Is my baby beardie okay? Is this normal?

[lilmaambeardie]

So I am a new baby bearded dragon owner , I have had one in the past but I got him when he was older and it was only for a few months so I’m still new too all this especially with a baby dragon so sorry for the questions in advance .

I got my lil ma’am from PetSmart (I know not the best) I’m not sure how old she (I call it a she not sure the gender yet cause it’s still too young) is but I’ve had her for 7 days now , when I first got her I noticed that she sleeps (eyes closed so I assume that’s what she’s doing) A LOT , in the car ride home, in her tank & when I hold her. She usually sits in her hammock (basking spot) with her eyes closed the most. She even does this thing where she only closes one eye is this normal ? Should I be concerned that she’s having them closed so much ? I’ve also noticed that she stays sleeping in her basking spot for most of the day. She gets a full night sleep I turn all lights off at 10:00pm & turn hers back on at 10:00am. Another thing I’m concerned about is her skin , it has idk how I would put it like it wrinkles up is this normal ? I thought maybe it could mean she was dehydrated so I give her water with a spoon because she never (not that I see) drinks out of the bowl & I also gave her 2 baths this week. My last question is about kale I have been giving lil ma’am this along with things like strawberries, carrots , crickets , and food that came with my kit. Is kale for her to have every day & should I be sprinkling it with calcium everyday? Because I’ve read articles that say yes and some say no . Thank you so much if anyone is able to help .

 

[KarrieRee]

You said the magic word "kit" ------ does this "kit" have a coil UVB? If so you need to replace it ASAP- your tank is it a 40 gallon? She should not be sleeping as much as your describing ---- she needs to be active -- so your basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? NO stick ons they are inaccurate -- if you do not have a digital probe thermometer please go get one -- $7 -- basking temps need to be 105-110 -- take the probe leave on the basking spot shes sitting leave for 10 minutes get temp -- yes its normal for them to have one eye opened and one closed when basking-- the coil could be causing eye issues w/ her keeping them closed all the time so w/ that being said you need to go get this or order it ASAP-- if your tank is a 40 + gallon you can get this and if its not but smaller you will need to upgrade that tank real soon they will out grow the small tanks fast so you might as well invest in this now https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/t5-uvb-light-fixture.html do not use the bulb that comes w/this one its not for reptiles -- or you can get this one I recommend a 24" fixture
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html you will need a 22" bulb --
Karrie

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, can you post a few pics of your baby as well as the entire set up, including lights ? Here's how :

https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then use the XIMG to upload them

Keep offering water but drip it on his snout a drop at a time until he drinks. Kale is excellent cut out the carrots, especially you would never use hard chunks for a baby. The dried pet store food is no good, just use fresh veggies like turnip, mustard, collard, dandelion greens as well as shredded squash. Be SURE the crickets are no bigger in length than the space between his eyes.

Your baby probably did not have proper lights, temps, etc at the store and that's why he's so lethargic. If he has not made a poo then he is possibly impacted as well. Post a pic of the size of your baby and also the size crickets you feed him next to a coin. Hopefully some adjustments in his care will help him out.

 

[lilmaambeardie]

Oh no will her eyes be damaged now or is it soon enough where it can be fixed?

