New baby beardie help.

[PikoDragon82]

Hi, we just got a baby bearded dragon he is sooo small. We are new to having a baby, so if anyone could give me advice to make sure he survives!

His name is Glitch
We got him two days ago
He has a 40 gallon tank. A long UVB light and two fifty watt heat bulbs, a water area, a log, slate plate where I put his food, a hammock and a hide.
I got him to eat one whole meal worm, but no greens it seems yesterday.
Today he ate four roaches and nothing else. How often should o be feeding him, what should I be feeding him, how can I make sure he thrives. I’ve never had something so tiny.

Can you tell me if he looks healthy as well?

Thanks!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi, we just got a baby bearded dragon he is sooo small. We are new to having a baby, so if anyone could give me advice to make sure he survives!

His name is Glitch
We got him two days ago
He has a 40 gallon tank. A long UVB light and two fifty watt heat bulbs, a water area, a log, slate plate where I put his food, a hammock and a hide.
I got him to eat one whole meal worm, but no greens it seems yesterday.
Today he ate four roaches and nothing else. How often should o be feeding him, what should I be feeding him, how can I make sure he thrives. I’ve never had something so tiny.

Can you tell me if he looks healthy as well?

Thanks!

Welcome to beardie world-- please let your baby acclimate to his tank and surroundings- he needs time to adjust - he's going thru relocation stress- so in order to keep him eating and adjust more quickly he needs correct surface basking temps-- taken w/a digital probe thermometer- you want two of them - one for your basking side and one for the cool side - surface basking temps 105- 110 - cool side of the tank 80's during the day- his eating will be slow- you want him eating something if he stops all together there's a problem- please tell me what long tube fixture your using-- brand and bulb- T 5 or T 8- this is imperative to the dragons health and for him to keep eating- let's get these things sorted out first as they are the most important things in your tank

 

[Jjurovaty]

Hes beautiful, I remember when my babies were littler than that! I tell everyone, as far as the greens go, make the veggies "dance" a little, moving them around may get his attention, or trick him into trying something he will then enjoy! Good luck, can't wait to see more!

 

[smaugthebeardie3756]

Looks healthy as far as I can tell. You mentioned a long tube UVB which is good. Is it T5 or T8 and which brand? Also, is it on top of the screen or inside the tank and what is the distance to the closest basking spot?

Babies need a lot of protein and fat from bugs to grow, which they do VERY quickly the first year. General guideline is 70-80% bugs and 20-30% greens for this first year. At 12-18 months it should be about 50-50, and then flipped to 70-80% greens and 20-30% bugs as full grown adults. In a little more relatable terms, salads should be offered everyday throughout their lifetimes. Babies should get bugs 2-3 times a day, as many as they will eat in about 15 minutes. Bugs should be no bigger than the space between the eyes. Avoid mealworms and superworms while babies. The shells are really hard to digest and can cause impaction problems when coupled with a baby's small digestive tract. When his growth slows down at about a year or so, bugs once a day. When he is full grown, bugs can be cut back to about 2-3 times a week.

He may not show much interest in his greens for now, which is okay. Keep putting them in there everyday and getting him used to it. He also may not eat very much right now because of relocation stress. It can take them a little while to get comfortable in a new place. There are some things you can do to help encourage him to eat his salads like offering it a couple of hours before the first bugs, sprinkling bee pollen on them, or using black soldier fly larvae or a treat worm like waxworms as a lure on top.

 

[RangoRocky]

I have a baby beardie I have had for 3 weeks now. I feed her 2-3x’s daily. She has not taken to leafy vegetables just yet either. However, for its replacement I feed her organic baby food mixed with calcium powder. I will attach a picture of the ones I buy. I can get her eat that pretty well and she seems to love it. Also, to make sure she’s hydrated I soak her daily. And twice a week she gets a electrolyte soak.

