baby beardie not eating

[pmullins1]

Hey Y'all it's me again :roll: .... I don't know if I just worry to much or if there is actually something wrong, but my baby beardie hasn't ate in about week. It's been three weeks since we got her and when we first brought her home she ate a ton like she should, and then the amount that she ate slowly started to decline. I thought at first she would eat when we weren't around because she was passing bowel movements that looked healthy. Now we are at the point where she will not eat anything, and I don't think she has passed a bowel movement for a couple of days. I tried phoenix worms, crickets, and even mealworms (I know mealworms aren't the best food option but I'm desperate!). I've tried giving her a bath, and rubbing her tummy. She has had noticeable weight loss, her energy is really low, and she's always got stress marks. She is about 5 inches and is in 20 gallon tank, and paper towels are down for the substrate. Could this be location stress? Or is this something that I need to bring her in for? Or should I start force feeding her baby food?

 

[KarrieRee]

The first thing we need to do is go over lighting --- and basking temps---- the UVB brand and bulb? coil or tube? basking temps what are they are how are you taking them? NO stick ons!!! The 20 gallon tank is going to be too small here real quick I suggest you start looking for a tank that is 75-120 gallon--- craigslist or FB marketplace is a good place to start and I would look for one w/ front doors - but first we need to get your dragon eating again and the lighting in that tank is the most crucial thing along w / basking temps -- they should be 105-110 for a baby taken w/ a digital probe thermometer
Karrie

 

[pmullins1]

The UVB brand is reptisun and it's 10.0. I have a red heat lamp which I am unsure of the wattage it came with the tank when I got it, and the clear bulb is at 100 watt. The thermometer in there I think is wrong, because I have another beardie in the same size tank w/the same lights and hers is always at 105-110 degrees. I was actually planning on going to get a digital one today.

 

[KarrieRee]

Get rid of the coil UVB's and the red bulb---- this is a big issue- the Reb bulb is harmful to the eyes and can cause long term eye damage--- plus it disrupts their sleep-- coil UVB's are no good- you need to replace the UVB ASAP-- I would invest in a 24" fixture w/ a reflector-- and a Arcadia 12% bulb it's a a T 5 most places are out of stock but I found this reptile store out of Sacramento- https://www.reptilesupplyco.com/ --- you need to get a digital probe thermometer ASAP-- all these things are crucial to the health of your dragon----- the Arcadia is a excellent bulb--- the bright white basking bulb is good as long as its keeping temps to what you need--- but you need a digital probe to get that accurate temp --- place on where he sits for 10 minutes then get temp
Karrie

 

[pmullins1]

Okay thank you! Do you think the lighting is the problem?

 

[KarrieRee]

How big is the other dragon? Your going to need two tanks and two separate lighting equipment for those two tanks ---- plus digital probe thermometers -- yes most definitely --
here is some info on UVB's
Which UVB light should I use?
The best UVB light is a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube HO (Or Arcardia 12% in the UK). Compact or coil bulbs do not emit the proper amount of UVB light for a bearded dragon, and should not be used. Other brands, such as the Zilla Desert Series and ReptiGlo have been known to cause eye problems and other health issues with bearded dragons, and should be avoided. The reason that some UVB lights (Zilla, ReptiGlo, coils/compacts, ect.) are considered dangerous is because the wavelength of UVB that they emit is shorter and more intense than the wavelength of the "safe" lights (ReptiSun, Arcadia). UVB lights should be replaced every 6 months. The T5’s are a strong bulb and only need to be replaced once a year – the T 8 every 6 months--- where as the T 8 are not as strong—they need to be placed inside the tank the T 5 10.0 bulb approx 12-15 inches from basking spot – the T 8 approx 8-10 inches from basking spot—the cover needs to be off the bulb for full effect of the UVB rays--
when you decide on what your doing and you get it changed out I can help you set that fixture up for you across those tanks --

Karrie

 

[pmullins1]

yeah so Dino is 6 months and her new cage just got here (60 gal). Dino does not have a red heat lamp she just has 2 of the clear bulbs both 100 watt. We also got her a digital therometer awhile ago. But Dino does have the coil UVB just like little Tez does. When we got Dino. as a baby there were some ups and downs and lots of learning. When we got Tez I thought it would be easier since we knew what we were doing, but so many things are going wrong with her. I will go to the pet store and see if they have that type of bulb. I took Tez out of her tank for a little bit and she was alert and the stress marks faded a lot. Should I get some baby food for her? Or wait and see if the new UVB bulb works?

 

[KarrieRee]

Once you get the UVB if you get one from the petstore make sure it's a Reptisun bulb - no thrive no zilla! You need to replace both UVB's- tez will go thru relocation stress-but she should not quit eating all together- and basking temps--- they need to be there as well-- keep me posted and I can help you-- no plastic cover over the bulb it need to be exposed
Karrie

 

[pmullins1]

okay thank you!!

 

[pmullins1]

Update: The pet store had one left so I got it for Tez, and got it all set up. I hope this helps. I will have to order Dino's online, not to worried about Dino since she is healthy and eating.

 

[KarrieRee]

If your using a coil for her it's just a matter of time - tez should symptoms right away-- what did you get for the UVB- a T 8 or T 5? Look in box how long is fixture
Karrie

 

[pmullins1]

I just ordered Dinos, I got a T5 18" bulb for Tez since she is in a 20 gal tank right now. I took out the red bulb and switched it to a clear one. It must have done something because her belly is all white - no stress marks.

 

[KarrieRee]

The basking decor needs to be 8-10 inches NO SCREEN from basking decor for T 8's
The T 5 will haft to go on top of tank for dino- w/ screen on basking decor 8-10 inches - bigger tanks for the T 5 it can sit on top as well - the T 5' s are a stronger bulb
Karrie