I think something is wrong!

[Emilykristin]

I'm a new bearded dragon owner, I've had him a little over a month, hes a baby, I was told when I got him that he was about two and half months, he started off eating well, but when he started to shed he became a little more sleepy and less hungry, after his shed he then picked up eating his crickets again, He doesn't eat many veggies(they are offered daily), but now it seems like he's sleepy a lot(he just shed his tail), and definitely not as active and he's back to hardly eating his crickets, he has also been doing this weird almost head shake, it looks like his whole head is just involuntarily shaking, it only last a couple seconds,(I do have a video) I'm new to this and I wasn't given a lot of information when I got him, is something wrong? I know you guys usually have a list of questions you need answered first, I just wanna try and figure out if my Gryffindor is okay..

 

[AHBD]

Hi Emily....this may be related to calcium + type of bulbs you have. So yes, please list the exact type, brand + wattage of the bulbs. Also the temps. in the tank and how you measure them. Pics would be helpful to show the placement of the bulbs as well as your video of his movements. Here's how to post pics :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then hit the XIMG

 

[kornel351]

If he is sleepy at this point and time in the year .I recommend he sees a Vet and that u stop him from going into a deep sleep or brumation if that's what is happening he is too young for that. make sure he is getting calcium and that the bulbs are good because without good uvb calcium is useless

 

[Emilykristin]

Both his small crickets and veggies(usually butternut squash, collard greens and reptibites) are dusted with zoomed repticalcium

His basking lamp is a zoomed basking spot lamp 75w,
His uvb is zoomed reptisun 5.0 bulb,
That's what the reptile store recommended me

I also couldn't get the video to upload of his head shaking

 

[Emilykristin]

Hi Emily....this may be related to calcium + type of bulbs you have. So yes, please list the exact type, brand + wattage of the bulbs. Also the temps. in the tank and how you measure them. Pics would be helpful to show the placement of the bulbs as well as your video of his movements. Here's how to post pics :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then hit the XIMG

I posted the details above

 

[AHBD]

O.K, good pics . The lighting + heat is very likely the problem. The coil/compact Reptisun 5.0 will not project enough uvb down in to the tank. You'll need a Reptisun 10.0 t5 long tube or Arcadia 12& which you'll need to order online. It's also likely that you'll need at least a 100 watt bulb. You can even use a halogen bulb from a Home Depot/Lowe's. The pet stores sell kits that are reallly not useful for beardies.

When the uvb [ as well as the heat ] is not strong enough, the dragon cannot absorb the calcium that it's getting. This leads to calcium deficiency and possibly MBD [ metabolic bone disease ] You'll need the new bulbs ASAP, order them right away. If you live in a warm state you can put the baby outside in a plastic tote with a small basking log , the sun will give excellent , much needed uvb + D3. If your weather does not permit, then get a plastic storage box that's about 30 L X 15 W X 16 H , approximately. Then put the screen + lights on top of that with his basking branches [ be sure he can't jump out ] The lower container will allow the heat + uvb from the bulbs you have to reach your baby to help him absorb the calcium to keep him from getting worse until you can get the lights you need.

 

[Emilykristin]

O.K, good pics . The lighting + heat is very likely the problem. The coil/compact Reptisun 5.0 will not project enough uvb down in to the tank. You'll need a Reptisun 10.0 t5 long tube or Arcadia 12& which you'll need to order online. It's also likely that you'll need at least a 100 watt bulb. You can even use a halogen bulb from a Home Depot/Lowe's. The pet stores sell kits that are reallly not useful for beardies.

When the uvb [ as well as the heat ] is not strong enough, the dragon cannot absorb the calcium that it's getting. This leads to calcium deficiency and possibly MBD [ metabolic bone disease ] You'll need the new bulbs ASAP, order them right away. If you live in a warm state you can put the baby outside in a plastic tote with a small basking log , the sun will give excellent , much needed uvb + D3. If your weather does not permit, then get a plastic storage box that's about 30 L X 15 W X 16 H , approximately. Then put the screen + lights on top of that with his basking branches [ be sure he can't jump out ] The lower container will allow the heat + uvb from the bulbs you have to reach your baby to help him absorb the calcium to keep him from getting worse until you can get the lights you need.

Thank you so much! If I'm understanding correctly, I need to get the zoomed reptisun 10.0 t5 long tube bulb, and hood for the bulb. I also should get a 100w basking spot bulb, will that be okay to stay in the lighting fixture I have now? I've seen some of those hoods and bulbs I believe at the place I got him,hopefully they'll have some tomorrow, I live in Florida, I will put him out in the sun first thing tomorrow when it's back out! Is there a good place to order things for him online? Also vitamin wise is the repticalcium with d3 the only thing I should be dusting food with?

 

[AHBD]

That's a real advantage living in FL. ! This time of year it's probably not TOO hot, you can put him out even if it's 65 as long as it's sunny....a plastic tote will absorb + magnify the heat. If it gets over 75 it can even get too hot in the container, so be sure to provide partial shade.

And yes, you can order the Reptisun 10.0 t5 from Dr. Foster + Smith , everything I've ordered comes very quickly and in good condition.

The fixture that you have is fine for your basking bulbs, a ceramic base allows you to use a pretty high wattage bulb. Cacium with D3 is great, you should also order calcium w/out D3 if you keep him out in the sun a few times a week. Then you can switch between the 2 kinds.

One more thing, how do you hydrate him ? Babies will often drink water dripped on the snout, rarely will they drink from a bowl. If he hasn't been drinking, try dripping on his snout slowly.

 

[Emilykristin]

That's a real advantage living in FL. ! This time of year it's probably not TOO hot, you can put him out even if it's 65 as long as it's sunny....a plastic tote will absorb + magnify the heat. If it gets over 75 it can even get too hot in the container, so be sure to provide partial shade.

And yes, you can order the Reptisun 10.0 t5 from Dr. Foster + Smith , everything I've ordered comes very quickly and in good condition.

The fixture that you have is fine for your basking bulbs, a ceramic base allows you to use a pretty high wattage bulb. Cacium with D3 is great, you should also order calcium w/out D3 if you keep him out in the sun a few times a week. Then you can switch between the 2 kinds.

One more thing, how do you hydrate him ? Babies will often drink water dripped on the snout, rarely will they drink from a bowl. If he hasn't been drinking, try dripping on his snout slowly.

Thank you for all of your help! I typically hydrate him by putting water on his snout, and after I do that he usually will climb in the bowl and drink on his own, I've been making sure he's been drinking and pooping

 

[AHBD]

That's good, dripping on the snout with a bowl or shallow lid under them is very effective as they usually lower their head to drink.

So try these adjustments but if you see no improvement you may need liquid calcium [ which only a drop or 2 is to be used for a baby ] that may be absorbed better.

 

[Emilykristin]

That's good, dripping on the snout with a bowl or shallow lid under them is very effective as they usually lower their head to drink.

So try these adjustments but if you see no improvement you may need liquid calcium [ which only a drop or 2 is to be used for a baby ] that may be absorbed better.

I was able to get the hood and light at my reptile store this morning when they opened! Hoping this helps my little guy! I've also read about the liquid calcium and was going to order some of that!

 

[AHBD]

Excellent ! I assumed your store wouldn't have it , but good for you that it did.