Help, kind of scared

[Blender345]

So I got a baby bearded dragon April 19, and had him in a 15 gallon with just a heat bulb but took him outside for some sun once in a while. The heat was a constant mid 80'd on the warm side, I know it needed to be warmer. I just put him into a 40 gallon with a MVB that has UVB, which he lacked in his other enclosure. He is on sand, but I remove him and put him somewhere else to eat. He seems very very sleepy lately, and only eats 3 baby crickets daily. Is this normal? His sides are also kind of squishy, I believe they were a bit fermer before. Does he have any issues? Could it be from lack of heat or UVB? please let me know. I am hoping the new enclosure and new lighting (160 watt MVB in a 40 gallon breeder) will help. I also haven't given him a bath for a drink in a week or 2, which I just tried to do but he wouldn't drink. Help please. Am I just being paranoid?

 

[UTreptiles]

Have you taken the temperatures in the new setup? 160 Watts seems to be alot for a 40 gallon tank. Take the temps on both ends of the tank. Under the MVB it should be 100 to 110 F. Other side should be around 80 degrees F. The best way to get these accurate temps is with a digital thermometer with probe.

Does the little guy bask under the lamp at all. This could also indicate the temps are too high. How far away is the light from basking spot? With 160 watts it should be no closer than 18 inches to the basking site.

Beardies will not readily drink from a bowl or even in the tub sometimes. They absorb the necessary water through the vent during bathing.

 

[Blender345]

He always basks during the day, he goes to the cool end at night, around 70 or 65. I just bathed him, I haven't taken the temps under the new light yet, they're only uper 80's right now, maybe the MVB takes a while to get strong.

 

[fresnowitte]

What are you using to take your temps with? The more accurate thermometers are digital probe an a infrared temp gun any of the other style will not give you an accurate basking temp. A 160watt should be much warmer if not way to hot for a 40gal breeder unless you possibly live in a climate that is extremely cold. I have a couple of 40gal breeders with a 125watt but in the Summer months I have to use a 100watt or they would fry...but I live in sunny California.
Plus how far away from the basking spot is your MVB?
And what brand of MVB are you using?

Eating only 3 crickets per day and being very very sleepy is not normal for a young beardie...unless the beardie is possibly shedding.

Even though you feed your baby in a separate container not the viv. It is still highly possible for your baby to ingest the sand. They tongue everything so each time they do this they are eating just a little more until eventually impaction will occur. Not only that but particle substrate works much like a..."Litter Box." The sand harbors the bacteria from the liquidy substance of their poops then they tongue it and wa la they have now ingested the bacteria an end up with parasites.

Hydration is very important for any living thing...try bathing more often....at least a few times a week.
I prefer to bath mine daily as they are potty trained to go in the bath...so I have an easier job keeping everyone's viv's clean and sanitized.