Could my beardie be going into brumation

[jmain]

on the cold side I have a 75watt bulb because it is further down. Now when he climbs on to the top of that piece I pointed out he can get close to the bulb but I have the bulb where its not pointing down into the tank its just lighting it up enough to keep the temps around 85-88.

 

[jmain]

Also I don't get why he hasn't shed his skin in a while... I know as they get older its a longer time but i dont know how long it has been since last time

 

[fresnowitte]

Many thing affect how and when they shed...growth, health, lighting, diet, hydrations....etc...

When you say long time how long are we talking about?

 

[jmain]

at least a month maybe pushing 2

 

[vickson420]

Hi There
Wow Barb you did a great job here filling in the information.So glad he ate for you.So just to get this correct you switched out to a new ReptiSUN a week ago and the previous one was at 6 mos,correct? That in itself could be a good reason for the appetite.The UVB had declined so much that he just had no appetite since he was not synthesizing enough D3.I also agree with Barb,ditch the desert series bulb,you can always have the two reptisun 10.0 bulbs so that it runs the length of the tank.I saw the therm you were using and it is fine for ambient air so it would be ok for cool end readings but I would still go ahead and get the probe or infared both are a very good way to go.Id you really want to get his appetite going you can also always buy a product called jumpstart to help it get going agaim.I am however happt to hear he ate for you today,have you tired any other feeders? Sometimes they like a luttle variety as well also.Manydo get bored of crix as they get older.

 

[diamc]

Thanks Barbara and Vicky for posting all the information. I had been giving all my thoughts and suggested changes too but it certainly does help when others give their opinions. :wink:

I also agree that the Zilla bulb should be turned off. I also still feel that a digital thermometer with probe would be a good investment as you need to know the SURFACE temp of the basking spot and with the thermometers you're using now, you're only getting the ambient temp as Vicky explained. If there is a way of preventing your beardie from getting as close as 2" from the basking light, that would be a good idea, that is too close for safety reasons. Barbara offered some very good suggestions, let us know how you make out changing things around.

I would be concerned about having loose stones in the tank because if any are ingested, that could start a whole new list of problems.

Offering different feeders should make a difference too. I had also mentioned that it's normal for a 10 mo old to eat more on some days then others. Misty also has days where she prefers greens more than feeders and vice versa. Sounds like your beardies appetite has improved, that's a good sign.

 

[jmain]

still haven't gotten a thermometer but he is eating about 30 crickets a day now and is eating 3 meals a day

 

[jmain]

So he is eating but he hasn't pooped in about 3 days what could be causing that? I'm going to give him a bath everyday until he does

 

[diamc]

That's good that his appetite has increased but if the temps are still off, that affects their digestion and pooping schedule. Any idea when you can get a digital thermometer with probe?

 

[jmain]

I actually just got done with school on Wednesday and I have been swamped with moving back in with my parents (where my beardie has been living I usually came home on Tuesday, Thursday and the weekends) but then with work. I'm going to be going to Wal Mart tomorrow to see if they got one. Also I would be surprised if the temps are low because I have been running a 75 and a 50 watt bulb pushing that therom to 98ish then I would turn off the 50 and if it dropped back to 90 I would raise it back up (well I only did that this afternoon actually.)

He has been eating around 30 crickets a day though and some greens here and there

 

[jmain]

Also am I doing good by running the lights from around 5:30 am to 8pm? What do you run your lights for?

 

[diamc]

Sounds like you have quite a hectic schedule.

Hope you can find the thermometer tomorrow. I wouldn't recommend turning the lights off & on like that though, that could be quite confusing for your beardie. I turn the lights on at 6:30 am and at 6:30 pm, they are all out of their tanks but get returned when their lights are out. A 12 hr on/12 hr off is a good schedule.

 

[jmain]

O I was just wondering because I have been doing this schedule ever since I got him.

 

[fresnowitte]

I follow whatever the daylight schedule is for instance sun up 6:30am lights on 6:30am sun down 7pm lights off 7pm. Summer months days are longer so lights stay on longer...Winter months the opposite. But is always within the range of 10 to 14 hours depending on time of year I just rotate mine with the seasons. However all beardies in my house the first year stay on no less than a 12 hour schedule.

Glad to hear your beardie is eating better...hope life slows down for you a bit with school out.

 

[jmain]

Hopefully but I do a lot of volunteer work and getting ready for the oil spill..... My parents do a pretty good job taking care of him


Thank god