Growing Issues.

[jeffrey]

Hi, all I am new to the group. I have many pets, but my BD is my only reptile. I have him in a 20gal Long, he has a 100 watt basking daylight bulb. (repta*Sun), with raised spot to get closer. Its about 8-10 inches from the top of that spot. He has a 50 watt night time infrared light(exo terra), to keep warmth. He has the reptisun 10.0 UVB 18'' for daytime use also. He tank usually stays about 95-100. And always 65+ at night, just recently is when I got the night time light,. So now it stays at a good 75-80. He gets the good greens, crickets, and pellets, (but he does not like them). Up until recently about a week or so, he hasn't been a good eater. He would have his good days, and eat 5-8 small crickets. But then not eat for another few. Now he is averaging about 12 a day, with a good portion of his greens ate. I dust his crickets with the Rep-Cal brand Herptivite Multivitamins, and the Calcium with VIT D. I also gut-pack them. I bath him at least once a week. He did shead once, right after I got him. Those are all of my supplies, I use, so everyone has a bit of info on what I use.

I got him a little over 1 month ago. From a friend, she got it from another friend/co worker. The BD was born to him, by a rescue he took in, and had eggs, soon after. The day I got him he was 4 months old and 6 days. His birthday is 08/10/2009. I did not measure when I first got him, so I am not sure on his original size. But he has not grown much. He is 7 inches long including his tail. I have been reading around, and looking at size charts, and for his age he should be much larger. He has always had great poos, never shown the slightest sign of impaction. I have not taken him to the vet for a blood/fecal yet. I am soon to buy a new larger tank. I have posted a few other places, and asked friends. But I would love to hear what everyone has to say about this. I do not think I am doing anything wrong. I know, that possibly because I am now making his tank warmer at night, this might help growth and food intake. I hope so at least.

Thanks for any advice and Info!
I am posting a few photos.

Jeff

This is his holiday photo.

This first day I had him.

1/25/09

1/25/09 Eating Greens.

 

[jeffrey]

????

 

[Embee]

Hi,

I'm no expert. I'm new here, and learning everyday so take this for what it's worth, and certainly compare the info to other threads here (I did most of my research via other people's threads/questions without having to do much posting on my own so there is plenty to learn here, just keep reading.) I've read many other websites as well, and for me, this has been the place where I have found the most helpful information, and people. We have a small beardie as well (4 1/2 months and 7 inches), so we've been making some changes to his habitat in hopes of helping him thrive. We recently upgraded his UVB to a ReptiSun (from a compact, yikes!), and it's made a positive impact so things are looking up. Of course, that is an area where you're already doing well, with the ReptiSun 10.0... I believe you'll want your guy to be able to get within 6-8 inches of the UVB. For the basking lamp, just make sure that the particularly place where he basks, has the correct basking temps (see below):

A few things that popped out when reading your post:

Infrared lights are not a good fit for beardies. They CAN see the light, and it CAN effect the quality of their sleep. If you need heat at night, you might consider a ceramic heat emitter. However, 65+ are considered OK (if not quite ideal) nighttime temps for beardies. Our tank is in our attic which can get below 65 at night so we use a CHE and it works very well; heat with NO light. With the CHE, we can keep our nighttime temps at about 68.

As to day times temps, better to know the two separate temps of (1) basking and (2) cool side of tank. Basking temps should be 105-110, cool side about 80. I recently got a digital thermometer that has helped me gauge temps much more accurately. I drop it in each side of the tank once a day to check. I had a stick on dial thermometer orignally which I quickly learned was doing me not one bit of good... it was off and being in once place in the tank, didn't give me the information I needed.

You mentioned about calcium and multi-vites, but didn't mention how often you dust? I just recently learned that youngins' can do well to have most cricket meals dusted with calcium, and one to two meals per week dusted with the vites. I've read on the boards here that it's best to keep these two supplements separate, but again, I'm no expert. I have actually been struggling with this issue, as my little guy clearly does not like either dust. If he finds a non-dusted cricket, he's in heaven. I do believe it is effecting his appetite, and he's tending toward picky-ness to begin with. *sigh* For now, I'm taking the hard-line, and dusting all so that he can face reality, and get used to it.

