Bearded dragon Urate...

[DanielleGia920]

Hello everyone. I have a 3 month old bearded dragon. I've had him for four days now and he's had normal movements everyday but today part of what looks to be the urate seems discolored. It starts off white but then turns brownish. Could this have anything to do with dehydration, shedding or relocation stress? Should I be worried?

 

[Dragonsandherps]

Following, mine do this from time to time as well...

 

[nathb1]

Hello everyone. I have a 3 month old bearded dragon. I've had him for four days now and he's had normal movements everyday but today part of what looks to be the urate seems discolored. It starts off white but then turns brownish. Could this have anything to do with dehydration, shedding or relocation stress? Should I be worried?

Mine does that too gooey!

 

[kingofnobbys]

Nothing to worry about, make sure your beardie's diet is correct for his age .

A 3 month old is a hatchling and requires nearly entirely live insect protein given three times per day as much as he wants at each feed (a few bugs at a time til he looses interest, as many worms (BSF maggots, blowfly gents, silkworms as he wants (these can be left in a dish for him to graze on).
Offer shredded greens and grated veg daily but don't worry if he ignores them (give the left overs to the bugs as food/gutload)).

Usually changes in poo and urate consistency and colouring are responses to changes in the diet.

 

[DanielleGia920]

Thanks for your responses! I appreciate it!

He is great with the greens, especially loves mustard greens and collars greens. I offer him crickets and Phoenix worms three times a day but he isn't that interested. He may eat 2 or 3 a day. In the pet store, Petland Discounts, the women said she gives him greens and crickets EVERY OTHER DAY! I was shocked when I heard that because from everything I've read they should eat live feeders several times every day! That may be why he isn't interested in them, because he wasn't offered them daily? In addition to relocation stress? I did notice they had a 5.0 reptisun about a foot above the mesh lid. So he probably wasn't getting any UVB. His tank was at 90 degrees and they were using gravel as his substrate. There wasn't one thing I could find that was appropriate about his housing. If they are going to sell these reptiles they should be trained in how to care for them. Hopefully with the 10.0 reptisun, 110 degree basking area and the offering of bugs daily his appetite and activity levels will increase. I notice is coloring has changed dramatically in the past week, possibly from the reptisun 10.0? Or could it be stress?

 

[Reptilelady]

Thanks for your responses! I appreciate it!

He is great with the greens, especially loves mustard greens and collars greens. I offer him crickets and Phoenix worms three times a day but he isn't that interested. He may eat 2 or 3 a day. In the pet store, Petland Discounts, the women said she gives him greens and crickets EVERY OTHER DAY! I was shocked when I heard that because from everything I've read they should eat live feeders several times every day! That may be why he isn't interested in them, because he wasn't offered them daily? In addition to relocation stress? I did notice they had a 5.0 reptisun about a foot above the mesh lid. So he probably wasn't getting any UVB. His tank was at 90 degrees and they were using gravel as his substrate. There wasn't one thing I could find that was appropriate about his housing. If they are going to sell these reptiles they should be trained in how to care for them. Hopefully with the 10.0 reptisun, 110 degree basking area and the offering of bugs daily his appetite and activity levels will increase. I notice is coloring has changed dramatically in the past week, possibly from the reptisun 10.0? Or could it be stress?

Cute beardie you have

Its very possible. When i got my beardie from Petsmart they were feeding every other day and only 5 crickets total for the whole entire day. Sad

Once my beardie got used to his environment, i just gave a little insects at a time, like for example 5 crickets... and then slowly he wanted more and then one he ate sooo many of them and now hes used to the bigger feedings. You can also try putting your feeders into a bigger container and make sure you have some substrate on the bottom then you can set your beardie inside and see how many eats. Its all an adjustment for them. They do not like change much and they are very picky from what i see.

Give your beardie some time to acclimate and slowly increase the insects feedings. Sometimes they might do this as a predatory instinct too like for example in the wild they will save their food in case they may not get it later so if your beardie knows you are offering food he will eat it. They also like schedules too. My beardie knows the sound when i shake the BSFL cup and then i take the tongs to feed him because he gets too excited he ends up biting the tongs, better to bite the tongs then your hands. I only hand feed veggies/fruit/greens.

