Beardie tail stiff??

[Maltier]

Hey guys! I have a baby bearded dragon and I've been noticing his tail being stuck up a little. I watched him go to the bathroom not too long ago so I don't think it's that. When I held him I couldn't keep his tail down. He has also not been wanting to bask as often. Could it be he is about to shed? Do I need to take him to a vet? Please help

 

[xp29]

Hey guys! I have a baby bearded dragon and I've been noticing his tail being stuck up a little. I watched him go to the bathroom not too long ago so I don't think it's that. When I held him I couldn't keep his tail down. He has also not been wanting to bask as often. Could it be he is about to shed? Do I need to take him to a vet? Please help

Please go over your lighting setup with us. By far most problems with babies comes back to the lighting.

 

[Maltier]

Please go over your lighting setup with us. By far most problems with babies comes back to the lighting.

I have the thrive 150 watt basking bulb and on his basking side it's about 83°F I'll show pictures.

 

[ChileanTaco]

@Malthier

Is this the only kind of light you are using?

 

[Maltier]

@Malthier

Is this the only kind of light you are using?

No I also have a UVB bulb on the cold side

 

[Maltier]

No I also have a UVB bulb on the cold side

He's also not really wanting to bask and just laying behind his basking rock, and he's showing a lot of symptoms of stress. I try to handle him every day to get him used to me, is it stressing him out? I want to take him somewhere but if it is stress that will just stress him some more.

 

[ChileanTaco]

The basking lamp (the 150 W), you can continue to use this.

But those UVB coil bulbs are very bad, despite they are often advertised for bearded dragons. Especially for a young dragon this is extremely critical.
The appropriate UVB source is a long tube like "ReptiSun T5 10.0 Desert" with the matching hood (the hood is where the tube is plugged in). Please switch that out to the long tube as soon as possible, I'd recommend ordering it right away. Often the hood is sold with a tube that is too weak, you then have to get the 10.0 extra.
It can be found in many pet shops and can be ordered online at various places like Amazon, online pet stores.

 

[ChileanTaco]

I try to handle him every day to get him used to me, is it stressing him out?

It can be, but also the wrong light is stress for a dragon. When the light is wrong he's constantly feeling that something isn't right but obviously can't get away from that. Not wanting to bask is your dragon is trying to get down his metabolism and getting away from the light from the coil.
You will see that with using a long tube light instead of the coil, your dragon will improve!

 

[Maltier]

The basking lamp (the 150 W), you can continue to use this.

But those UVB coil bulbs are very bad, despite they are often advertised for bearded dragons. Especially for a young dragon this is extremely critical.
The appropriate UVB source is a long tube like "ReptiSun T5 10.0 Desert" with the matching hood (the hood is where the tube is plugged in). Please switch that out to the long tube as soon as possible, I'd recommend ordering it right away. Often the hood is sold with a tube that is too weak, you then have to get the 10.0 extra.
It can be found in many pet shops and can be ordered online at various places like Amazon, online pet stores.

Oh my goodness I had no idea! I will definitely change right away! Is this bulb and hood something I can get from a pet store or do I need to order online. If I do could you send me the link for it so I make sure to get the right things?

 

[Maltier]

It can be, but also the wrong light is stress for a dragon. When the light is wrong he's constantly feeling that something isn't right but obviously can't get away from that. Not wanting to bask is your dragon is trying to get down his metabolism and getting away from the light from the coil.
You will see that with using a long tube light instead of the coil, your dragon will improve!

thank you so much for all your help!

 

[ChileanTaco]

Good that you asked
It's really so often the case that the wrong things are advertised and even recommended by pet shops.
Tube and hood can be available at some pet stores, it always depends on what they have on stock. But these are rather common items.
Otherwise, it can be ordered from Amazon online, or from the website of PetSmart and other large pet store chains. I post here the links to the website from Zoomed directly so you can see it better:

This is the tube:

T5 HO ReptiSun® 10.0 UVB | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

The hood:

ReptiSun® T5 HO Terrarium Hood with 10.0 Bulb | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

Please check for the matching length (the hood is a tiny bit longer than the tube). The length should cover approx. 3/4 of the length of your dragon's tank. If you have a small tank and are still upgrading, I would recommend buying a slightly longer one, and use it diagonally until you have a longer tank. The 22 inch tube, 24 inch hood is a good choice.
The tube lasts one year and should be switched out then. After a year, the amount of UVB it produces decreases. Usually it won't get out suddenly, however.

 

[Maltier]

Good that you asked
It's really so often the case that the wrong things are advertised and even recommended by pet shops.
Tube and hood can be available at some pet stores, it always depends on what they have on stock. But these are rather common items.
Otherwise, it can be ordered from Amazon online, or from the website of PetSmart and other large pet store chains. I post here the links to the website from Zoomed directly so you can see it better:

This is the tube:

T5 HO ReptiSun® 10.0 UVB | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

The hood:

ReptiSun® T5 HO Terrarium Hood with 10.0 Bulb | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

Please check for the matching length (the hood is a tiny bit longer than the tube). The length should cover approx. 3/4 of the length of your dragon's tank. If you have a small tank and are still upgrading, I would recommend buying a slightly longer one, and use it diagonally until you have a longer tank. The 22 inch tube, 24 inch hood is a good choice.
The tube lasts one year and should be switched out then. After a year, the amount of UVB it produces decreases. Usually it won't get out suddenly, however.

Okay! I'm going out today so I will definitely look! Thank you so much again!

 

[xp29]

Also, don't handle him to much for now. They go through relocation stress as it is, handling them in the beginning just adds to it.
Another good light is the Arcadia pro t5 12% desert. You can get it at petsmart (getting harder to find there) or

Pangea Reptile | Supplies | Gecko Food | Lighting | & More

Online reptile and supplies store. Specialty products, gecko food, reptile lighting, advanced heating

www.pangeareptile.com

 

[Maltier]

Also, don't handle him to much for now. They go through relocation stress as it is, handling them in the beginning just adds to it.
Another good light is the Arcadia pro t5 12% desert. You can get it at petsmart (getting harder to find there) or

Pangea Reptile | Supplies | Gecko Food | Lighting | & More

Online reptile and supplies store. Specialty products, gecko food, reptile lighting, advanced heating

www.pangeareptile.com

Okay thank you

 

[Maltier]

Okay thank you

I just bought it, do I hang it above his enclosure or let it sit on the metal lid.vif I have to hang it, how far above the enclosure?