Hiding, pancaking while showing stress marks

[Remyrat525]

Really 20, or was this a typo like 120? I just want to be sure.

How old is your dragon?

Adding new things, especially things that differ a lot from things used so far, can cause stress. Dragons then tend to hide and show stress marks. I'm thinking about the fluffy ball - an item likely a dragon can't make any sense of (cannot be used to rest or climb, is not edible, also nothing edible inside). Some dragons might play a little with it, but normally playing like this is not typical for dragons. I would remove the ball, especially as your dragon shows stress marks and hides.

Really, 20. You hear that right. It was the tank he came with. It was the starting kit tank at Petco that they recommended for him. Also I’ve heard the best toys are cat toys. He is a juvenile. I apologize if I’m not doing the best for a first timer. I will take your critiques into consideration.

 

[Remyrat525]

Ohh..well, for starters, your tank is too small sadly. He cant get a proper temp gradient. How old is he? Adult, or baby/juvenile? If hes a baby, he can start out in a 40 gallon, adults need larger...120 gallon (or 4x2x2) is the ideal size for adults. You're probably noticing it now because when you upgraded to the better basking light, in that small of a tank, it got too hot.

oh gotcha. I didn’t know because the tank is what I recommended at Petco. I got their zoomed bearded dragon starter kit. So we I will look for a 40 gallon and get back to you. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it very much.

 

[Sue E.]

Really, 20. You hear that right. It was the tank he came with. It was the starting kit tank at Petco that they recommended for him. Also I’ve heard the best toys are cat toys. He is a juvenile. I apologize if I’m not doing the best for a first timer. I will take your critiques into consideration.

Oh its not your fault! You wouldnt be here if you didnt love him and want the best for him! Sadly, the petstores often give bad info. But if it is the petsmart starter kit, its prob 40 gallons hopefully and itll be okay for now if its 40 gallons. We just want to help tweak your temps a little if possible, thats why we ask the questions about heat, lights and uvb and all.

 

[Sue E.]

So, assuming its 40 gallons, you can try a 50 watt and see if that helps bring the temps down a touch. Or raise your existing lamp a little higher with a stand.

 

[Remyrat525]

Oh its not your fault! You wouldnt be here if you didnt love him and want the best for him! Sadly, the petstores often give bad info. But if it is the petsmart starter kit, its prob 40 gallons hopefully and itll be okay for now if its 40 gallons. We just want to help tweak your temps a little if possible, thats why we ask the questions about heat, lights and uvb and all.

Thank you so much Sue. You were incredibly helpful. It was the other commenter that seemed a little judgy like I should know. I will definitely be looking for a bigger tank. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Sue E.]

Thank you so much Sue. You were incredibly helpful. It was the other commenter that seemed a little judgy like I should know. I will definitely be looking for a bigger tank. Thanks for all your help.

She means well, shes really nice. We dont judge anybody here because trust me we ve all been there! I asked so many questions about Kai (my guy) and sometimes I still ask things! But if we cant help, there are some folks here who are very experienced keepers and very chill too, and theres even a vet tech. I know how those facebook groups get, like you are all wrong if you dont do everything their way, even if you are just learning. Welcome to the forum and Im glad youre here!

 

[ChileanTaco]

Really, 20. You hear that right. It was the tank he came with. It was the starting kit tank at Petco that they recommended for him. Also I’ve heard the best toys are cat toys. He is a juvenile. I apologize if I’m not doing the best for a first timer. I will take your critiques into consideration.

Regarding cat toys: They can be used (without parts that could come off like feathers, and large enough they can't be swallowed), like rolling them on the floor.
I got my dragon some - zero interest, also not if I play with the cat toys (he usually likes it when I do something with small colorful parts, like doing crafts, so I tried pretending that I loooove playing with cat toys - dragon briefly looks and goes away, despite he can watch me literally for hours doing crafts, painting and such) or insert insects (large balls with holes). I will now give the cat toys to my in-laws who have cats.

What my dragon enjoys, and many dragons do so: Exploring (in the enclosure, and you can set it up appropriately once you have a larger one), also running around outside of the enclosure at home and explore there (first requires that your dragon trusts you, so you can get him easily back into his enclosure without having to hunt and catch him), climbing, observing things going on (try to put your dragon's new enclosure in front of a window, or in a room where you are often).
Also my dragon likes gentle music once in a while - such as nature sounds, meditation music. (Which we also like, and we play it for 1 - 2 hours a day and also set a timer so it plays even when we are sometimes not at home for a day.)

Good that you found here, so you can correct the totally wrong advice you were given Welcome

 

[Sue E.]

This is what I use for Kai, if it helps at all. Its perfectly okay to get things as you can afford them, since you are pretty good with the 40 gallon size and how you have it set up right now. But Ill show you the stuff that can last your guy all his life, if you dont mind. This bulb for uvb, with this hood:
(Zoomed Reptisun t5 10.0, or Arcadia t5 12%). The t5 made by these companies is consistently reliable and lasts just under a year. With the 40 gallon you have, the t8 you have is fine, but t5 is the uvb of choice for 120 gallon tanks because it will give you the output you need. The zoomed reptisun t5 10.0 and hood are both available at petsmart too, that where I got mine.
Your basking bulb is a good one. As for wattage, its just something you have to play around with until you get your basking spot right, around 100-107 is preferred. Some dragons like it lower, but they need at least 96-98 to digest their food. With temps above low 100s, juvenile or adult dragons get too hot and dont bask long enough. So you are not off by much in the tank size you have. But you might possibly require a little more wattage for a bigger tank. I run a 150 watt in a deep dome in mine (120 gallon) and it just about gets my temps up there. But, like I say, its trial and error. Hope that helps!

 

[ChileanTaco]

I use, btw. the same. Zoomed Reptisun t5 10.0 with the matching hood, and two 100W basking bulbs (I can't get any stronger than 100W here).

I can agree very much on that:

But, like I say, its trial and error. Hope that helps!

 

[xp29]

I want to chime in also. A lot of the Zilla lights come with a clear plastic cover over the bulb. If this iscthe case please remove it Immediately, it blocks 100% of the uvb rendering the light useless. Also the t8 really need to be under the screen at about 8 to 10 inches. They are not near as strong as the t5 lights.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Question out of curiosity:
Why is there this clear plastic cover? It makes the product useless. But is this e.g. for liability reasons, so it could be more easily marketed as something else (as not emitting UV) and making any exposure to UV and possible harm from that solely caused by the customer? Any idea?

 

[xp29]

Question out of curiosity:
Why is there this clear plastic cover? It makes the product useless. But is this e.g. for liability reasons, so it could be more easily marketed as something else (as not emitting UV) and making any exposure to UV and possible harm from that solely caused by the customer? Any idea?

I don't know why they install them, but they are clearly branded uvb on the box. I haven't bought one in years, but I've seen pictures here since that still had them.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Thanks! And there is also no sticker or so indicating that the cover must be removed?
Like some protective covers or other protective plastic parts on other items/devices (like e.g. printers: to hold the printer head fixed, or plugs, to avoid bending of the pins) that are only for transport and there is a big fat sticker indicating they must be removed before first use?

 

[xp29]

Thanks! And there is also no sticker or so indicating that the cover must be removed?
Like some protective covers or other protective plastic parts on other items/devices (like e.g. printers: to hold the printer head fixed, or plugs, to avoid bending of the pins) that are only for transport and there is a big fat sticker indicating they must be removed before first use?

Nope, they are attached with screws in the corners. They intended them to stay.