Hi just got a new adult beardie and have a few questions

[momtothreeboys]

Hi , We are new to owning a bearded dragon and opted for an adult male (2 years old). He was fine in the store..we were able to hold him. After getting him home if we reach into his cage to pet him ...he puffs up and turns black and hisses. I have learned already that he doesn't bite so I pick him up anyways. But he tries to get away most of the time and seems afraid. Should we let him have a few days to adjust before picking him up? Also, should we have gotten a baby instead to get used to bearded dragons. I hope that we didn't make a mistake by being new to the bearded dragons and getting an adult. ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

THanks!

 

[axxessdenied]

Give him a week or so to adjust to his new home. After a week or so he shouldn't be so cranky around you and pick up his appetite.

 

[momtothreeboys]

So even though he seems like he dislikes us there is still a chance he will warm up? Right now he is curled up on the substrate . Is this normal? I just want to make sure he is not sick.

THanks!

 

[axxessdenied]

Oh yeah. Beardie's love humans. But, they can be cranky at times, hehe. Give him some time to adjust to adjust to his new surroundings. It's a huge change for him.

How do you have the tank set up?

 

[momtothreeboys]

It is a 20 gallon tank with a UV light and a heating lamp. I have his basking log below the heat lamp and a food dish with veggies. I have about 10 crickets in the cage with him. I have a stick on thermometer that is reading 80 degrees. I just talked with someone on another site and he said I should get a mercury vapor heat lamp and a digital probe thermometer. He also said not to hold him for a week or two. Any other advice would be great!

THanks!

 

[3cherries]

is it 80 degrees under the basking spot? it should be more like 95-100.. and he might be cranky due to the 20 gal. min size for an adult is a 40 gal breeder....

 

[momtothreeboys]

yes under the basking place it is 80 degrees. We are running out now to get a digital thermometer with a probe, and a forty gallon tank

 

[BrittanyS]

make sure it's a 40 gallon BREEDER tank. They are different from the regular 40 gallons

 

[momtothreeboys]

OK thanks! That's what we just got, plus a new 150 watt heating lamp. I hope this helps him.

 

[momtothreeboys]

Ok so he is much more calm now and we have been able to hold him a bit. He is very sweet and looks up at us. But I have two questions. One is about he heat lamp. We have a 150 watt bulb in a 40 gallon breeder tank. The digital thermometer with probe says it is 108.4 in the tank. Is this too hot? His beard has been dark now since we got the hotter lamp but he seems happier. Would you suggest we get a 100 watt bulb.

Also, he has only eaten one cricket a day since we got him on Thursday and has eaten his salad the last two days. Is this okay?
I have been hand feeding him the crickets.

Also, should I have a water bowl in his tank? I have heard yes and no to this.

THanks!

 

[Freeie]

is the whole tank that hot or just under the basking bulb? They like it 100 to 110 basking end and cool side 85 or so.They are so much more active when they have the right uvb and basking temps

 

[momtothreeboys]

The left side was between 108-111 degrees and the right side was around 80 degrees. We just bought a new bulb- 100 watt and are waiting to see what the temperature will be. Hoping the highest will be around 100 degrees. I was worried when it was mostly 111 degrees and he was off to the side of his basking rock. Now the temp is cooler he is all the way on top of the rock.

 

[Beardys Rock]

your wanting it at around 100-105ish seeing as he's an adult, he should cope.

what uvb are you using?

 

[momtothreeboys]

We are using reptisun 5.0.

Also, I just bought him some mealworms but now I am reading that wax worms are actually better. Is this true?

 

[duke11]

Hi! Mealworms have a hard chitin shell that is a great occasional treat. I wouldn't feed them as staples as they can be dangerous even to adult beardies. Waxworms are high in fat and are good treats. Duke's favorite foods are butterworms, hornworms, silkworms, and blueberries! The reptisun 5 is a good bulb but I would suggest that when you need to replace it in 5-6 months, that you get a reptisun 10.