New and in Need of Advice

[Hammie2496]

Hi everyone, so I'm a beginner when it comes to bearded dragons. I got my first baby 2 days ago and I have already gotten terrible advice. I do have some questions about my little dragon, but first let me introduce him.
My dragon's name is Chroma, he is a normal bearded dragon that I got from petsmart. I know bad idea to buy pets from there, when I saw him he was eating plastic plants and I wanted to give him a better home. They didnt tell me his age and wouldn't give details on his gender, I had to figure that out on my own. He is only 1 month due to his size, since he is barely 6 inches long.
I do have questions about how he has been acting lately.
1. I did notice stress marks on his chin and I was worried I was doing something wrong? Any advice would be great.
2. He keeps laying on his thermometer on the top of the tank. Is that safe or is that him stressing out?
3. He prefers to stay out of the tank with me a lot and doesnt like going back in it. When he gets back into the tank he runs around until I pick him back up and hold him. I'm wondering if that is unsafe? Mainly because it is cold in my house, I was wondering if I could cover him slightly with a small little piece of fabric while he is out on me?
4. He wont eat anything lately but I did notice 5 minutes ago that he was dehydrated so I was able to get some water in him. Any advice for that would be appreciated.

His tank is set up with a heat pad underneath the tank, the tank is 10gallons for now so he doesnt freak out about having to much space. A green fleece mat at the bottom and then sand. He has some oak wood branches in his tank and he doesnt like his rock that I got him so he could lay on. He prefers the plastic container I brought him home in to bask on. He has water and food container and I heard I needed to mist him which is how I found out he was dehydrated so I started that. I will attach pictures below once I know how to do so and thank you ahead of time for any advice give. I dont want to hurt my little baby, I want to give him the best home I can.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, Chroma is a really cool name and he looks like a healthy little guy ! They like to climb up high so he's hanging out on the thermometer simply because he can. Your set up is pretty good although sand can cause impaction in babies. I've kept many older juveniles to adults on sand with no problems though [ over 25 years ] but you have to more cautious with babies.

What exact type of bulbs do you have ? Can you get a few pics of the bulbs as well as the screen on the tank ? BTW, you'll need to start saving for a much larger tank because a healthy baby can grow VERY quickly, he can be 12 " in a couple of months.

 

[Hammie2496]

So he has a simple top cover for his tank, and this is the light I'm using. His stress seems to have gone up after I posted the first post. His lines on his chin have darkened by a lot. I'm really scared for him now.

 

[AHBD]

Well the biggest problem is that you don't have a heat lamp. The lamp you have is for uvb and it's not a really strong one either. He will not be able to digest food until you get a heat lamp. The heat pad will not do anything for him either except maybe keep him a little wrmer at night. You need a basking bub like these, just get 75 or 100 watt halogen bulb, they come in 4 packs at Walmart or Home Depot. Just like this, no need for a pet store heat bulb, most people use these :


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sylvania-Double-Life-72W-Halogen-Light-Bulbs-Soft-White-4-Pack/21738518

Then you'll need a good uvb bulb, for now get the 26 watt desert uvb like this.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwibpueLntPfAhWIO2kKHaXICbUYABACGgJpcQ&sig=AOD64_10m7caYAGRtFvju117wCzD_ORFMQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwiwqeGLntPfAhUE8YMKHQHICSsQ9aACCDc&adurl=


Once you get him a bigger tank you'll need an even stronger uvb bulb. It may not seem like it makes sense now but it's very important, please get these bulbs ASAP. And don't worry, all new dragons are stressed when they go to a new home, perfectly normal.

 

[Hammie2496]

Thank you so much!! I will get that immediately when the stores near me open. I hope chroma will be okay until then. Thank thank thank!

 

[AHBD]

You're welcome ! Just take the other uvb bulb back. You'll need another dome fixture for the heat bulb too . And if you want to go ahead and just get the best bulb for your next set up it's called a Reptisun 10.0 t5 , it's long tube bulb that can cover much more of the tank + produces more uvb.


https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjivpifodPfAhUNHGkKHcjDAxAYABANGgJpcQ&sig=AOD64_2MZWCXojmPgYzAo404Tc2ELSmdMQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwiAoZKfodPfAhUT3YMKHaczDckQ9aACCFI&adurl=

You'd want the next size up from what's pictured.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I love the name Chroma, too. He looks precious & healthy.
As suggested, they love climbing at that age. The Reptisun 10 T5 tube or the Arcadia D3 12%
or 14% T5 tube either one would be an excellent choice. They are both strong lights & that will
help optimize his health & overall well being.
Let us know how he is doing!

