is my bearded dragon growing correctly

[rex2311]

I got my bearded dragon a month ago he is 2 months he has not shedded yet and has only grown 0.2 in. he is now 6 in long. I am worried that he isn`t growing right. so can someone tell me if that`s normal.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Can you go over your set up?

 

[rex2311]

I have a 20 gallon tank that I got from a friend that he used for his baby beardie I had a 60w red night bulb on the left side over his hammock but replaced it with a 60w black night bulb after finding out that the red ones bother thier sleep. I also have a 100w basking bulb over a little cave shapped rock that he bask on and a spiral UVB bulb witch I dont know the wattage of.

 

[nursejones813]

A couple things I notice about your set up. 1st, Beardies need complete darkness at night to cool down and sleep. If your house stays 65 or above you need no additional heat at night. If your house gets below 65, you can get a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) which gives off heat but not light. 2nd, your UV. Coil type lights are not recommended. The UVB reccomended on this site is the reptisun 10.0 tube type. You can get an under the cabinet light fixture to put it in for like $8 at Walmart. This can be mounted inside the tank with either Velcro or command hooks. This needs to be about 6-8 inches from his basking spot. Also, what are you feeding him, how often, and are you using supplements?

 

[rex2311]

He will not eat supplements or greens but eats crickets once or twice a day. also he has been sleeping better since I put the black light in plus I cannot see the light that the black light emits furthermore my friend recommended the black light and he has had a beardie sevral years.

 

[nursejones813]

You dust your crickets with a supplement. Calcium is very important for Beardies. They easily develop MBD without it. Dust your crickets daily 5x's a week with a calcium supplement. And 2xs a week with a multivitamin. He needs to eat as many crickets as he wants in 10-15 min a least twice a day. What are your temps and how are you taking them?

 

[rex2311]

I have a thermometer my temps are 70 degrees f at night and the basking side is 95-100 during day. I think my solution is the calcium dust. thanks

 

[nursejones813]

Is it a probe type or temp gun? Lighting, temps, feeding, and supplementation all play a part in how he grows. Beardies are very sensitive to all these things. That's why all the questions.

 

[rex2311]

I have a probe thermometer also I checked and he meets the average size for his age and appears happy and healthy I will monitor his growth. thanks for the help.