I am a first time bearded dragon mom and i am worried...

[squanel]

I got my bearded dragon from some one who had him for awhile and didn't take care of him very well he had only a common house hold light in his tank.
His name is chomper he is in a 55 gallon tank with 100 w heat and a uvb light i don't remember what kind but it was recommended for the size of tank we have.
Chomper's legs seem to give out when he walks some times and it took me three days of heating and warm baths to get him to have a bm they have all been normal but today he had one that was runny and smelt really bad i am not sure what to do for him. He has been eating a lot and chasing his live food just fine and i have the temp set at 97-100 for the warm side and between 70 and 80 ish for the cooler side. Any advise would be greatly appreciated I only know what i have read on the internet and I want to get chomper better i am so worried about him

Also why do they say you shouldn't put sand in the tank as a bedding? I have crushed wallnuts as a beading

 

[scarletsdad]

First the bedding. Sand can cause impaction and crushed wallnuts are very hard and can be accidentaly ingested causing impaction. Tile, paper towel, newspaper are the best substrates to use.
As for the rest, i would see the vet for a checkup and voiceyour concerns.

 

[squanel]

I thought that the bearded dragons originate from central Australia and live in deserts, so wouldn't the sand be what is most natural to them?

 

[kcarello]

Desert refers to the amount of rainfall not the type of ground, dragons live in the bushes and hard packed soil in Aust. not sand. Sand is a great health issue for dragons, it can cause impaction, eye infections, it can be a host to all types of bacteria...just like living in a litter box.........now does it sound like the best thing to put them on....don't think so.
You need to get rid of the walnut shell also...risk of impaction, respritory infections, and again, bacteria breeding ground. Most people will use paper towels or newspaper for babies. Ceramic or slate tile, non adhesive shelf liner, or reptile carpet.
A runny poo and smells extra bad is a sign of parasites,, you need to take him to a vet with a fresh fecal sample.

 

[squanel]

Ok but he already has trouble walking and tile just makes it worse for him, I clean out all his stools as soon as he goes and keep this tank clean, and isn't there a risk with all bedding you can place in the cage? He has only had one runny stool the rest have been normal should I still take him o the vet? We only have a exotic vet come into town once every two weeks or something like that.

 

[kcarello]

Then I would go with paper towels, newspaper, or reptile carpet. No, there is not a risk with all bedding....the risk comes when the viv is not kept clean,,,except for loose substrates,,they are risk all in themselves. If there was only one runny poo and now it is back to normal, then I wouldn't worry..diet can cause runny stools once in a while...as long as they dont stay runny. Perhaps you should spend a little time reading some of the post on this forum on the topics you have questions with, then you will see that these are not just my personal opinions, but the advise of SO many experienced dragon owners. Good luck and feel free to ask any questions at all and I will do my best to help you.
Kelly

 

[squanel]

I changed his bedding to the reptile carpet because the mess with the wallnut bedding was horrible, but i am not sure he likes it to much is there a good way to tell if he is happy? Also how do i clean up his stools with the carpet? Do I have to take it out and wash it every time?
Angel

 

[kcarello]

You need to have to carpets, so you have a clean one to put in while you clean the other. I might be easier for you to use something like non adhesive shelf liner with paper towels layed over it so it will be easier for you to clean. Alot of dragons get trained to go poo in they're daily baths.

 

[squanel]

Ok thanks Is it normal for him to scratch his head with his back legs he is also digging at his water? I am not sure if this is normal or not.

 

[kcarello]

Some like to play in they're water, most will scratch before and during sheds.

 

[squanel]

Ok thanks he has just never done that before. I have only had him a couple of weeks

 

[kcarello]

How exciting to have your first baby dragon!!! I got my Puff last Aug. she is almost a year now and it has been so fun and amazing watching her grow and learning all about them and how to best take care of her. This is the most amazing place to learn all you need to know. All the people are so caring and helpful!!

 

[kcarello]

Now though, lets go over your temps, what you are measuring them with, a digital with a probe or a temp gun? What type of uvb light do you have? A coil/compact or a tube.

 

[squanel]

I don't check the temp in his cage He does have a 100watt bulb for basking and a uvb bulb im not sure what kid it is zoo something i think it was recommended buy the petco people i use the compact bulbs

 

[RockHound]

Crushed walnut is a bad substrate. They can absolutely destroy a beardie's insides, and do it much more quickly than sand. It can also harbor bacteria when soiled and cause infections to the underbelly and especially the vent area. Here's a good educational reference, very graphic: http://mrskingsbioweb.com/beardeddragngrossanatomy.htm

We may strive for a naturalistic look, but what beardies do in the wild really is a moot point. They live maybe three years in the wild, while they can live well over ten years in captivity when properly cared for. Around here, you'll find that many take the utilitarian approach. Simple, easy, effective, and minimizing risk. All these can be achieved while maintaining aesthetics. This site offers a wealth of information from experienced members who have cared for beardies for yearrrrrrrrs.