Help With Feeding A New Baby

Ryuofthenorth

Member
Beardie name(s)
Still deciding
Hello!
I recently got my first bearded dragon, and I'm having trouble getting him (or her, not sure yet) to eat. I got him on Thursday of last week (9/26), and I've been offering mustard greens, turnip greens, snow peas, carrots, summer squash, butternut squash, sweet potato, strawberry, and crickets (with calcium, of course). So far, I've only managed to get him to eat maybe 6 or 7 crickets, a tiny bit of steamed mashed summer squash with carrot, and a tiny bit of butternut squash mixed with sweet potato. After doing some research online, I read that it was okay to offer baby food if the beardie is being picky, as long as it's just veggies and water and nothing else. So, the butternut and sweet potato is actually baby food. He seems to be healthy from what I can tell and is going to the bathroom fine. Is he just stressed from the transition to my home? Any suggestions on how to get him to eat more?
 

xp29

BD.org Sicko
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
Hello!
I recently got my first bearded dragon, and I'm having trouble getting him (or her, not sure yet) to eat. I got him on Thursday of last week (9/26), and I've been offering mustard greens, turnip greens, snow peas, carrots, summer squash, butternut squash, sweet potato, strawberry, and crickets (with calcium, of course). So far, I've only managed to get him to eat maybe 6 or 7 crickets, a tiny bit of steamed mashed summer squash with carrot, and a tiny bit of butternut squash mixed with sweet potato. After doing some research online, I read that it was okay to offer baby food if the beardie is being picky, as long as it's just veggies and water and nothing else. So, the butternut and sweet potato is actually baby food. He seems to be healthy from what I can tell and is going to the bathroom fine. Is he just stressed from the transition to my home? Any suggestions on how to get him to eat more?
Please go over your lighting setup. Most problems early on usually cone back to the lights
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
Hello!
I recently got my first bearded dragon, and I'm having trouble getting him (or her, not sure yet) to eat. I got him on Thursday of last week (9/26), and I've been offering mustard greens, turnip greens, snow peas, carrots, summer squash, butternut squash, sweet potato, strawberry, and crickets (with calcium, of course). So far, I've only managed to get him to eat maybe 6 or 7 crickets, a tiny bit of steamed mashed summer squash with carrot, and a tiny bit of butternut squash mixed with sweet potato. After doing some research online, I read that it was okay to offer baby food if the beardie is being picky, as long as it's just veggies and water and nothing else. So, the butternut and sweet potato is actually baby food. He seems to be healthy from what I can tell and is going to the bathroom fine. Is he just stressed from the transition to my home? Any suggestions on how to get him to eat more?
Comes down to surface basking temps and UVB-- also he is going thru relocation stress -- he needs time to adjust to his tank and surroundings but the temps and UVB must be on par
 

Ryuofthenorth

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Still deciding
For lights on the cool side of the enclosure I have a 75 watt bulb in a 8 inch wide heating lamp that sits on top of the enclosure (I keep it on top as I had it inside and it was getting to warm for the cool side) on the hot side I have a 100 watt UVB Mercury Vapor bulb in a smaller heat lamp (not sure the exact width on this lamp but I can get it after work) this one is inside the tank. I know that a lot of people say that this type of bulb doesn't really do anything other than heat and that's mainly what its in there for. I also have a 25-watt UVB T8 bulb in a long lamp that runs the length of the enclosure on the inside. The cool side of the tank is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the warm side is 88, and the basking spot is 107.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
For lights on the cool side of the enclosure I have a 75 watt bulb in a 8 inch wide heating lamp that sits on top of the enclosure (I keep it on top as I had it inside and it was getting to warm for the cool side) on the hot side I have a 100 watt UVB Mercury Vapor bulb in a smaller heat lamp (not sure the exact width on this lamp but I can get it after work) this one is inside the tank. I know that a lot of people say that this type of bulb doesn't really do anything other than heat and that's mainly what its in there for. I also have a 25-watt UVB T8 bulb in a long lamp that runs the length of the enclosure on the inside. The cool side of the tank is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the warm side is 88, and the basking spot is 107.
Ok the UVB needs to be 6-8 inches directly above a piece of basking decor bulb needs to be changed out in about 5 months-- surface basking temp is good as long as your getting that w/ a digital probe thermometer and its where he sits for basking- cool side could be cooler 80ish ---- MVB are good for heat not so much UVB its good you have the T 8 -- is that a Reptisun bulb?
 

Ryuofthenorth

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Still deciding
Ok the UVB needs to be 6-8 inches directly above a piece of basking decor bulb needs to be changed out in about 5 months-- surface basking temp is good as long as your getting that w/ a digital probe thermometer and its where he sits for basking- cool side could be cooler 80ish ---- MVB are good for heat not so much UVB its good you have the T 8 -- is that a Reptisun bulb?
Alrighty I’ll double check on the distance tonight. I've been using an infrared thermometer and two mini digital thermometer/Hygrometers, but if a digital probe would be better I could definitely get a few. I'm not sure on what brand the T8 bulb is but I can also check that one later. Thank you!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
Alrighty I’ll double check on the distance tonight. I've been using an infrared thermometer and two mini digital thermometer/Hygrometers, but if a digital probe would be better I could definitely get a few. I'm not sure on what brand the T8 bulb is but I can also check that one later. Thank you!
Brand will be on the bulb itself -- the digital probes Zoo Med makes them I would recommend a digital probe hygrometer as well Exo Terra makes them - probe goes on the back center wall of the tank -- 40-50% optimal humidity -- nothing under 20 and over 70%
 

Ryuofthenorth

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Still deciding
Brand will be on the bulb itself -- the digital probes Zoo Med makes them I would recommend a digital probe hygrometer as well Exo Terra makes them - probe goes on the back center wall of the tank -- 40-50% optimal humidity -- nothing under 20 and over 70%
I bought a bunch of new stuff for the little fellow over the past few days, and now I have the Reptisun bulb along with still using the MVB for heat. I also bought the digital probe and according to that my basking area is 105 degrees and the humidity depends on the time of the day but usually stays in that range (and if it doesn't I've found a way to lower it but it's never been higher then 63%). He's still not eating a lot, but is moving around fine and going to the bathroom without a problem. Is there anything else I could try?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I bought a bunch of new stuff for the little fellow over the past few days, and now I have the Reptisun bulb along with still using the MVB for heat. I also bought the digital probe and according to that my basking area is 105 degrees and the humidity depends on the time of the day but usually stays in that range (and if it doesn't I've found a way to lower it but it's never been higher then 63%). He's still not eating a lot, but is moving around fine and going to the bathroom without a problem. Is there anything else I could try?
Your humidity is fine-- where is the uvb ? Inside the tank or top of screen
 

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