My 2.5 month old baby dragon has odd coloration on his body?

[ADmrs02]

I have a 2 month old baby dragon that I got about a week ago from Petco as most if the workers had extensive knowledge as they care for bearded dragons. One worker even had 5. Anyway my baby Maurice is about 2.5 months and 9 inches long, he loves super worms and green vegetables such as collard greens or basil. When I first got him the day post he started to shed and it looked rather odd. I know dragons shed in pieces but this seemed different. His head shed first then his tail but his body never had shed. I assumed that this is because his body must have shed in the pet store but the color variation of his body seems odd. His head when calm and happy is a light creme or sandy color while his back and tail are darker grey tones. His entire body only matches when he's stressed as his head becomes darker and develops stress marks. Is this due to a weird shed he must have had or does he have just a natural odd coloration to him? Any ideas would help.

 

[dezismom]

A photo would be needed to give any but a wild guess, however my first thought is that the back and tail as described are likely to be almost (but not quite) getting ready to shed. That is when Dezi's coloration gets a grey/hazy tone. As you get to know him over time, you will know just by the color, what stage of a shed he is in. At his age, he will seem to be always in some stage of shed: just over one, in the middle of one, or starting one. They grow at such a tremendous rate at that age! A warm bath in plain water might help to move the shed along. If he is not accustomed to baths, he may object, but gently set him down in a sink with just enough warm water-nothing added-to reach half way up his body, then slowly wave some water over his back and neck. If he seems too agitated, do not insist, but calmly remove him and dry him off, with lots of snuggles, for reassurance. Having been moved to a new environment is stress enough...they detest change, are quite stubborn, so will dislike anything new; but with repetition, they learn to accept (and even enjoy!) what they at first acted like would be the death of them! Such emotional drama queens.? But it is their unique emotional capacity that makes them so adorable! Be warned that you may find yourself a total Beardie slave, as so many of us have!

My big boy, Dezi, Sends welcome and greetings to your baby. He would like to see some photos, please...that cup is actually a cup shaped planter, about the size of a cereal bowl. Dezi is two feet of lizard love!

 

[kingofnobbys]

I have a 2 month old baby dragon that I got about a week ago from Petco as most if the workers had extensive knowledge as they care for bearded dragons. One worker even had 5. Anyway my baby Maurice is about 2.5 months and 9 inches long, he loves super worms and green vegetables such as collard greens or basil.
<<< superworms are problematic as a staple feeder insect for young and mature dragons, but particularly young dragons .
>>> hard exoskeleton is difficult to digest ==> can and does result in impaction
>>> poor Ca/P ratio
>>> high fat content.

Better insects for your hatchling are
>>> BSFL and the flies too
>>> silkworms (to 2 inches long) , and their moths are great treat .
>>> crickets (up to 1/4 size) or roaches or locusts (similar size, gutloaded, and dusted with calcium).
at his age 3 meals of live insects per day , insects are MUCH MORE important in his diet as fast growing hatchling than veg and greens - is a bonus if he eats these but make sure he gets mostly live insects in his diet as he needs to insect proteins and fats and calcium to grow .
When I first got him the day post he started to shed and it looked rather odd. I know dragons shed in pieces but this seemed different. His head shed first then his tail but his body never had shed. I assumed that this is because his body must have shed in the pet store but the color variation of his body seems odd. His head when calm and happy is a light creme or sandy color while his back and tail are darker grey tones. His entire body only matches when he's stressed as his head becomes darker and develops stress marks. Is this due to a weird shed he must have had or does he have just a natural odd coloration to him? Any ideas would help.

 

[ADmrs02]

Dezi is so beautiful! His colors are so vibrant and gorgeous, What a beautiful boy! Id love to send you a picture of my boy I'm afraid that I have no idea what im doing. I just started using this website and I dont know how to post an image despite my efforts. And I do bathe him daily in warm water though thank you for giving me more confidence Maurice is my first bearded dragon?

 

[dezismom]

Thank you! I think Dezi is gorgeous, but I may be somewhat favoring, on his behalf?
Like you, I had no idea what I was doing, but I got the hang of it soon enough, and so will you. I am not proficient enough to show you haw to post photos, but I bet there are some people on the site who can, (hint, hint).

Kingofnobbys is an expert on beardies, and I listen to any advise he gives. At his age, maurice (love the name) would do better to have smaller, softer food than superworms. Dezi loves them, but he is a big boy--two foot of lizard love! At that age, DeziLu ate crickets and smaller worms, all calcium dusted, of course. I offer as big a variety as possible, to give him a well rounded nutrition. He would not eat any salad, until over two years old, bad boy, but I always offered it, anyway. He needed live protien, to help him grow big and strong, and he knew it. I fed Dezi several meals a day, with snacks. That was perhaps more than absolutely neccesary, but I had the time, and we both enjoyed the contact. (I hand fed all food- still do. It Helps grow the very strong bond between us)

They are so much more intelligent than I would have believed, before I got to know one. Dezi is also my first Beardie--In fact, he is my first reptile, although I have had much experience raising and caring for a variety of other creatures. After three years, I have fairly good knowlege, but learn something new, all the time. It is a challenge, because they are complex creatures with very specific needs, but also one of the joys of owning a beardie. Have you read about MBD (metabolic bone disease) yet? A very bad disease, due to lack of UVB--and easy for the young to develop it, if they do not get just the right heat, UVB, calcium, and vit.D...At his current fast rate of growth, Maurice is in special danger of MBD...This site is quite valuable a resource! And there are so many Beardie lovers who will help with advise, just because they care about all Beardies.

