I'm a new owner, any general advice?

[slayner]

I have owned a bearded dragon for nearly a month now and have learned quite a bit. I'm looking for any advice you guys can toss me. I'll go ahead and post what I've been doing to slim down these replies.



My bearded dragon is just a baby, I'm not sure how old most likely 2 months give or take, I've owned it for about a month now. He's just under six inches.


He is in a 40 Gallon tank I believe the measurements are 36x18x24 I have a background covering the back and sides to prevent reflection (He was getting pretty stressed earlier) I have the reptisun 10.0 hung from brackets inside the tank, I am using just a normal clear bulb (actually 2) for basking. I measure the temperatures with a digital thermometer with a probe. The highest temperature reading was 113.8 on his basking spot. The lowest temperature was 83.7 on the other end of the tank. I have plenty inside the tank for my guy to climb around and (hopefully) be entertained, and the substrate I use is just a reptile carpet.

I feed him phoenix worms as the primary feeder, as well as crickets. I feed him the crickets in a separate tank to prevent loosing one, or them biting him in his sleep. I have calcium powder that I dust the crickets in, and I keep a salad consisting of shredded turnip greens, collard greens, and carrots.

I mist him every day, as well as keep a water bowl in the tank. I remove the water bowl at night, to lower humidity. Speaking of humidity, the levels fluctuate, going from 30-50%. It's fair to say most of the time it's 40%

I have yet to get a fecal done, but I am getting one this week. All in all he seems happy and healthy, but as I said I'm a new owner so I was hoping you all can pass down some advice.

He has already shedded once and I know to give him plenty of warm baths during this time, as well as on normal standards to give him a bath about once or twice a week.

I only have one question/concern about my bearded dragon specifically. Most of the time, he has dark black marks on his underside, to what I believe to be stress marks. I can't imagine what is making him stressed, but he has them a lot of the time. Here is an example at one of his worst moments. http://i.imgur.com/Zu7xj.jpg

Anyway, that's about all of my knowledge/what I've been doing. So hopefully I'm doing everything right, but if I'm not, or if there is more I can do I'll gladly take your advice.

 

[noelerhard]

It sounds to me like you have everything down. The only thing I don't recomend is carrots. They arn't very nutricous. I'd use peppers or squash instead.

 

[battlenation]

I would recommend to use one heating bulb once your dragon is about a year old. You can try reptiworms as far as I know there similar to Phoenix worms. Your dragon is getting much water from the food offered. I recommend misting only during shedding. It is strange you had your beardie for a month now and stress marks are still shown. I agree something is still causing stress. Does your beardie bask like on a log or hangs out kinda dark on the floor. When there young stress marks show a lot usually the first week or two and start to loosen up. Hopefully gets better for ya.

 

[slayner]

I would recommend to use one heating bulb once your dragon is about a year old. You can try reptiworms as far as I know there similar to Phoenix worms. Your dragon is getting much water from the food offered. I recommend misting only during shedding. It is strange you had your beardie for a month now and stress marks are still shown. I agree something is still causing stress. Does your beardie bask like on a log or hangs out kinda dark on the floor. When there young stress marks show a lot usually the first week or two and start to loosen up. Hopefully gets better for ya.

They come and go, I'm not really sure what is causing it. As far as the bulb goes, I don't know if it's the bulb I have or what, but if I just use one the temperatures are 99 degrees at max. It's pretty odd, but with two (One hanging and one on top of the ventilation) it works out pretty well. I plan on getting a 'live feeder' pack, but for the most part those are my staples. Anyway thanks for your reply!

 

[slayner]

It sounds to me like you have everything down. The only thing I don't recomend is carrots. They arn't very nutricous. I'd use peppers or squash instead.

Sounds good to me, I think my greens are about to go bad anyway so I'll make another trip to get the right stuff. Thank you!

 

[sweetiepie9]

113F is too high for a baby, 105F is better, so you should get a lower wattage of one of the bulbs to reduce the heat, he'll get too dehydrated and that might be what is causing the stress marks. You should be soaking him in a bath daily, just in a bowl or something like that with warm water up to under his armpit, or even in a sink, say in the bathroom. It's very important, they get water from their greens, but not enough to keep him really well hydrated & misting doesn't do the trick either. You don't have to keep water in his tank, his tank is getting low humidity because of the high heat. So give that a try and see if that will help him out. Your UVB is the best and phoenix worms & crickets are great bugs. Reptiworms & phoenix worms are the same. Just make sure you are feeding him at least twice a day, he needs lots of food right now, as if he's 6" in total length, including his tail, he's very small for his age. Hope this helps.
And more pics please! Have you ever weighed him, do you have a small scale that weighs in grams? That would be helpful, too.

 

[slayner]

113F is too high for a baby, 105F is better, so you should get a lower wattage of one of the bulbs to reduce the heat, he'll get too dehydrated and that might be what is causing the stress marks. You should be soaking him in a bath daily, just in a bowl or something like that with warm water up to under his armpit, or even in a sink, say in the bathroom. It's very important, they get water from their greens, but not enough to keep him really well hydrated & misting doesn't do the trick either. You don't have to keep water in his tank, his tank is getting low humidity because of the high heat. So give that a try and see if that will help him out. Your UVB is the best and phoenix worms & crickets are great bugs. Reptiworms & phoenix worms are the same. Just make sure you are feeding him at least twice a day, he needs lots of food right now, as if he's 6" in total length, including his tail, he's very small for his age. Hope this helps.
And more pics please! Have you ever weighed him, do you have a small scale that weighs in grams? That would be helpful, too.

