Black Beard

[beardielovers]

We just brought home a 4 year old male beardie - still sorting out a good name for him. I realize that black beards are "normal" and nothing to be overly concerned about. The odd thing is that when he wakes up his beard is pretty black, but then by the evening it is just sort of grey. I'm assuming the black beard is from the move, new people, etc... but wondering if there is anything special we can do to help it go away. I may just need to be patient and let him get more comfortable with us but thought I would put it out there and ask. Thanks.

 

[Ethelia]

Hi there,
I wouldnt worry about the beard for the first week or so. Some males are just more inclinded to territorial behaviour.
When I brought Ruben home at just 3 months old he spent the first three weeks with us with a whacking great black beard whenever he was inside his viv. He was just in big boy mode and was showing me that this house, was HIS house, not mine.
He settled down soon after.

Are you certain you have your set up correct though?
Would you mind running through a few quick things so we can rule out an unhappy enviroment?

What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?

Holly

 

[beardielovers]

I think the set up is ok for now! We are getting glass for our big viv today and then in the next couple days
will get that tank set up. I will run through the set up that we have now.


What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
*We have paper and the slate rock that you buy from the pet stores

Do you use UVB lights?
*Yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
Fluorescent tube

What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
???
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
*Regular house bulb(60w), We took out the red bulb they had and put the house one in for now.

What are the basking temps?
*94.8 right now We are trying to get it higher

What is the cool side temp?
*84 give or take a few

Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
*Digital thermometer with a wire probe end

Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
*Basking temp done on the top of the basking spot.

We do not know how old the UVB bulb is and he is in a 60 Gallon tank


Now what he will be in this week:
A 4x2x2 cross fire enclosure
With tile as the substrate, Solar glow 160W, Florscent tube just to use for white light. We want to get him in this one because we do not know how old the uvb bulb is, also the tank was VERY dirty and we cleaned it out but it still smells like urine (FIL said We can not smell, medical problems) so we are going to get the glass doors today I think i got everything and if not sorry my Husband normally posts here not me lol
Thanks for any help!
Kevin and Melissa

 

[Ethelia]

Ah well your new set up sounds perfect so Im sure he will be happy in it.

Id expect that beard for a few more days though!

Holly

 

[joanrwade]

my bearded dragon beard turns black all time and he is fine