 

[PikoDragon82]

I have a baby beardie I have had for 3 weeks now. I feed her 2-3x’s daily. She has not taken to leafy vegetables just yet either. However, for its replacement I feed her organic baby food mixed with calcium powder. I will attach a picture of the ones I buy. I can get her eat that pretty well and she seems to love it. Also, to make sure she’s hydrated I soak her daily. And twice a week she gets a electrolyte soak.

Thanks! How do you feed the baby food?

 

[PikoDragon82]

Looks healthy as far as I can tell. You mentioned a long tube UVB which is good. Is it T5 or T8 and which brand? Also, is it on top of the screen or inside the tank and what is the distance to the closest basking spot?

Babies need a lot of protein and fat from bugs to grow, which they do VERY quickly the first year. General guideline is 70-80% bugs and 20-30% greens for this first year. At 12-18 months it should be about 50-50, and then flipped to 70-80% greens and 20-30% bugs as full grown adults. In a little more relatable terms, salads should be offered everyday throughout their lifetimes. Babies should get bugs 2-3 times a day, as many as they will eat in about 15 minutes. Bugs should be no bigger than the space between the eyes. Avoid mealworms and superworms while babies. The shells are really hard to digest and can cause impaction problems when coupled with a baby's small digestive tract. When his growth slows down at about a year or so, bugs once a day. When he is full grown, bugs can be cut back to about 2-3 times a week.

He may not show much interest in his greens for now, which is okay. Keep putting them in there everyday and getting him used to it. He also may not eat very much right now because of relocation stress. It can take them a little while to get comfortable in a new place. There are some things you can do to help encourage him to eat his salads like offering it a couple of hours before the first bugs, sprinkling bee pollen on them, or using black soldier fly larvae or a treat worm like waxworms as a lure on top.

So to avoid the impaction, should he just be fed crickets?

 

[KarrieRee]

So to avoid the impaction, should he just be fed crickets?

Your dragon needs a good staple feeder like crickets dubia roaches or BSFL they are a great staple for babies make sure your feeding insects NO bigger than the space between his eyes that is what causes impaction - NO meal worms as they are a cause as well the dragon cannot digest the exoskeleton on those worms - please get some BSFL from here www.symtonbsf.com I would order medium for now and use them as lures to the salad bowl -- please stop feeding the baby food -- his main diet is protein for now and even if he eats a little salad that is fine - take the BSFL and drop them in a bowl like this or similar to it will keep them in the bowl - feed as many as you want but I would also use another main staple so you know hes getting enough he should be eating as many as he can crickets or dubias in a 10-15 minute time span -- do not leave any crickets in the tank please - they will bite the dragon --
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
Your dragon should be fed salads in the morning after waking up / heating up you might want to rinse the BSFL before serving his salads along w/ the greens rinse them as well they get most of their moistures from the salads - Nutrition Content kale is a good staple feeder
you can get some small super worms as well add 1-3 every other day on his salads along w/ the BSFL this will lure him to the salad bowl too - you can hand feed the BSFL that will begin hand taming him -- please dust your crickets or dubia roaches 5 x per week w/ calcium D3 ONCE per feeding he should be offered food insects 3 times per day and dust the insects w/ vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding --- make sure you are using a long tube fixture w/a good bulb like a Reptisun bulb or a Arcadia bulb --- for a 40 gallon tank the bulb should be a 10.0 T 5 bulb and it must be properly placed and distanced for the tank and that will depend on the screen your using I can help w/ that -- the temps should be surface basking temps of 105-110 --- taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- a must -- these last things I posted are the most important things in your tank --- if you have any more questions please ask

please cut back on the bathing -- its causing him more stress -- I would drop water on his nose or spray him in the tank -- dragons dont need bathing very often -- we can talk about that if you have questions and if hes eating some salad he will get water thru that -- I can tell you what to look for if you think hes dehydrated his poop will tell you

 

[RangoRocky]

Thanks! How do you feed the baby food?

With a soft baby spoon or you can use a syringe. She basically just licks it off the spoon.