Tracie

 

[Hammie2496]

I already posted a little thank you in the general forums, but I will post here again. Thank you all so much for the help, his new tank looks so much better.
I got a ceramic heater, the proper bulb, removed all sand and replaced it with a proper carpet thing. He seems so much more happier. He was running around his tank and playing with us earlier. He seems to have his own mindset as to when bed time is, which runs with when petsmart seems to close. So I tucked him into bed a while ago. He has been sleeping on his branch under his ceramic heater. Pictures will be attached below, not of him sleeping he seems to wake up if I get to close and I do not wish to wake him. ?
Ps. Is it normal he wont eat much? I know it is winter here and technically it has been 2 days without a proper bulb and heater set up. I'm hoping he will eat more tomorrow, but any advice would be great. He did nibble on 1 blueberry, and a slice of zucchini. All cut into bit sizes for him to eat.
Update: I just read the article on brumation after posting this reply. Thank you all again.

 

[Sixxx]

Wait I'm not getting your lighting set up. If i'm reading correctly, you have a 'bulb' and a ceramic heater? Beardie lighting has 2 requirements: a BASKING LIGHT and a UVB TUBE. A basking light allows your dragon to not only stimulate digestion in his food but make him active. UVB helps your beardie's bone get strong. Remember: UVB isn't meant to provide heat. Ceramic heaters are for needed EXTRA heat, be it at day (if your basking light doesn't provide enough heat) or at night (if your tank reaches 65F or below). This may be a reason as to why your dragon may not be active when eating. Another reason as to why he may lose his appetite is the process of giving him a new home. It might stress a beardie to find himself living in a world completely different than before. Usually lasts 1-3 days, but could be more. Also: what do you use to measure your tank's temperature? Analag thermometers aren't recommended and are seriously faulty. In my first weeks of having a dragon, I wondered why he didn't like his basking spot. Turns out it was actually 145F rather than 105F! Temperature gun's are recommended since they provide accurate readings of not only the hot side, but the cool side as well.

 

[Hammie2496]

Okay so the ceramic heater is essentially doing nothing, I have a standard tempeture gauge.... I will switch that immediately to the gun. I forgot to include he does have a basking light, but for some reason I thought he only needed that sometimes during the day. I will go ahead and switch it out with his ceramic heater. Thank you all so much, I wanted to provide him with a better home but I feel like I’m making his life worse.

 

[Sixxx]

Okay so the ceramic heater is essentially doing nothing, I have a standard tempeture gauge.... I will switch that immediately to the gun. I forgot to include he does have a basking light, but for some reason I thought he only needed that sometimes during the day. I will go ahead and switch it out with his ceramic heater. Thank you all so much, I wanted to provide him with a better home but I feel like I’m making his life worse.

You being able to care for him and worry for his needs are exactly the things to give your beardie a happy life! If the temperature gauge is digital with a probe, theres no need in switching it out. Since im guessing yours is analog, youre heading to the right direction!

 

[Hammie2496]

Yes mine is a little crappy analog one, and now that I'm seeing it up closer. It keeps reading only 80° f which is concerning me..... it hasnt moved at all. So when the stores open in 2 hours I will go get a proper temperature gauge. Thank you all again for everything.

 

[KarrieRee]

Lights should be left on for 12 hrs on 12 hrs off- he looks to young to brumate-- they dont brumate fully until a year and older - Hiccup went into a semi brumation around 6-7 months old -- he was waking to eat and bask but did mostly sleeping and eating little - his metabolism has slowed down so hes lazy and eating a lot every other day-- as long as they are not losing weight and sustaining it that is good - but yours looks young-- he should be eating bugs like dubias or crickets - I recommend dubias as they are better for them - they dont stink easy to care for and dont give the dragon parasites- bugs should be dusted w/ calcium D3 and vitamins 2 times per week-- according to age - his main diet if hes is less than a year should be bugs - protein- vegies like collard greens mustard greens green beans gr peppers etc zucchini other squash can be offered -- but for the most part hes gonna eat the bugs-- at the top of the page there is a header called care sheets and articles please read that - if you have anymore questions please ask there are many people here that can help you w/ your little one
Karrie

 

[Hammie2496]

Thank you karrie I will check the reptile stores near me to see who stocks the Dubai's it's good to know crickets could be dangerous for him.