For the past week or two my male Bearded Dragon (Smiley) (around 6 years old) hasn't been eating much, or going to the restroom. He mainly stays under his log all day - I believe sleeping. :?: :?: Is there something wrong with him?!
I am worried he is passing away; but I am not sure since I have never owned a dragon before.
I am sorry your dragon isn't doing well.
Can you review your tank setup such as the type/brand of your UVB lights, the supplementation, temperatures, feeding schedule, so we can be sure everything is correct?
If you have any pictures of him also, that would be great, & of your tank setup too.
Is he losing weight or is his beard black?
I am sorry your dragon isn't doing well.
Can you review your tank setup such as the type/brand of your UVB lights, the supplementation, temperatures, feeding schedule, so we can be sure everything is correct?
If you have any pictures of him also, that would be great, & of your tank setup too.
Is he losing weight or is his beard black?
Essentially you have no real idea at the moment what the zone temperatures and basking spot temperatures are , reptiles rely on heat to digest their food , if too cold their metabolic rate slows and they loose interest in eating.
Red heat globe - these are not appropriate for bearded dragons as they change the colour of everything you give him to eat (greens, veg, bugs). I recommend ditching the red globe and replacing with either a good brand MVB (will provide bright colourless (more or less light), heat, UVA and UVB) or a clear colourless par38 Philips incandescent spot globe of suitable wattage.
Can you tell us the wattage of the UV compact globe and it's UVB rating. I think you'll notice an improvement in his appetite if you have a good quality high intensity UVB globe, a change to a 26W UVB200 will help.
You ought to consider installing a 10%UVB - 14%UVB T5 tube with a reflector behind in it the near future.
Inadequate exposure to UVA will result in a reduced appetite and reduced activity in a bearded dragon.
Can you also tell us when the lights are turned on each day and off each day ?
His age ?
His weight ?
And your current feeding schedule (when ? what ? how many bugs each feed ?)
His tank is too small , he'll soon grow too big to comfortably turn around and move about in such a small tank.
Essentially you have no real idea at the moment what the zone temperatures and basking spot temperatures are , reptiles rely on heat to digest their food , if too cold their metabolic rate slows and they loose interest in eating.
Red heat globe - these are not appropriate for bearded dragons as they change the colour of everything you give him to eat (greens, veg, bugs). I recommend ditching the red globe and replacing with either a good brand MVB (will provide bright colourless (more or less light), heat, UVA and UVB) or a clear colourless par38 Philips incandescent spot globe of suitable wattage.
Can you tell us the wattage of the UV compact globe and it's UVB rating. I think you'll notice an improvement in his appetite if you have a good quality high intensity UVB globe, a change to a 26W UVB200 will help.
You ought to consider installing a 10%UVB - 14%UVB T5 tube with a reflector behind in it the near future.
Inadequate exposure to UVA will result in a reduced appetite and reduced activity in a bearded dragon.
Can you also tell us when the lights are turned on each day and off each day ?
His age ?
His weight ?
And your current feeding schedule (when ? what ? how many bugs each feed ?)
His tank is too small , he'll soon grow too big to comfortably turn around and move about in such a small tank.
I agree with the suggestion to change the lighting ASAP. He is almost surely not getting enough uvb, although his problem could be related to something else , good uvb will help him absorb nutrients + strengthen his immune system.
By the way, Smiley is really cute + has a sweet face. Although he's small he's not a dwarf, like a Rankin's .
looking at his crown and head spike arrangement he is not a rankings , but just a very small central bearded dragon who's growth was poor and became stunted because of poor husbandry and bad lighting by his previous owner.
He is a little sweetie! He is definitely a central bearded dragon, & has some great colors, too.
As suggested, he will start to do a lot better with some heating & lighting improvements.
I love the name, Smiley, it really fits him.
Does he eat the greens very much?
Let us know how he is doing.