darker color change and mood difference

[jonathanoakley88]

Hey guys, i have a 5 year old male bearded dragon. Ive had him since october of 2021. He recently shed, he eats well (super worms, bok choy, asparagus, shredded carrots, cilantro, green peppers and blue berries occasionally) he has a good appetite and i bath him 3 days a week. the laat week or so his color has been darker then usual overall and he seems to be irritated (glass surfing, scratching at the paper in his enclosure). He is in a large enclosure (60gal) with a hammock to bask on, and the proper 100w heat lamp and a good uvb bulb. He just seems cranky, not aggressive at all, just not himself. His poop appears to be normal. Any idea what may be up with him? His enclosure temperatures are correct as well. He also spends lots of time outside his enclosure as well and hangs out on the edge of a couch looking out the window and roaming the living room exploring.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey guys, i have a 5 year old male bearded dragon. Ive had him since october of 2021. He recently shed, he eats well (super worms, bok choy, asparagus, shredded carrots, cilantro, green peppers and blue berries occasionally) he has a good appetite and i bath him 3 days a week. the laat week or so his color has been darker then usual overall and he seems to be irritated (glass surfing, scratching at the paper in his enclosure). He is in a large enclosure (60gal) with a hammock to bask on, and the proper 100w heat lamp and a good uvb bulb. He just seems cranky, not aggressive at all, just not himself. His poop appears to be normal. Any idea what may be up with him? His enclosure temperatures are correct as well. He also spends lots of time outside his enclosure as well and hangs out on the edge of a couch looking out the window and roaming the living room exploring.

a good uvb bulb. can you tell me what that is please-- temps need to be taken w / a digital probe thermometer 95-100 and you want surface temps not air/ ambient -- please lay off the baths - too many will dry his skin out -- they only need baths if they are drinking out of the bath or they have soiled themselves -- he should get most of his hydration thru his salads rinse before serving the greens --

 

[Gormagon]

Sounds like he is telling you he wants out of his enclosure. Yes dragons can and will talk to you (sign language aka.... body language) , all you have to do is listen closely. I would be willing to bet that his color changes when he's not in his enclosure.

 

[jonathanoakley88]

a good uvb bulb. can you tell me what that is please-- temps need to be taken w / a digital probe thermometer 95-100 and you want surface temps not air/ ambient -- please lay off the baths - too many will dry his skin out -- they only need baths if they are drinking out of the bath or they have soiled themselves -- he should get most of his hydration thru his salads rinse before serving the greens --

uvb bulb is a zoo med reptisun 10.0, heat lamp is a zoo med 100w heat bulb. surface temp is about 94-96 on his hamock. I take him out for a couple of hours a day and he hangs out with us. He gets a supplement 3x a week as well. The baths were to aid in his shedding. He eats well, lots of veggies and occasional super worms/blueberrys

 

[KarrieRee]

uvb bulb is a zoo med reptisun 10.0, heat lamp is a zoo med 100w heat bulb. surface temp is about 94-96 on his hamock. I take him out for a couple of hours a day and he hangs out with us. He gets a supplement 3x a week as well. The baths were to aid in his shedding. He eats well, lots of veggies and occasional super worms/blueberrys

The uvb is a tube or a coil and are you getting temps w/ a probe on the hammock?

 

[jonathanoakley88]

The uvb is a tube or a coil and are you getting temps w/ a probe on the hammock?

tube. And yes, those temps are with a temperature gun designed to measure surface temps.

 

[jonathanoakley88]

The uvb is a tube or a coil and are you getting temps w/ a probe on the hammock?

the UV light extends a good length of the tank and the heat bulb is over his hammock. I adjusted the height so he is able to climb on it and be at around 94-98, and he also has the other side of the tank to cool off on.

 

[KarrieRee]

tube. And yes, those temps are with a temperature gun designed to measure surface temps.

IR guns are no good on hammocks they haft to be a solid surface for that and a probe is best -- your tube is a T 8 or a T 5 ? Distance and placement is different for the bulbs --

 

[jonathanoakley88]

IR guns are no good on hammocks they haft to be a solid surface for that and a probe is best -- your tube is a T 8 or a T 5 ? Distance and placement is different for the bulbs --

mine is a T5.

 

[KarrieRee]

mine is a T5.

Ok so the brand is a Reptisun correct? Your screen is a fine mesh or a wide hole type? And is it on top of the screen? Or inside the tank?

 

[jonathanoakley88]

Ok so the brand is a Reptisun correct? Your screen is a fine mesh or a wide hole type? And is it on top of the screen? Or inside the tank?

reptisun yep and fine metal mesh, and its inside the tank. The basking light is on top of the mesh.

 

[KarrieRee]

reptisun yep and fine metal mesh, and its inside the tank. The basking light it on top of the mesh.

Ok so make sure your distance is 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece -- so it sounds like hes spoiled w/ all that lighting being good --- we always go over that first to rule out reason for behavior -- the glass surfing tells me he just wants out -- your tank is of good size too -- you might want to think about getting him something bigger like a 75-120 gallon at some point - your UVB will go right into another tank -- how old is the UVB bulb? If its over a year it needs changed out ASAP--

 

[jonathanoakley88]

IR guns are no good on hammocks they haft to be a solid surface for that and a probe is best -- your tube is a T 8 or a T 5 ? Distance and placement is different for the bulbs --

he gapes when he is on his hammock as well, he is getting the proper amount of heat.

 

[jonathanoakley88]

Ok so make sure your distance is 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece -- so it sounds like hes spoiled w/ all that lighting being good --- we always go over that first to rule out reason for behavior -- the glass surfing tells me he just wants out -- your tank is of good size too -- you might want to think about getting him something bigger like a 75-120 gallon at some point - your UVB will go right into another tank -- how old is the UVB bulb? If its over a year it needs changed out ASAP--

Both bulbs and fixtures were purchased in october when i got him. The people that had him before were using a reptisun 150w coil uvb and it was adequate but not really enough ubv. They were also using a 150w basking bulb but that was too hot i was getting reading well over 100. I plan on building him a larger custom tank in the spring actually! his color is ok right now but typically his tone is much lighter. Its easy to tell when he is pissed off because his neck will get black. It hasnt been dark black but earlier today it was darker then usual.

 

[KarrieRee]

Both bulbs and fixtures were purchased in october when i got him. The people that had him before were using a reptisun 150w coil uvb and it was adequate but not really enough ubv. They were also using a 150w basking bulb but that was too hot i was getting reading well over 100. I plan on building him a larger custom tank in the spring actually! his color is ok right now but typically his tone is much lighter. Its easy to tell when he is pissed off because his neck will get black. It hasnt been dark black but earlier today it was darker then usual.

Temps and UVB are crucial to the dragon --can you post a pic of him please - I want to see him to see if its shed that is what I am thinking-- shed will bring on crabbiness