Does my bearded dragon seem healthy?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Inkticious

Member
Original Poster
Hey there, I am a bit worried that I'm unable to properly take care of my bearded dragon, this is the third bearded dragon my family in general has had, and the second bearded dragon that is specifically my responsibility. The reason I'm concerned is I don't know if I am taking good care of her. The first bearded dragon that was my responsibility sadly passed away due to my family, and I not realizing we had been feeding incorrectly, and his liver had failed. He was my best friend and I loved him like he was my own son. I've been trying my best to make sure I take proper care of her, she just turned 1 year old 2 months ago in November, and the previous visit to the veterinarian we had was a couple months ago, maybe 4, or 5 months ago? If I remember propperly the vet said shes healthy. I do my best to take care of her the best I can. Sorry if that was kinda ranty, I go off on tangents a lot by accident. Do y'all think she looks healthy, or do you think it might be best for me to try to find another home for her? I just want the best for her, I love her a lot, shes kinda like a therapy dragon for me. Here's some recent photos of her.
 

Attachments

  • 20220129_174819.jpg
    20220129_174819.jpg
    117.3 KB · Views: 188
  • 20220129_174824.jpg
    20220129_174824.jpg
    108.3 KB · Views: 133
  • 20220128_144944.jpg
    20220128_144944.jpg
    123.3 KB · Views: 128

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I got no idea, we've had the UVB bulb since our previous dragon.
Please look on the bulb find the brand bulb is it a coil one that goes into a dome or a long tube fixture ? If that bulb is over a year old it's expired and your dragon is getting no uvb and if it's a coil that's even worse+ dragons need good uvb and if they don't have it he's developing mbd and other health issues - they won't show it till it's too late some times that's their instinct
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Hi, I just wanted to say that your dragon looks very healthy and not underweight at all. And I wasn't sure if anyone mentioned it but the hot rock should get thrown out ASAP, they can malfunction and burn a reptile.
 

Inkticious

Member
Original Poster
Okay, so the bulb is not a good bulb for the UV bulb, i'll try to get a better one as soon as possible, we just kept the super old heating light we had gotten with the first bearded dragon my family had gotten, since my family and i don't have a lot of money. the thing that has her basking bulb was just an old incubator light that we changed the bulb for when our chickens had passed. I don't know if i can even change the light in the UV bulb lamp thing since we had to pretty much break it to change the bulb previously.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Okay, so the bulb is not a good bulb for the UV bulb, i'll try to get a better one as soon as possible, we just kept the super old heating light we had gotten with the first bearded dragon my family had gotten, since my family and i don't have a lot of money. the thing that has her basking bulb was just an old incubator light that we changed the bulb for when our chickens had passed. I don't know if i can even change the light in the UV bulb lamp thing since we had to pretty much break it to change the bulb previously.
Thats probably not going to work -- please get a UVB ASAP-- here are some links to some good UVB's
these hoods are for a 40+ gallon tank this one come comes w/a 5.0 bulb keep it for a back up but the distance and placement is different from a 10.0 bulb you need Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood
here is the bulb you need 22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
or this one 24" Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
or this one you need to change the bulb out on this fixture again you want a 24" SunBlaster NanoTech T5 HO - Fluorescent Fixture with 6400K Lamp w/ this bulb 22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
When you get the UVB please post back on here so we can help you get it set up for your tank - placement and distance will depend on your screen on the tank
 

Inkticious

Member
Original Poster
I don't know if i'll be able to get those, moneys kinda always been pretty tight, and i don't wanna be a mooch. I'll try to get a better light asap, but idk when that'll be.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I don't know if i'll be able to get those, moneys kinda always been pretty tight, and i don't wanna be a mooch. I'll try to get a better light asap, but idk when that'll be.
Your dragon is getting sick w/ NO UVB -- if you live in a warm place like 65F + now take him outside for 15 minutes or longer sitting on you direct sun that is going to help him do this everyday till you get a UVB but he will not live w/ out it --- UVB is crucial to the dragons health --- if you have a Petsmart near you you can get a Zoo Med 20" UVB ---- they are a T 8 that is better than nothing placement would need to be in the tank and distance would be 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor --- NO ZILLA brand or THRIVE brand -- you want a Zoo Med -- they are way better fixtures and bulbs --- Pet Smart takes payments now or look for the Arcadia Pro T 5 they are spendy thru Pet Smart but a also a good UVB fixture -- please let me know I dont know where you live if you have Pet Smart near you - but that is also a option
 

Inkticious

Member
Original Poster
i take my bearded dragon out often when its not cold outside, and its summer, i also let her bask by the window when theres plently of sunlight a lot, sorry for the late response btw, been very busy, just got done giving her a bath and making sure her pores are clean.
 

Badwolfe

Hatchling Member
Hi

Unfortunately putting your Beardie in the window is not going to give your dragon the UVB light requirements he needs. Modern glass actually filters out a large portion of UV light.

You really need to make it a priority to obtain a proper UV light for your pet as urgently as you possible can. The UVA the tube emits is used by your dragon to help maintain its appetite and neurological function whilst the UVB it produces allows your pet to metabalize both D3 and calcium which is required for healthy growth and bone density. If a dragon does not receive UV for any real length of time then not only does it not grow properly it can also become subject to neurological issues that can usually not be cured. The lack of D3 and calcium will result in a condition called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) which can result in brittle bones and paralysis. All of these conditions will eventually prove fatal to your Beardie if they become severe.

I know this all sounds frightening but unfortunately you are in possession of an animal that does have certain specific requirements in terms of lighting / heating, etc. These unfortunately are not 'nice to haves' but are in fact 'must haves' if the animal is to have any chance of long term survival. Sadly a lot of pet shops fail to state this when they sell you one or offer incorrect and often dangerous advice in regards to their care.

If you feel you aren't in a financial postition to provide the things that your dragon needs then you might wish to consider the option of passing on your pet to an experienced reptile owner or a specialised reptile rescue. I know this is not what you want to hear and is upsetting but its obvious that you want your animal to live a long and healthy life and sometimes that means for us to ensure that this happens we have to let them go to someone who can give them this chance.

I wish you well
 

Inkticious

Member
Original Poster
UPDATE: buying the light and bulb, she matters too much to me. she has barely been eating and hasnt pooped in about two weeks roughly, im getting super worried, all shes doing is sleeping. what should i do? i don't wanna lose her. EDIT: i honestly don't know if i'd be able to deal with the pain from having to give her up, shes like a therapy pet for me, and i treat her like shes my own flesh and blood. But at the same time i just want her to have a happy and healthy life. I dont know what to do
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

No members online now.

Still Needs Help

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,897
Messages
1,255,656
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom