hiding and not basking

[Paulvenables]

Hi members

I brought my baby dragon back in March 2012, and he/she (calling Norris for now) doesn't seem to bask (well not whilst im home anyway) and just recently seems to keep hiding, even if i remove from hiding and but in the basking area.

Norris seems to go straight back into hiding he's been doing this now for the past few weeks, also since have Norris he doesn't seem to touch his greens is this un-common? what should i do?

He will eat live food although only the odd one or two, so i have changed to locust from crickets which seem to be disapering. Which i'm assuming he is eating.

Any help would be gratly recieved.

Many thnaks Paul

 

[Maximillian]

Approximately how long is your dragon? Do you know his approximate age?
Mine ate greens sparingly until he was about 6 months old. You may want to mix some yellow squash in, mine loves it. How hot is it on the hot side of the cage, and what type of thermometer are you using?

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi Paul,
Answering some questions can help us rule out problems and maybe zero in on what's going on with Norris. Being as specific as you can will help.
Is your dragon housed alone?
What do you use for a thermometer? Dials and strips are inaccurate. You need a digital probe, about $12 at Walmart, or a temp gun, about $25 to $50
What are the temps of his basking surface?....hot end?....cool end?
Temps are critical to them...they need accurate temps to digest, to keep their immune system functioning well and all other metabolic functions.
Do you have any heat rocks or mats? Bottom heat is not good. Dragons do not sense heat from their underside. If there was a malfunction of the heat rock or mat he could get severe burns on his tummy and legs. He wouldn't feel it to move away.
What UVB bulb do you have? How old is it? Is it coil or linear florescent?
How close can he get to the UVB bulb?
Is their anything blocking full exposure of the UVB?....screen top?....bulb cover?
What do you use for basking/heat bulb?
What are you using for a substrate?
What size tank do you have your baby in?
How has his poo been?...more or less frequent?....loose, runny and more stinky than usual?.....hard and dry?...is urate {the white stuff} present?...A change in his poo's can indicate worms and/or parasites.
How many times a week do you soak your dragon for hydration?
Amanda

 

[izz]

My dads, friends son got a beardie a while ago and the had the same problem. He got a very little case of MBD, but not enought to hurt him, just a wonky leg.
They took the hide out so he couldn't hide away, and now he basks and eats properly.

Maybe you should try removing the hide?

 

[Paulvenables]

Hi all

Firstly i would like to thank you for your quick replies and to apologises for mine taking so long. Right answers to you question sorry if i miss anything out.

I would say he is between 4 and 5 months by now, he poo's every other day at a quess most of the time it conatins the white part and is quite dry and not smelly.

He is about 7 inch in length i would say including tail. I put him in the bath every other day.
I have the following items in my set up:

Lucky Reptile Thermometer Deluxe(digital) (one probe each end)
Arcadia Reptile Controller plug/socket - 26mm (1") 25/30 Watt
Arcadia Ceramic Lamp Holder & Bracket (screw fitting) x2
Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 - 25w (UVB)
Exo Terra Ceramic Heat Emitter 100w
VivExotic VX36 36in Vivarium and Cabinet Tobacco Walnut
Microclimate B2ME Thermostat
Exo Terra Feeding Dish (Medium)
Exo Terra Water Well Dispenser
Exo Terra Analogue Thermometer x1 (centre of tank)
Exo Terra Sun Glo Tight Beam Lamp 75w (40w currently running)
Bamboo route and plastic plants
Natural desert sand as substrate

I have since removed his hiding places, all apart from one which i can see him when he goes in there which tends to be at night, i have also now started giving him medium locust as previously mentioned instead of crickets which he seems to enjoy.

i would say the temp of cool end is about 25c and the warm end is about 35-36c.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Regards

Paul Venables

p.s would post a picture of set up but don't now how to do it?

 

[Paulvenables]

 

[Paulvenables]

Hi all

Firstly i would like to thank you for your quick replies and to apologises for mine taking so long. Right answers to you question sorry if i miss anything out.

I would say he is between 4 and 5 months by now, he poo's every other day at a quess most of the time it conatins the white part and is quite dry and not smelly.

He is about 7 inch in length i would say including tail. I put him in the bath every other day.
I have the following items in my set up:

Lucky Reptile Thermometer Deluxe(digital) (one probe each end)
Arcadia Reptile Controller plug/socket - 26mm (1") 25/30 Watt
Arcadia Ceramic Lamp Holder & Bracket (screw fitting) x2
Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 - 25w (UVB)
Exo Terra Ceramic Heat Emitter 100w
VivExotic VX36 36in Vivarium and Cabinet Tobacco Walnut
Microclimate B2ME Thermostat
Exo Terra Feeding Dish (Medium)
Exo Terra Water Well Dispenser
Exo Terra Analogue Thermometer x1 (centre of tank)
Exo Terra Sun Glo Tight Beam Lamp 75w (40w currently running)
Bamboo route and plastic plants
Natural desert sand as substrate

I have since removed his hiding places, all apart from one which i can see him when he goes in there which tends to be at night, i have also now started giving him medium locust as previously mentioned instead of crickets which he seems to enjoy.

i would say the temp of cool end is about 25c and the warm end is about 35-36c.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Regards

Paul Venables

p.s would post a picture of set up but don't now how to do it?

 

[Paulvenables]

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi Paul,
I got your PM. Has Norris been basking before this current problem? I'd get rid of the ReptiGlo. They have been known to cause eye and health problems. The dragon will sometimes hide to avoid being in the light of the ReptiGlo. How long has he had the ReptiGlo. The problems can be immediate or develop. This forum recommends either a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent UVB or an Arcadia D3 12% UVB which is also a fluorescent.

You need to place a probe on the basking surface for about 45 minutes to check it's temp. Temps need to be accurate for proper digestion, a healthy immune system and all other functions ....an estimate or "about" won't work.

There is much misinformation on Bearded Dragons habitat. They are not mainly sand dwelling lizards. They are from dry, arid parts of Australia. They mainly live in trees, scrub and woodlands. I'd get rid of the sand ASAP. The dragon licks to identify it's surrounding and can accidently ingest the sand which can compact and cause a life threatening bowel impaction. Also sand can not be cleaned of all the waste and will harbor bacteria and possibly worm and/or parasite eggs. Sand is like a dragon living in a cat litter box.
Better choices are paper towel, newspaper, non-adhesive shelf liner, textured ceramic tile or slate. All of these are either disposable or cleans easily.

Making these changes may solve the problem or at least we can rule these out as causitive.

Continue to offer fresh greens daily, he will eventually eat them. Here is a link to a color coded easy to follow list of nutrition for your beardie, most here recommend and follow it. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Do you give calcium and vitamin supplements? On what schedule?

How is Norris today?
Amanda

 

[Paulvenables]

Hi Paul,
I got your PM. Has Norris been basking before this current problem? I'd get rid of the ReptiGlo. They have been known to cause eye and health problems. The dragon will sometimes hide to avoid being in the light of the ReptiGlo. How long has he had the ReptiGlo. The problems can be immediate or develop. This forum recommends either a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent UVB or an Arcadia D3 12% UVB which is also a fluorescent.

You need to place a probe on the basking surface for about 45 minutes to check it's temp. Temps need to be accurate for proper digestion, a healthy immune system and all other functions ....an estimate or "about" won't work.

There is much misinformation on Bearded Dragons habitat. They are not mainly sand dwelling lizards. They are from dry, arid parts of Australia. They mainly live in trees, scrub and woodlands. I'd get rid of the sand ASAP. The dragon licks to identify it's surrounding and can accidently ingest the sand which can compact and cause a life threatening bowel impaction. Also sand can not be cleaned of all the waste and will harbor bacteria and possibly worm and/or parasite eggs. Sand is like a dragon living in a cat litter box.
Better choices are paper towel, newspaper, non-adhesive shelf liner, textured ceramic tile or slate. All of these are either disposable or cleans easily.

Making these changes may solve the problem or at least we can rule these out as causitive.

Continue to offer fresh greens daily, he will eventually eat them. Here is a link to a color coded easy to follow list of nutrition for your beardie, most here recommend and follow it. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Do you give calcium and vitamin supplements? On what schedule?

How is Norris today?
Amanda

Hi Amanda

The set up was what was recomended to me by a few places before i purchased Norris so the Reptiglo has been in the viv since a got him, he has never really basked since ive had him not that ive noticed properly only once or twice that ive seen.

Even if i put him in the basking spot he wont stay there long seems to prefer being up next to the reptiglo tube.

Which i shall now change if you think i should but i do have a reptisun basking bulb as well as the reptiglo tube ! which would you recomend? The ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent UVB or an Arcadia D3 12% UVB.

I have posted afew pictures within my topic i dont know if you've seen them, but there is one there of the viv set-up and.

I have a digital thermometerr just under the heat lamp emiter, which is were i took the reading from and then the basking spot is to the right of that, but i guess i could pull it to go under the basking spot to see what it reads there.

Do you think i should put the 75w basking bulb in? do you think the basking area is to close to the bulb?

I was thinking of removing the sand and getting the reptile carpet, is this any good? (don't really wont paper etc in viv).

I dust the live food every day with calcium and vitamin D? His salad is also changed every morning. What different greens could i try tempt him with. I've tried peppers,green beans, rocket, spring greens, carrot, mango, parsnip, strawberry,blueberries.

What do you feed yours on? should i be doing anything else or i'm i doing anything wrong.

Many thanks for your time and help, i would appricate it if you could look at the viv picture and tell me if the way ive set it up is okay.

Regards Paul

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi Amanda

The set up was what was recomended to me by a few places before i purchased Norris so the Reptiglo has been in the viv since a got him, he has never really basked since ive had him not that ive noticed properly only once or twice that ive seen. I am not surprised you got incorrect information, there is plenty out there, especially from the pet shops! Since he's never basked well I'm going to say it might be the ReptiGlo so I would change that ASAP. I'd turn it off right now and not use it again to let his eyes rest. It will be better to have none for a short time while you get another UVB.

Even if i put him in the basking spot he wont stay there long seems to prefer being up next to the reptiglo tube. I guess I'm confused. How are the lights set up? How can he get up close to the Reptiglo but not be basking. Usually the basking light and UVB light is mounted so as the dragon basks it also is exposed to the UVB it needs? That may be an issue. I'd check basking surface temp. to see if it is getting to hot.

Which i shall now change if you think i should but i do have a reptisun basking bulb as well as the reptiglo tube ! which would you recomend? The ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent UVB or an Arcadia D3 12% UVB. This forum recommends either. I have ReptiSun's on all 4 of mine but I understand the Arcadia bulbs are even a bit better. The Arcadia bulbs just became available in the US this past November. Either is good and both are better than the Glo.

I have posted afew pictures within my topic i dont know if you've seen them, but there is one there of the viv set-up and. I'm sorry, I can't see your set up, it appears only a bit larger than a thumbnail and I can't see detail.

I have a digital thermometerr just under the heat lamp emiter, which is were i took the reading from and then the basking spot is to the right of that, but i guess i could pull it to go under the basking spot to see what it reads there.You will want to check temp where he basks, or where he should be basking. You don't need the heat emitter on during the day. If the tank isn't reaching temps without it you need a higher wattage basking/heat bulb. You only need the heat emitter on at night if your house falls below 65*F

Do you think i should put the 75w basking bulb in? do you think the basking area is to close to the bulb? I'm sorry but I can't see it. What size wattage basking bulb is currently being used? Only you can determine if you need a 75 watt and that will be based on the temp in the tank. Also, for the future, you only need a regular bright white household lightbulb for heat/light, not the energy efficient one, they don't produce enough heat. You don't need the fancy expensive "reptile" one, that's a money maker for the pet supply company.

I was thinking of removing the sand and getting the reptile carpet, is this any good? (don't really wont paper etc in viv). Sorry, I forgot to list reptile carpet. Yes, that's fine!

I dust the live food every day with calcium and vitamin D? His salad is also changed every morning. Here is a good schedule recommended for babies thru sub-adults. It's followed here and easy to remember. Monday thru Friday dust 1 of the live feedings daily with calcium, Saturday and Sunday dust 1 of the live feedings with vitamins. What different greens could i try tempt him with. I've tried peppers,green beans, rocket, spring greens, carrot, mango, parsnip, strawberry,blueberries. Here's that link again on what to feed your beardie. Most recommend and follow it. I do. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

What do you feed yours on? I feed all 4 of mine using the list at beautifuldragon. It's the link I posted above. I use a staple of collards, turnip, endive and mustard greens, and dandelion greens when my market has them. I put a number of various recommended veggies with the staples and sometimes I just feed the greens.should i be doing anything else You have come to the right place looking for help and that is good. There are a lot of good, expert and experienced keepers here to help. I'm hoping some more pop in to offer more advice for you. MANY HEADS ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE or i'm i doing anything wrong. Nope, you're not doing anything wrong, you are trying to help your little one and I'd say that's great!...

Many thanks for your time and help, i would appricate it if you could look at the viv picture and tell me if the way ive set it up is okay.I wish I could see it but can't.

Regards Paul

How is Norris today? I hope any of this helps, and others will pop in to help too!
Amanda