Just wondering about the health of my new BD.

[SJM]

Nothing seems completely wrong, but there's a few little things I'm curious about.

1. I've read that baby beardies can eat rather alarming amounts. I feed Thor three times a day, as many as he'll eat in around 10-15 minutes. Lately he's only eaten about 3-6 each time, is this normal? Could this be an appetite problem or is he just not in the mood for food? I only got him last Saturday, so I'm thinking maybe the readjustment to a new home is killing his appetite.

2. Black lines all over his underbelly, stress marks? Sometimes they get really bad under his chin, but mostly they're just dark lines. (They never go away.)

3. Could I get some suggestions on taming him more quickly? Making him feel more comfortable with me touching him and picking him up?

4. Someone said that baths aren't safe for babies, is it true? I'd like to start giving him baths right away to spark his hunger.

Some things you may need to know:
He's in a 10 gal tank, I know it's a little small but he's tiny and it seems okay for now. We're a little short on money but next time I go for crickets Mom says he can get a larger one, which shouldn't be too far from now.
He's somewhere around 6 and 1/2 inches from his nose to the tip of his tail, I don't know how old.
So far he's been pooing regularly and it looks rather healthy from what I can tell.
He has a UVB on for 12-14 hours day, a UVA light on for the same time, and a infrared UVA during the night.
He's supplied with veggies but he doesn't touch them.
I sprinkle his crickets with Calcium/VD3 once a day. The crickets aren't pinhead crickets like I wish (perfect size for him) but they are pretty small. They aren't bigger than the space between his eyes and aren't longer than his head. I try to get any exoskeleton/wing off of them before dropping them into his tank.
His basking temperature is around 108-118 degrees, other places are around 90, and cooler areas are from 78-89 degrees.
He has a fine grain sand substrate which I know is dangerous and I will be changing it out ASAP. I've never seen him licking it or exploring it but I'm scared about the danger. Is paper towel alright to replace it?

Thanks in advance. :}

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What type & brand of UVB are you using, is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light? How close is it to your dragon?
What type of thermometer are you using, is it a stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun? What are the temps in the tank?
You can bathe him if you want to. Be sure the water is not too cold or too hot. Fill the water only up to or below his armpits. Do not leave him unattended as they can drown quickly. Keep your hand in the tub along with him for comfort. You can use a towel to put on the bottom of the plastic bin/tub so he doesn't slide around.
Yes, paper towels are good to use for substrate, no problem.
What type of basking light are you using? A bright white light or a colored light?
You really don't need to use an infrared light for overnight. The color spectrum can be seen by them & may disturb his sleep patterns.
He will quickly outgrow that 10 gallon tank, so you will need to plan on buying at least a 40 gallon or larger for him.
You should look at ordering crickets online, they are much cheaper. Try looking here:
http://www.premiumcrickets.com
http://www.armstrongcrickets.com
http://www.mulberryfarms.com

He probably just needs a few changes in his lighting & heating to settle in.
As far as taming, you can handle him daily, for short periods of time letting him get used to you. Scoop him up from underneath & always support the tail. Make sure she sees your hand coming in for her so she doesn't get scared. They view things from above as a predator so be slow with your movements. He should tame down for you just fine.

Tracie