But i am really thinking your beardie is just having relocation stress and needs to adjust to your schedule/feedings/ etc

 

[DanielleGia920]

Ok great, thanks for the response! Yes that's exactly what they said at Petland, 5 crickets every other day. That was the feeding advice I got from them ? At the rate they grow in the first year you would think it's just common sense that they need more food than that, but I guess not. Scary!

Thanks for the advice! Have a great day!

Danielle

 

[Reptilelady]

Ok great, thanks for the response! Yes that's exactly what they said at Petland, 5 crickets every other day. That was the feeding advice I got from them ? At the rate they grow in the first year you would think it's just common sense that they need more food than that, but I guess not. Scary!

Thanks for the advice! Have a great day!

Danielle

Your very welcome. I know right?!? You would think if its baby / small beardie they need the most nutrients and calcium so their bones can grow and strong. I just loved it when they said, feed just crickets without dusting and pellets :lol: I really laughed ... I dont care how "organic" pellets are it doesn't even look like real food to me. When i asked for "calcium supplements" they looked puzzled.. and one girl said give your beardie calci-sand for substrate so when they ingest it they will get their calcium needs :lol: :lol: :roll: :roll: Btw, NEVER give your beardie any type of sand this causes IMPACTION. My beardie happens to eat everything in sight so its worse for me, i cant have even a wood cave for him (he will nibble on it) so i had to search for one that wasn't wood material.

If you have any further questions or concerns ask away on here and not at the petstore

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thanks for your responses! I appreciate it!

He is great with the greens, especially loves mustard greens and collars greens. I offer him crickets and Phoenix worms three times a day but he isn't that interested. He may eat 2 or 3 a day. In the pet store, Petland Discounts, the women said she gives him greens and crickets EVERY OTHER DAY! I was shocked when I heard that because from everything I've read they should eat live feeders several times every day! That may be why he isn't interested in them, because he wasn't offered them daily? In addition to relocation stress? I did notice they had a 5.0 reptisun about a foot above the mesh lid. So he probably wasn't getting any UVB. His tank was at 90 degrees and they were using gravel as his substrate. There wasn't one thing I could find that was appropriate about his housing. If they are going to sell these reptiles they should be trained in how to care for them. Hopefully with the 10.0 reptisun, 110 degree basking area and the offering of bugs daily his appetite and activity levels will increase. I notice is coloring has changed dramatically in the past week, possibly from the reptisun 10.0? Or could it be stress?

I found that my two young dragons were veggie/greens lovers too and noticed they were pigging out on their greens and salad and showing little interest in their live insects, I made a very simple change to their feeding schedule.
I held back the greens and salad until their last live insect meal, problem solved, they were now hungry and demolished their insects , and still ate the greens and salad but not as much , which was fine as very young dragons need much more live insect protein and the fats from insects than greens and veg in order to thrive and develop properly.
This is counter the usual advise (regarding give greens and salad first which is fine for adults but not so good for a fast growing hatchling, juvenile or even a subadult).

 

[DanielleGia920]

Thanks! I'll hold back the greens till after his feeders.

Omg they actually encouraged the eating of sand ? That's just crazy!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Reptilelady]

Thanks! I'll hold back the greens till after his feeders.

Omg they actually encouraged the eating of sand ? That's just crazy!

Thanks again everyone!

Yw. I know... i was like really?!? You expect me to believe ingesting sand is a good idea :lol: :roll: Also, just know whenever you go to ANY commercial petstore they will 99% give you wrong info so always double check on everything. At petsmart, they said, 2 beardies or more can be housed together, they wanted me to buy another beardie at the store. Did not fall for it even though all of them are cute would love to take all but really they said, only time you will have to have their own enclosure is when they are getting bigger and they need more space :lol: LOL "If you buy another one we will discount for you" Some of the things they said i was in complete shock :shock: