General Health

[mastermoche]

Alright guys, I got a question and I'm just wondering if I'm being an over reactive pet parent or if I have reason to worry. I have an about 8 month old beardie and he's been acting kinda lazy....He is in a 55 gallon glass aquarium with a 150 watt basking bulb and one of those swirly zoo med UVB bulbs. His tank is at about 90 on the hot side and 80 on the cool side. His basking temps can reach up to 115 if he gets high enough on his log. I also have a small heat pad set up under his substrate on the cooler side. He has a normal appetite, I feed him twice daily 10-15 crickets morning and 2 hours before his light shuts off, and give him fresh greens every other morning. Now to the weird part, hes really lazy. I rarely see him move. He is very alert and watches my every move when I walk past or close to his tank. I have recently become unemployed so I get to see his daily activity and he mainly likes to lay on top of his heating pad. I see him bask maybe once or twice a day but that's about it. He is pooping fine, every 2-3 days sometimes solid, sometimes a little runny depending on the veggies I fed him. I'm just wondering if I should collect a stool sample and bring it in for parasite testing or of this is normal beardie behavior. Any information you can give me will be a big help! Thanks in advance!!

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. More than likely its the uvb. Those compact/coils have been known to cause appetite, lethargy and eye problems. The most recommend on here is the reptisun 10.0 Tube.

 

[mastermoche]

He doesn't seem to have any appetite or eye problems, but I will switch out the bulbs and see if it makes a difference. Thank you!

 

[destiny1998]

Welcome . Yeah he may not be basking that much do to the uvb bothering him. Hopefully he'll improve after you get the new bulb. Would like to see pictures too

 

[mastermoche]

Laying on the heating pad as we speak!!

 

[Taterbug]

What is the basking side like? If his branch isn't comfortable or allow him to lay in a posture he likes he may not use it.

Is the heat pad inside the tank? Most of them require a airgap to function properly. Do you have a thermostat for it?

 

[mastermoche]

This is his branch. He has used it plenty of times before. He usually uses it at night when the temps drop so he can get closer to the night heat lamp. Yes the heat pad is inside the tank. There is no thermostat but when I feel the substrate it feels warm, not too hot!

 

[mastermoche]

Thank you for the UVB suggestion! I went a bought a new one yesterday and he is already back to his active self! I would have never figured it out myself! Thanks again!!

 

[destiny1998]