Hi everyone
This summer, I will be going out of country for 2 months and leaving my bearded dragon, Sherbert, with my dad. I have a few concerns on my mind that I want to address before I go. First, Sherbert can't wake up on his own, and will sleep for the whole day if he could. I was out of town last night, but my dad told me that he slept until 8 pm, then woke up to eat and poop. He was still really active when it was 10 pm. (I had to let him stay up late to digest his food). I'm thinking this may be brumation but I'm not so sure. I just don't want him to sleep away while I'm gone, so I'm asking my dad to wake him up every morning himself by scooping him out of his hide. Sometimes, Sherbert would go back in his hide but still be awake. He'd stay there all day until I have to take him out. Maybe he wants to cool off in the cool side, and the hot side is too hot? I don't know.
Next, I just need some general advice for leaving a bearded dragon with someone else. I will try to explain to him all about bearded dragon care and let him use the forums for help. I will be checking back to keep up with Sherbert, but I just fear that he's going to get sick or something. We ordered a new UVB light and a bulk of roaches just in case too. I'm also going to make a schedule and a list of what and what not to do. However, my dad has work and leaves in the morning and comes back at 8 pm. We're thinking of him waking up Sherbert early in the morning and feeding him his salad and roaches at 8 am, then my dad leaves to work for the rest of the day. Does this sound okay? My dad wouldn't be able to feed Sherbert roaches twice a day, so we would have to upgrade the amount of roaches he gets in one meal.
Lastly, Sherbert makes a huge mess when he poops. Usually, he poops and leaves the poop alone, but on some days he gets really active and runs over the poop and creates a giant mess. Is this normal for a juvenile, since they're really active? Anyways, I don't want Sherbert to be stuck in a messy cage while my dad is at work the whole day, so I have to find a way for Sherbert to chill when it comes to pooping. I don't think he has diarrhea since it's not so watery or liquid, and there still is some shape of the poop left. He just gets his tail and feet messy. I'm not sure if he has parasites since we have never done a fecal, but I don't see physical signs of parasites since he isn't losing weight, is stressed, or lethargic.
Setup:
50 Gallon Tank
Heat lamp: bright white 70 watt flood light (heats up surface 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit)
UVB: Reptisun 10.0 T5 florescent tube (will be replaced soon)
Both lights 10 inches away from basking spot, and are left on from 7 am through 9 pm.
Cool side 80-85 degrees and hot side 85-90
Substrate: non-adhesive shelf liner
Wooden box with blanket for hide, ramp and log for climbing, a bowl for roaches, and 3 bricks for basking.
Diet: Mustard greens and Collard greens in the morning at 7 am, two meals of dusted roaches in calcium with Vit.D3 or vitamin powder later at 3 pm and 6 pm. New schedule: Salad AND roaches in the morning at 8 am.
He is 8 months old and is 18 inches long. He's active and eating well, but stays in his hide.
This summer, I will be going out of country for 2 months and leaving my bearded dragon, Sherbert, with my dad. I have a few concerns on my mind that I want to address before I go. First, Sherbert can't wake up on his own, and will sleep for the whole day if he could. I was out of town last night, but my dad told me that he slept until 8 pm, then woke up to eat and poop. He was still really active when it was 10 pm. (I had to let him stay up late to digest his food). I'm thinking this may be brumation but I'm not so sure. I just don't want him to sleep away while I'm gone, so I'm asking my dad to wake him up every morning himself by scooping him out of his hide. Sometimes, Sherbert would go back in his hide but still be awake. He'd stay there all day until I have to take him out. Maybe he wants to cool off in the cool side, and the hot side is too hot? I don't know.
Next, I just need some general advice for leaving a bearded dragon with someone else. I will try to explain to him all about bearded dragon care and let him use the forums for help. I will be checking back to keep up with Sherbert, but I just fear that he's going to get sick or something. We ordered a new UVB light and a bulk of roaches just in case too. I'm also going to make a schedule and a list of what and what not to do. However, my dad has work and leaves in the morning and comes back at 8 pm. We're thinking of him waking up Sherbert early in the morning and feeding him his salad and roaches at 8 am, then my dad leaves to work for the rest of the day. Does this sound okay? My dad wouldn't be able to feed Sherbert roaches twice a day, so we would have to upgrade the amount of roaches he gets in one meal.
Lastly, Sherbert makes a huge mess when he poops. Usually, he poops and leaves the poop alone, but on some days he gets really active and runs over the poop and creates a giant mess. Is this normal for a juvenile, since they're really active? Anyways, I don't want Sherbert to be stuck in a messy cage while my dad is at work the whole day, so I have to find a way for Sherbert to chill when it comes to pooping. I don't think he has diarrhea since it's not so watery or liquid, and there still is some shape of the poop left. He just gets his tail and feet messy. I'm not sure if he has parasites since we have never done a fecal, but I don't see physical signs of parasites since he isn't losing weight, is stressed, or lethargic.
Setup:
50 Gallon Tank
Heat lamp: bright white 70 watt flood light (heats up surface 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit)
UVB: Reptisun 10.0 T5 florescent tube (will be replaced soon)
Both lights 10 inches away from basking spot, and are left on from 7 am through 9 pm.
Cool side 80-85 degrees and hot side 85-90
Substrate: non-adhesive shelf liner
Wooden box with blanket for hide, ramp and log for climbing, a bowl for roaches, and 3 bricks for basking.
Diet: Mustard greens and Collard greens in the morning at 7 am, two meals of dusted roaches in calcium with Vit.D3 or vitamin powder later at 3 pm and 6 pm. New schedule: Salad AND roaches in the morning at 8 am.
He is 8 months old and is 18 inches long. He's active and eating well, but stays in his hide.