 

[PikoDragon82]

@

Your dragon needs a good staple feeder like crickets dubia roaches or BSFL they are a great staple for babies make sure your feeding insects NO bigger than the space between his eyes that is what causes impaction - NO meal worms as they are a cause as well the dragon cannot digest the exoskeleton on those worms - please get some BSFL from here www.symtonbsf.com I would order medium for now and use them as lures to the salad bowl -- please stop feeding the baby food -- his main diet is protein for now and even if he eats a little salad that is fine - take the BSFL and drop them in a bowl like this or similar to it will keep them in the bowl - feed as many as you want but I would also use another main staple so you know hes getting enough he should be eating as many as he can crickets or dubias in a 10-15 minute time span -- do not leave any crickets in the tank please - they will bite the dragon --
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
Your dragon should be fed salads in the morning after waking up / heating up you might want to rinse the BSFL before serving his salads along w/ the greens rinse them as well they get most of their moistures from the salads - Nutrition Content kale is a good staple feeder
you can get some small super worms as well add 1-3 every other day on his salads along w/ the BSFL this will lure him to the salad bowl too - you can hand feed the BSFL that will begin hand taming him -- please dust your crickets or dubia roaches 5 x per week w/ calcium D3 ONCE per feeding he should be offered food insects 3 times per day and dust the insects w/ vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding --- make sure you are using a long tube fixture w/a good bulb like a Reptisun bulb or a Arcadia bulb --- for a 40 gallon tank the bulb should be a 10.0 T 5 bulb and it must be properly placed and distanced for the tank and that will depend on the screen your using I can help w/ that -- the temps should be surface basking temps of 105-110 --- taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- a must -- these last things I posted are the most important things in your tank --- if you have any more questions please ask

please cut back on the bathing -- its causing him more stress -- I would drop water on his nose or spray him in the tank -- dragons dont need bathing very often -- we can talk about that if you have questions and if hes eating some salad he will get water thru that -- I can tell you what to look for if you think hes dehydrated his poop will tell you

 

[KarrieRee]

@

Please upgrade your UVB to a 24" fixture for a 40 + gallon tank

Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood

Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood is a highly adaptable lighting kit with high-quality internal electronics designed for optimal reptile husbandry. Get yours today from Pangea Reptile!

www.pangeareptile.com

or this one it will come w/ a 5.0 bulb like what you have you want the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb-- keep the 5.0 for a back up distance and placement is different between the two bulbs
22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO

Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood

Efficient and sleek t5 UVB light fixture for reptiles terrariums and more! Order your lighting and supplies today from Pangea Reptile.

www.pangeareptile.com

The screen on your tank looks like a wide hole type the UVB can sit on your screen w/ the basking decor directly under it 8-10 inches --- please change out the bulb in approx one year from install I recommend a month prior to
The 5.0 bulb your using now please unobstruct it and place a piece of decor directly under it 6-8 inches -- this bulb is not strong enough to go thru the screen -- if you need more help please ask

Also is there a reflector on that fixture ? That would be a shiny piece behind the bulb it would look like tin foil

 

[PikoDragon82]

Please upgrade your UVB to a 24" fixture for a 40 + gallon tank

Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood

Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood is a highly adaptable lighting kit with high-quality internal electronics designed for optimal reptile husbandry. Get yours today from Pangea Reptile!

www.pangeareptile.com

or this one it will come w/ a 5.0 bulb like what you have you want the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb-- keep the 5.0 for a back up distance and placement is different between the two bulbs
22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO

Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood

Efficient and sleek t5 UVB light fixture for reptiles terrariums and more! Order your lighting and supplies today from Pangea Reptile.

www.pangeareptile.com

The screen on your tank looks like a wide hole type the UVB can sit on your screen w/ the basking decor directly under it 8-10 inches --- please change out the bulb in approx one year from install I recommend a month prior to
The 5.0 bulb your using now please unobstruct it and place a piece of decor directly under it 6-8 inches -- this bulb is not strong enough to go thru the screen -- if you need more help please ask

Also is there a reflector on that fixture ? That would be a shiny piece behind the bulb it would look like tin foil

Yes there is a reflector.