I don't but when I get the fecal done I will get him weighed. And yeah I was a little concerned about his size as well, but as I said I have literally no idea how old he is. I have plenty of food on deck, but he is only eating 20-30 worms a day, and hardly touching his greens. I'll see about adjusting the temperatures, thanks so much for all the information!

 

[battlenation]

I would recommend to use one heating bulb once your dragon is about a year old. You can try reptiworms as far as I know there similar to Phoenix worms. Your dragon is getting much water from the food offered. I recommend misting only during shedding. It is strange you had your beardie for a month now and stress marks are still shown. I agree something is still causing stress. Does your beardie bask like on a log or hangs out kinda dark on the floor. When there young stress marks show a lot usually the first week or two and start to loosen up. Hopefully gets better for ya.

They come and go, I'm not really sure what is causing it. As far as the bulb goes, I don't know if it's the bulb I have or what, but if I just use one the temperatures are 99 degrees at max. It's pretty odd, but with two (One hanging and one on top of the ventilation) it works out pretty well. I plan on getting a 'live feeder' pack, but for the most part those are my staples. Anyway thanks for your reply!

The current wattage for one bulb 99 degrees max. What is the wattage for it and if you up the wattage should be right 105 degrees. I actually thought your temps were good. 110-115 degrees for babies I thought was the trick for youngsters. Is your UVB blocked in anyway like mesh? Because with a tank your size you can mount it in the tank. With a under the cabinet fixture. I mentioned reptiworms because I think there cheaper then Phoenix. I tried them from reptiworms.com and she hates them hasn't eaten one same as waxworms. If your beardie eats them great and should help a lot with growing.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Keep me posted, 20-30 worms a feeding would be better for him, he needs to grow. Adjusting the temps will help alot & so will the baths. Babies can be very difficult with greens, just keep offering them daily, he might just change his mind!

 

[slayner]

Keep me posted, 20-30 worms a feeding would be better for him, he needs to grow. Adjusting the temps will help alot & so will the baths. Babies can be very difficult with greens, just keep offering them daily, he might just change his mind!

Will do! and I'll definitely keep you posted, I offer plenty of food but he just wont eat most of it.

 

[battlenation]

Tip I forgot repti carpet holds a lot of bacteria you know like when it's pooped on. Washing it I heard still keeps a odor. If you want try easy liner good stuff just cut to fit. A lot easier to clean and doesn't hold bacteria. Beardies lay around and could get parasites though the vent. Once I heard that repticarpet went bye bye. Great your getting a fecal done. I had my girl for a month now a little over and has worms so its going to take some patients with it. Keep up the great work.

 

[slayner]

Tip I forgot repti carpet holds a lot of bacteria you know like when it's pooped on. Washing it I heard still keeps a odor. If you want try easy liner good stuff just cut to fit. A lot easier to clean and doesn't hold bacteria. Beardies lay around and could get parasites though the vent. Once I heard that repticarpet went bye bye. Great your getting a fecal done. I had my girl for a month now a little over and has worms so its going to take some patients with it. Keep up the great work.

Can you sent me a link to a good substrate?

 

[slayner]

I would recommend to use one heating bulb once your dragon is about a year old. You can try reptiworms as far as I know there similar to Phoenix worms. Your dragon is getting much water from the food offered. I recommend misting only during shedding. It is strange you had your beardie for a month now and stress marks are still shown. I agree something is still causing stress. Does your beardie bask like on a log or hangs out kinda dark on the floor. When there young stress marks show a lot usually the first week or two and start to loosen up. Hopefully gets better for ya.

They come and go, I'm not really sure what is causing it. As far as the bulb goes, I don't know if it's the bulb I have or what, but if I just use one the temperatures are 99 degrees at max. It's pretty odd, but with two (One hanging and one on top of the ventilation) it works out pretty well. I plan on getting a 'live feeder' pack, but for the most part those are my staples. Anyway thanks for your reply!

The current wattage for one bulb 99 degrees max. What is the wattage for it and if you up the wattage should be right 105 degrees. I actually thought your temps were good. 110-115 degrees for babies I thought was the trick for youngsters. Is your UVB blocked in anyway like mesh? Because with a tank your size you can mount it in the tank. With a under the cabinet fixture. I mentioned reptiworms because I think there cheaper then Phoenix. I tried them from reptiworms.com and she hates them hasn't eaten one same as waxworms. If your beardie eats them great and should help a lot with growing.

I have two bulbs as I said, One is this one http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-09919-Light-Incandescent-150-Watt/dp/B001VH4TE4 That one is on top of the ventilation, the other is a 125 watt clear bulb that is mounted and pointing down at the same spot. My UVB bulb is hanging inside the tank via brackets so nothing is blocking the view.

 

[battlenation]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Duck-12-x-10-Smooth-Top-Easy-Liner/16456555
You want the smooth the shelf ones have holes lol some use it was the holes. But trust me I use the smooth and does the trick. Keep a eye on the nails with this stuff once there nails have grown. My girl blaze digs every night and can see the scratches. So I put my shirt in her tank at bedtime and lays on it and quit.

 

[slayner]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Duck-12-x-10-Smooth-Top-Easy-Liner/16456555
You want the smooth the grab ones have holes lol some use it was the holes. But trust me I use the smooth and does the trick. Keep a eye on the nails with this stuff once there nails have grown. My girl blaze digs every night and can see the scratches. So I put my shirt in her tank at bedtime and lays on it and quit.

Sounds good. Anyway I really appreciate all the back-and-forth help!