tedbubz
Member
- Beardie name(s)
- Ted (1 year 2 mo) Western Bearded Dragon - Pogona minor minor)
Hi,
I don't know if I'm needlessly worrying or not but I feel like maybe something is wrong.
So on Friday 2/9/22 I changed his set up (added new walls and added one 75W exo terra intense bulb in the middle to create a higher ambient temp of 29°c/84°f opposed to the previous 27°c/80.6°f). First pic is old, 2nd pic is new.
Since then he has been on the top of the bonsai driftwood a lot (his usual spots are the red resin rock and basking spots) and his body noticeably darkens, has spots of black on his beard, and has black on his belly. I've read that the beard and belly could be stress marks, and note that he has never had these marks before. He only does this when he's outdoors (something he doesn't like but trying to work on it).
Before Friday's set up change his body has always been white:
Please also note that I have changed set ups multiple times before and he has always been fine with it - no stress marks or anything.
However this is the first time I've added a second basking bulb. The second basking bulb yesterday was 100W (32°c/89.6°f), thought it was too hot for him so switched to 75W (29°c/84°f), but he still goes on the driftwood a lot and his stress marks are still present. The purpose with the basking bulb was to increase the ambient temp in the middle and to possibly help him with his appetite.
If I move him from the driftwood back to the basking spot he will pancake and his underside will be white again.
Also before the change he used to gape his mouth when basking (which I've read is a good sign, something aboht reaching his optimal temp?). But now he doesn't gape? Is this worrying?
So to summarise:
- beardie changed his usual spot but always has black spotted beard and stress marks on belly.
- beardie does not gape anymore when basking.
I'm sorry for the long winded paragraphs, I just wanted to make sure I don't miss anything.
Please let me know what you think. Thank you and I hope the best for you and your beardies ❤
I don't know if I'm needlessly worrying or not but I feel like maybe something is wrong.
So on Friday 2/9/22 I changed his set up (added new walls and added one 75W exo terra intense bulb in the middle to create a higher ambient temp of 29°c/84°f opposed to the previous 27°c/80.6°f). First pic is old, 2nd pic is new.
Since then he has been on the top of the bonsai driftwood a lot (his usual spots are the red resin rock and basking spots) and his body noticeably darkens, has spots of black on his beard, and has black on his belly. I've read that the beard and belly could be stress marks, and note that he has never had these marks before. He only does this when he's outdoors (something he doesn't like but trying to work on it).
Before Friday's set up change his body has always been white:
Please also note that I have changed set ups multiple times before and he has always been fine with it - no stress marks or anything.
However this is the first time I've added a second basking bulb. The second basking bulb yesterday was 100W (32°c/89.6°f), thought it was too hot for him so switched to 75W (29°c/84°f), but he still goes on the driftwood a lot and his stress marks are still present. The purpose with the basking bulb was to increase the ambient temp in the middle and to possibly help him with his appetite.
If I move him from the driftwood back to the basking spot he will pancake and his underside will be white again.
Also before the change he used to gape his mouth when basking (which I've read is a good sign, something aboht reaching his optimal temp?). But now he doesn't gape? Is this worrying?
So to summarise:
- beardie changed his usual spot but always has black spotted beard and stress marks on belly.
- beardie does not gape anymore when basking.
I'm sorry for the long winded paragraphs, I just wanted to make sure I don't miss anything.
Please let me know what you think. Thank you and I hope the best for you and your beardies ❤