I believe it's best to bathe at least 2-3 times per week, minimum. We bathe about 4 times per week, mist lightly when we don't bathe.

You're little guy is super cute. I'm jealous that he'll eat right from his bowl, or offerings. Ours is just not getting the hang of that yet. Occasionally he'll go for a cricket that's in his dish, and get some green by accident, but mostly, he wants to be fed by hand, if at all. In general, he's not great about greens, so we're working on this. I do believe it's because he's been through some growth issues though because he was ok with the greens early on. I'm hoping once his growth takes off, that this will also come in time. His cricket count has gone WAY up this week (he ate 14 crickets day before yesterday!), since we changed the UVB so we're very hopeful.

So again, I'm very new. I'm hoping someone will pop in here with a little more experience, and check me. If not, there are plenty of threads here dealing with similar issues. I did a search on this forum, and also in the general forum for "growth" and found some great information.

Best of luck to you and your little guy. Again, VERY cute!

Em

 

[xbryghtleax]

Hey, just a few ideas,

I agree definitely ditch the red light for nighttime heat. CHEs are awesome.

Compared to my dragons, he seems to be eating way less crix. Mine devour at least 20 at a time. Plus worms and greens. Try to offer more crix. And try Phoenix worms. I think they are truly the best live feeder for growing dragons. Try moistening the pellets in water for a few mins, I use them like croutons on their afternoon salads LOL. Mine like repcal for jouvies best, maybe try a different brand then what you have?

Hope this helps!

 

[jeffrey]

Thanks everyone. I do have the repcal for jouvies but he doesn't seem to have any interest in them though. Even wet. I have a digital thermometer but I am sure its doesn't work right. Because it only says 80ish when the other is a lot hotter. I do not mix the sup vits, i used the cal more than the mulit. He does not seem to mind, he ate some greens with the cal on it out of my fingers today. I am going to get the ceramic heater for night use. I am going to try to mix the pellets into the greens. maybe it will work. Thanks everyone for your incite. I will deff, start to bath a bit more.

Thanks again.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What are you measuring your temps with? A stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?
How many times per day do you offer him crickets? He can be offered crickets 3 times per day right now to give him ample opportunity to get enough protein.
As suggested, the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb can be 6-8 inches from him for maximal UVB exposure. Do you have the basking light directly beside the UVB tube light?
The calcium should be used 5 times per week, with one dusting per day & the vitamins can be used 2 times per week.
Do you leave crickets in with him over night?
You could try to get some bee pollen to help with his appetite, to see if that would increase his eating somewhat.

Tracie

 

[jeffrey]

I use a Digital Thermometer for Terrariums, its made by Zilla. Here is the link

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752177

I also use a precision analog reptile thermometer, made by zoo med.

I raised his tile up, so now he is 6-8 inches, without a doubt, to the basking light, which is right above his basking area. And the UVB is also close to that, its covers the main part of his tank where he is most of the time.

I have tired to feed him a few times a day, but he typicall will not eat. Usually only one time, around 6pm. But has ate at 3, then 6. I have left the crickets in his tank, but he wont eat them. So I do leave them. When he eats, he is odd.. I have to keep flinging the cricket to him, or move my finger by it, so he goes after it. But it gets him to eat... so that's all that matters. I use the cal 5, and the other vit, 2 times a week.

Since I moved up his tiles, I also added a 60 watt, heat bulb, as close to the basking area as possible. The dial thermometer says its about 115, but the digital thermometer says that its only 92ish degrees. So I am not sure.. but I think its hotter than they say.

Here are some pics of how I have it set up now.

Top:

Up-Close on the basking area:

Long View:

Over all taken from the Front:

Hope that helps you understand everything.

 

[Embee]

Just checking in with you. You've got Tracie helping you now, so you're definitely in good hands. :mrgreen:

Lots of support to you, and your "little" beardie. We're nursing our "little" one along as well. Hope we both seem some growth soon!

