I'm new to this and never thought to post but anyways... I'm really worried about my female bearded dragon (who's name is Priceless). She is about 4 months old and she doesn't seem right. She has a black bearded, she doesn't eat and her poop is black. What makes me worried is that she's not eating, because she usually loves to eat she couldn't help her self, she even thought my fingers were food.
There are only two reason I can think of, for her to be like this:
1. She lives next to a blue tongue lizard (who I recently got).
2. Or its because of her heat lamp. The heat lamp is one of those red ones, its 50watt.
Someone please answer me, I'm so worried about her.
Thank You
Photos of the dragon, her setup, and of the size difference between the BT skink and the dragon.
I have BTs , other skinks and bearded dragons and have not had issues.
Details of the dragon's UV lighting
> type , brand , %UVB rating , wattage, how it's installed (inc distance from the basking spot)
The red heat globe needs to go. You need a nice domestic par38 incandescent or halogen flood or a MVB.
Substrate.
Diet and feeding schedule (details).
There is a possibility that the newly acquired BTS came with something infectious . However since they are housed separately it's unlikely to be able spread to the dragon unless you are really sloppy with quaranteen and hygene.
Please get rid of the red bulb---- colored lights are harmful to their eyes and can cause long term damage---- you should have a bright white basking bulb that can keep temps around 105-110 for her -- w/ that said what kind of UVB is on or in the tank ----- hopefully not a coil--- this is what is recommended on the forum for UVB--
Which UVB light should I use?
The best UVB light is a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube HO (Or Arcardia 12% in the UK). Compact or coil bulbs do not emit the proper amount of UVB light for a bearded dragon, and should not be used. Other brands, such as the Zilla Desert Series and ReptiGlo have been known to cause eye problems and other health issues with bearded dragons, and should be avoided. The reason that some UVB lights (Zilla, ReptiGlo, coils/compacts, ect.) are considered dangerous is because the wavelength of UVB that they emit is shorter and more intense than the wavelength of the "safe" lights (ReptiSun, Arcadia). UVB lights should be replaced every 6 months. The T5’s are a strong bulb and only need to be replaced once a year – the T 8 every 6 months--- where as the T 8 are not as strong—they need to be placed inside the tank the T 5 10.0 bulb approx 10-11 inches from basking spot – the T 8 approx 8-10 inches from basking spot—the cover needs to be off the bulb for full effect of the UVB rays-- if you have the coil please replace w/ one of these-- the lighting in the tank is the most crucial thing for a dragons health--- please make sure your taking basking temps w/ a infrared heat gun to get accurate temps in the tank -- a digital probe will work too but the temp gun is best--- they can be purchased at Walmart Home Depot or Lowes for around $10-12 -- it does not haft to be expensive
Karrie
Hello, her black beard has gone but I just want to be cautious. Also, I live in Australia , so I don't know if there's like a difference in temp wise or if we have the same brands. If you live in America ??.
1. Uvb - 150 - Exo Terra
2. Heat Lamp - 50 - Exo Terra
3. Priceless (beardie) has a grass mat
4. She eats crickets and cabbage, sometimes blueberries.
5. My BTS (also known as Ceasefire) came with mites but I got mite spray and I got rid of them all I even checked Priceless.
6. I clean Ceasefires and Pricelesses enclosures every Wednesday
7. I bath them everyday
8. Priceless (beardie) - 23cm (head to the tip of the tail)
9. Ceasefire (BTS) - 31cm (head to the tip of the tail)
10. I did introduce Ceasefire to Priceless and Priceless hissed like crazy. (So bad idea)
11. I do not know how to add an image
12. The only way I can show you what she looks like an a recent post is on her Instagram page (yes both my reptiles have one) priceless_the_dragon
Are you feeding cabbage as a staple green? https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG on top of message box and post pics
Uvb - 150 - Exo Terra--- I would replace w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a T 8--- the lighting is very important to their behavior digestion and over all health---
here is a website for nutrition http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html--
Karrie
Ok cabbage is not a good staple feeder-- look at the website and go from there-- he is adorable-- you need to get your lighting in order -- I think that is the issue here
Karrie