Hi my name is Callum. I recently rescued a three year old female dragon about 4 days ago.
She came in very poor conditions the Viv she came in was 3.5x1.6x1.6(feet) no thermostat and rabbit hutch bedding for substrate.
I have installed a thermostat, replaced the substrate with beardie life sand, will be upgrading her to a 5x2x2 (feet) Viv next week so she has much more room, which also comes with a 48 inch T5 UV bulb.
Currently she's still very scared of me. She stays very still when I'm in the room watching me with her eyes. When I go into her Viv to give her food most of the time she closes her eyes or she makes these gulping motions with her beard which I assume means back off.
So far I've managed to feed her three calcium dusted locusts and some calcium dusted kale but she's just not taking much food because I think she's so scared.
I have her booked in for a check up with an expert in bearded dragons in a months time.
I'm just worried because she's not eating properly.
Please post pics of tank set up -- she probably has relocation stress -- I would recommend getting rid of the sand substrate--- your better off going w/ something she cant ingest like non adhesive shelf liner or slated ceramic tile -- you would want to put the tile in her permanent enclosure tho--- both can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes and are cheap- cleaning is a breeze w/ vinegar / water in a spray bottle 50/50 -- lighting is going to have a huge roll in her over all health -- is the UVB a Reptisun? What size bulb a 10.0? You need to get basking temps w/ a Infrared heat gun also purchased at Home Depot Walmart or Lowes and they are around $10 or so-- they give the most accurate temps- her temps for basking should be around 95-105 or so -- The gulping motions I am not sure exactly what that is -- our first dragon did the same thing and I dont think it means back off -- I would hold off on vet visit -- she needs to have time to relax before you take her to the vet -- thats just gonna put more stress on her I would give it a few weeks and then take her in -- in the mean time you need to get her basking and UVB lighting in order and go from there -- and please change out the sand--
Karrie