Without photos and more info about civ set up, etc, I cannot offer much more advise, but one thing I know for sure is they need lots of love and attention. Hugs, snuggles, and close contact are crucial to these sensitive, beautiful creatures. They also love to play! Dezi likes to chase a feather cat toy, and a red lazer light. He plays hide and seek very well! (in a room that has been carefully lizard proofed) And he watches tv! He prefers football; I think it is the colorful uniforms and activity that attracts him...he does not seem to have a preference of team. (but does not like the LSU mascot, a tiger.) Snuggles are his favorite activity of all. At evening, he lays on my chest, head on my neck or shoulder, and gives a beautific smile. He often sighs, as he snuggles in closer, as I pet his head and stroke his eyebrows...It is both of our favorite time of day.

i hope you will be helped to post photos soon, so I can see Maurice! And feel free to ask any questions on this site. There are no stupid questions! I am always delighted when a new owner takes an interest in his or her new beardie friend. With the right set up and nutrition, you and Maurice can have many years of amazing lizard love.??

Dezi demonstrating proper snuggle technique...

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, here's how to post pics. Post some of the baby and also the entire set up.
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then use the XIMG to upload them

 

[ADmrs02]

Maurice had been moved to a 40 gallon tank last night so his viv is a little barren at the moment besides a few desert plant decorations from his last tank; a larger hide, a few bowls and a hammock. His basking area is powered by a 100w powersun self blasted mercury vapor lamp which provides uvb light and heat. His basking area itself is always 105-110 and this is made sure by a probing thermometer that is place on top so i can regulate the amount. The bulb was inserted into a Flunkers mini Sun Dome 100w maximun. The light I use which is located more on the cooler side is a 18 inch slimline desert fixture that includes a desert 50 uvb and T8 fluorescent bulb, both are white light. The cooler side of his tank is about 75-80 although he usually only goes theres when hunting for insects. And this is also checked through a thermometer as wells as the humidity which is never over 40. His tank is located on a window although the shade on this window is never open. The substrate is just cardboard for now since 40 gallon lining is nowhere in pet shops.

(Im trying the imagine insertion so i have no idea if its going to work in just copying and pasting the number into my reply it is of his tank)

I am still so blown away by Dezi how gorgeous what a lucky mother you are and so active! Maurice often spends his days basking under the basking lamp or the hammock. I give him a bath in warm water daily and he uses the bathroom about once a day. I been feeding him waxworms crickets and super worms since getting him and just ordered 400 half inch BSFL which will be here from the 10th-13th of april. I also plan on buying dubia roaches and silk worms soon. I dust his crickets with calcuim and have orded Rep cal and Herptivite multivitamins which will be arriving today, which i will be giving one a week. Thank you aswell for informing me about the super worms Kingofnobbys I would never want to endanger my baby. I am very greatful.

I believe that's all the information I can think to say at the moment? If there's anything else that you guys would like to know is be happy to oblige. Also forgive me if the picture of his viv doesnt work. I didn't want to make a fool of myself by posting a bunch of numbers? . Thank you both Dezismomand Kingofnobby for being so kind and patient as well as welcoming! I can tell this is going to be a very useful place for me and Maurice?❤❤

Edit: I was able to post pictures, here's Murice hes 2-2.5 months old as is 9 inches ??

 

[AHBD]

What a little cutie, he looks perfectly fine. He is a naturally sandy color and there may not always be much of a demarcation when he's going in to shed. The Powersun is a fine bulb, the Zilla needs to be mounted inside, under the screen. Check to see that the Zilla fixture does not have a plastic shield over the light. Here is how to mount it under the screen using twine or wire :

https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/30028/full

 

[dezismom]

Photos came through, just fine! Thank you! Your set up and nutrition looks/sounds good, And Maurice is completely adorable! I like his silvery coloration, it is lovely. He has that confident look of a dragon who is well loved,,and knows it. I love to see that look on a beardie!

I do spent alot of time with Dezi. I am disabled, so have more time than most, to dote over him. He seems not to mind! We do everthing together, and he travels wherever I go. He loves our RV, He has his own look out behind the sofa in the RV, with heat lamps, etc., and a travel vivarium set up much like his one at home. We had the RV rewired, to suit his lights and heat elements, He is like a little superstar, when we pull up to a petshop, and I step out with an enormous dragon on my shoulder, ha, ha! Since I am only five feet tall,95 lbs., and he is two feet long, it is hard to miss! He likes all the attention. His attitude is: well, why wouldnt I be adored by all? Some people think he is fake, until he moves! Those who own or know Beardies, say they cannot believe he is one, at that size, since theirs is only about half as big. I do not know why Dezi grew so big, he is just a regular Beardie, as far as I know. However he did not stop his fast growth rate until his third year. And he is still growing...only about at half the rate. I believe most stop their fastest growing at around a year, although each one is quite individual.

Dezi says, congratulations little dude Maurice, for selecting such a good servant, and for training him well! He will be at your constant beck and call, in no time. Humans can be slow, but are eventually trainable, with patience. (Mine is a little dense, but very dedicated!)

DeziLu on his RV perch, watching the world go by...