of him and his setup?

 

[diamc]

Sorry destiny, we were posting at the same time. :wink:

 

[wfdenham]

Hey guys thanks for the quick replys.

Basking and uvb same side. Uvb is probably 5-7 inches away from basking spot. I take temps probably about 3-4 inches away. Crickets were no longer than the space between his eyes. Its a clear utility bulb that I use.there is another female on the room but they cannot see each other.

When I get home I try to handle him and I walk around the room taking care of things. I usually spend about am hour a day with both my dragons. I raise dubIA in the room so I have to take care of them as well. I don't handle him outside his cage as I'm afraid he'll get away from how quick he is. He still small as well.

 

[wfdenham]

Answer to more of your questions:
I dust vitamins three times a week. He only eating about once a day and doesn't chase the food down so I just leave dusted worms in his bowl so he will eat. Not dusting calcium right now because he's eating phoenix worms.

I try to give him a mix of collard, mustard, and turnip greens with strawberries or blueberries occasionally some times squash. Like I've said I've never seen him eat any of that but I offer it anyway.

I used to have him in a very trafficked room but decided to move him because he didn't seem to enjoy the noise.

I'll get a pic of his setup later if it helps.

All help is appreciated

 

[diamc]

I agree that babies are very quick and they also have a lot of energy that they need to expel. I have had babies as small as 3 1/2 inches that I raised to adulthood. Is there a room (perhaps bathroom) where you could block off areas of escape or where he could get into trouble? That way, you could sit down by him and let him run/walk around safely. It's important that they get some "time out" and the more you handle him, the easier it will be for both of you as a month is quite a while to wait before holding him. In order to get him out of his tank without him jumping, pick him up from the side and hold him in the palm of your hand with your other hand gently cupped over him. He will probably but your fingers with his head trying to get free but just keep your grip and take him to the safe area you have chosen.

How are you bathing him, in his tank?

Since he is so young, would be a good idea to offer live food 2 to 3 times a day. Phoenix worms are a good feeder and you're right, you don't need to dust those with calcium. So that he doesn't lose interest in them, would be good to get a 2nd feeder too like small crickets, small silkworms or even small dubias. The feeders should only be dusted with vitamins 2 days a wk.

If you could post a picture of his setup, that may be helpful.

 

[wfdenham]

I can try that in the bathroom tomorrow let you know how it goes.

No I bathe him in a sink. Idk how I would bathe him in his tank lol.

He has access to the worms whenever he wants he never eats them all and they can't leave the bowl so I leave them in there. He's very hesitant to eat when I'm around. He actually ate twice today which is pretty crazy for him. I have some small dubias I tried before but like I said he doesn't chase things typically and those buggers can be hard to get out the tank if left in there uneaten.

I usually feed my dragons in a separate container but that still hasn't worked for him hell just sit there with the bugs.

Probably go get a medicine dropper tomorrow let you know how that works. Good idea haven't heard of this one.

I know about the twice a week with the dusting but because he doesn't ingest any vegetables or fruit I figured three times couldn't hurt and may actually help him.

Let me figure out how to post this picture from mobile and I'll get it up shortly.

 

[diamc]

Some owners use a water bowl and bathe them in their tank although I have always used a transparent container or sink as it helps you to be able to control how long the bath is & also gives them interaction.

That's good that he ate his worms twice today. Does he seem any less stressed than he did?

Will be watching for the pictures.

 

[wfdenham]

http://imgur.com/CKxfV4G
http://imgur.com/Lr8Zp8N
http://imgur.com/ZR2SVVD

Yeah he does came home full upright on the basking spot, ate a good bit about 15 worms. Gave him some more handled him, put him back. Came to check on him and he had eaten a good 10 more or so.

 

[wfdenham]

I should add a note there though with him the eating can be really up and down. He might eat ok today and touch nothing tomorrow.

 

[diamc]

Thanks for posting the links. He is adorable. Love his coloring and it will be even brighter once he finishes shedding.

Are you using 2 - 100 watt bulbs in the double dome? Do you think there would be a way to move the UVB light more toward the middle of the tank so that the UVB would be directly over him when he's basking? When he stays where he is laying in the picture, doesn't seem like he's getting the UVB that he needs.

I wonder if he might be bored & want some more human interaction. Great that you will be letting him run around in the bathroom tomorrow.

Supplementing with the baby food is a good idea.

How old is the other beardie in the reptile room? Have you had that one long?

 

[wfdenham]

Sorry it took so long to reply.

No its 1 200 watt it's just a double dome fixture I have. I can move the tree back if you think he needs to be closer.

Possibly. Never seems like he enjoys interaction haha but I could see him being bored probably would be good for him and me.

Not sure think I've had her for about 3 or 4 months. Not sure her age I always wondered that. Bought her from a pet shop that said she was about a year, but she didn't not seem a year old back then. I don't even think she's a year old now.

 

[diamc]

It seems like there is enough distance to move the tree back. Would have to make sure that the UVB won't be closer than 6" to him though and would want the UVB over his head if that's possible.

Another thing I thought of is that the cool side of the tank looks quite dark so a low wattage household lightbulb (like a 25 watt) would give a little light on that side so that maybe he would move around more.

Does the other beardie like running around? Would love to see pics of her too sometime. :wink:

 

[wfdenham]

Oh yeah idk why that side of the tank looks so dark in the pic maybe it's because I had the light in the room off to get better pictures.

Oh yeah my female is super friendly. She loves to run around. Real good eater. She's only seen the baby once but she was not a fan. Almost jumped outta my hands when she saw him. They can see a lot farther than what I gave them credit for lol.

She's going into full shed now and she's sleeping I can get a pic of her tomorrow haha.