I am using the Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Compact Fluorescent Mini Reptile Lamp that’s the one that came with the kit. I had a feeling it was bad but when I went in to buy the tube one and asked they told me that both the one I’m using and the tube work the same so I decided to put it off until I had a bit more money. But I will go and try and get one today if not then I will order it today. I feed her the pinhead crickets and will cut out the carrots as well , I can post a picture of them today after I get them & once I turn on her lights for the day I can post a picture of lil ma’am too. Her basking temps are 106 where she usually sits and then a little more towards the middle of her hammock is 110. I measure it with the Zoo Med digital probe thermometer.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok your getting accurate temps then -- I would leave the UVB off for a few days watch what her eyes do --- take her outside in a plastic tote NO glass place her in direct sunlight / partial shade for 15 minutes NO longer in the tote or you can have her sit on you but I advise not to because shes little and very fast and I dont want you to lose her if she jumps off of you and darts --- its safer in the tote - sit w/ her we dont want to over heat her in the tote so do this a couple times per day until you get the UVB -- and NO those compact coils and tube fixtures are completely different -- you have caught it early enough she should be fine - do not listen to the pet store people anymore they give bad advice and dont know a thing about dragons -- or most of them dont -- the pin head crickets should be small enough -- I will give you some websites to order dubia roaches for her -- they are a better feeder and in the long run will be cheaper --- here is a website for nutrition ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
How big is the tank you have her in?
Here are some websites for you for roaches and worms
www.dubiaroaches.com they have good worms as well - she can eat butter worms but they are out of stock now - nutrigrubs or BSFL also known as calci worms and phoenix worms- they are another great staple feeder and a good compliment to roaches - do not dust them and a great lure to the salad bowl - feed as many as you want -- super worms are going to be too big for her now so wait on getting them till shes about 3 months or 4 months old -- horn worms they are a good hydrating worm but will need to be fed right away order the medium they should come small - order small amounts as they get big real fast --
www.reptilianarts.com good place for silk worms - cups come w/ food if your order in bulk like 50 you will need to order food and clean containers out daily- they are another good staple feeder the bulk will come small --
www.coastilsilkworms.com
You can hang onto these websites and when you can order -- but for now get your UVB replaced --
Hammocks often give incorrect temps -- so I am not sure how you have your tank set up but post a pic of it please -- has she gone poop ?
Karrie

 

[lilmaambeardie]

Thank you ! I will take her out today a little later & am going to the store to get her the tube one once they open

Her tank is a 20 gal & am looking at tanks to upgrade her because I know they grow fast I just didn’t know if too large of a tank at a young age would overwhelm her.

Yes she has pooped she usually poops 2 times a day sometimes 3

This is how she usually is throughout the day basking

Here’s her tank, I have since this photo (from last week) lowered her hammock a bit. Above her hammock is her 75 watt basking lamp & heat lamp (it’s the duo dome one but I only use the basking lamp part) and in the middle next to the basking lamp is the hood uvb lamp . Also I know her tank is a bit empty I am looking for more things & a hideout to put into it real soon. (There is the stick on thermometer in there but I only use the digital one )

This is her this morning with her eyes open (uvb light off)

This is her right now (uvb light off)

 

[KarrieRee]

Show me the hood UVB--- where did you get the hood UVB?
Karrie

 

[KarrieRee]

Please go get a piece of decor from Petsmart --- it looks like this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/habitats-and-decor/habitat-decor/thrive-driftwood-reptile-decor-54734.html?cgid=500116 you dont have to buy this one but you want something thats going to give you accurate basking temps -- and something that will give her different places to sit lay or stand and gradient temps for her to pick a spot to bask --- you can lay this in the tank different ways - I have mine w/ the big stick part on the floor of the tank and the big trunk piece under the basking lamp -- they can utilize this piece in many ways -- I am thinking you are getting inaccurate temps off that hammock w/ the heat gun-- you might want to pick up a digital probe thermometer from petsmart too $7
Karrie

 

[lilmaambeardie]

The hood uvb came with the kit

Here is the hood uvb & I just realized it’s actually the 5.0 not 10.0 . It is small & the light is super bright that’s why I had a feeling it could be bad & was going to get the tube but they “reassured” me it was okay at the store :/

This is the thermometer I use

This is pretty much what her set up looked like but the hood was more in the middle .

I will be stopping by PetSmart today so I will see if they have it in store if not I will definitely order it thank you!

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes I would replace it -- I am not sure on those coil type UVB's like this its the 13 watt they are putting in kits - these type they now have are new and I am totally lost on them and their output etc... I can only tell you right now what is working and what is not working -- maybe AHBD has some more insight on these type of UVB's and it being the 5.0 it is not strong enough to go thru that screen -- your probe is good ---- I would still get another piece of decor for her for basking - you can keep the hammock but I would move it and get her something solid to sit on for basking
Karrie

 

[lilmaambeardie]

Okay will do thank you
I just have one more question since atm I am feeding her crickets until I get roaches is this food okay for them? I just don’t wanna feed them something bad and then feed lil ma’am it .

 

[KarrieRee]

I would think so - make sure your hydrating those crickets - not sure on the moisture content it says complete does it say anything about moisture? You can always drop a carrot or two in w/ them too
Karrie