The best,
Em

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Overall, the tank setup looks good.
The Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb is placed fine. What lights are in the other 2 domes, one is the 100 watt basking light & what is in the other smaller dome?
The digital probe needs to be placed differently straight up & underneath the basking spot. That is a large differential between 92 & 115. Are you referring to the small round analogue thermometer that is laying down on the basking spot is what is giving you the reading of 115? That is what it appears to me judging by the picture. If so, those are horrible at taking basking temperatures accurately. They are usually measuring the ambient temps or the temps of the glass that they are stuck onto.
I would readjust your digital probe to be directly underneath the basking light, & tape the wire down if you have to, & leave it there for around 45 minutes to an hour to get a good temperature reading. Perhaps it is too hot? If so, you will need to decrease the basking light wattage to get the temps down. The recommended basking temps are 95-110 so if they exceed that, he could be getting too hot & that is why he doesn't have much of an appetite.
Does he spend much time underneath his basking light?
Then, let me know what that reads. That should be accurate.
Everything else appears to be fine at the moment.


Tracie

 

[jeffrey]

Thanks Tracie!

The round one is the one giving me the 115. He does stay on his basking area all the time. Under his light. Today actually he stayed in the corner a bit. The other dome has a 60 watt, to increase the heat over at that end. I re arrange the thermometers tomorrow, because he is already in bed sleeping. I don't want to bother him tonight. But I will see. I was told to get a cooking thermometer, from a store, and just use it. But when we got the first digital one, I just never got around to getting the other.

Thanks for all the advice, I will let you know tomorrow how the re-arranged thermometers tell.

Also thanks to you Em, for noticing the post and getting and giving me advice! Even a new experienced persons advice helps.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

You are welcome. Let me know how things work out tomorrow after the lights are on & you have readjusted the thermometer. I will be anxious to see what it turns out to be.
The total wattage is 160 watts so it is possible that he is overheating. We will see how the temperatures turn out.

Tracie

 

[jeffrey]

Okay will do. Do note that, I only added the extra 60 watt one just the other day. I hope I am not over heating him.

Tomorrow we will find out..

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am waiting for an update on the temperatures! Thanks.


Tracie

 

[jeffrey]

So sorry for waiting all day to post I have just been busy. Good news and bad news... the temps right under the light on the top of of his basking area says 100-102. So that is not quite there, but that was with only the 100 watt light on. Good news though. I bought some crickets today, and he just ate 35-40 I lost count. That is the most he has EVER ate. Only problem is they were not that gut packed, but I know petsmart does feed them stuff and cal in the food they feed. At least ours does... So this is good right?

I have a few questions if you don't mind answering please.

When should I upgrade his tank to the 40gal breeder tank? When his actual body is 6 inches, or all together him and his tail are 6 inches?

Also which is best the sand or the carpet?

Also also.. where can I buy crickets online that are of good quality, and to where I don't get ripped off? Is there a good website?

I appreciate the advice I have been given more than words can describe. I really think, raising his basking area up more, has helped, He was very alert today. and was trying to get the crickets, faster than I could toss them in!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, well, those temps are just about right then. It was probably too high with the extra 60 watt bulb though, I would presume.
GREAT that he ate so many crickets then, that is awesome. The petstore crickets most likely were not gutloaded but that is ok for this time. Make sure that you gutload 24/7 for future feedings though, so he gets more nutrition. Otherwise, he wont get much nutrition out of them.
You can upgrade him to a 40 gallon anytime you want to though. Alot wait until they are around 8-10 inches in total length or so before putting them in a larger tank. Or you can get the larger tank & partition it off for a little bit so he can get his food more easily.
Well, for now, carpet would be better for his substrate. If you want to change to sand when he gets older, use ONLY washed & sifted playsand not the calcium based sands that are sold for reptiles.
I think that readjusting the basking area & temps has immensely helped him out.
You can order bulk crickets from:

http://www.armstrongcrickets.com
http://www.premiumcrickets.com

Tracie