New Baby Beardie Refuses to Eat and Bask

[lisetteojeda]

Hi, so I just got a baby beardie from PetSmart 3 days ago. I’ve read about relocation stress and so I felt ready to deal with it, however long it may be. He surprised me on the first night because he was active, eating and energetic! Then the next day he woke up, ate one cricket, and decided that he wasn’t going to eat anymore. I tried periodically throughout the day yesterday and he just wouldn’t budge. Last night, he fell asleep on the cool side of his terrarium and today he won’t budge from it. I brought out some food and even held it by his mouth, to which he just closed his eyes and slightly turned away. I was able to drop some water on the front part of his nose for him to drink though. He also just squints or closes his eyes lately. I have checked the temps and they are correct. Is this just stress due to relocation or is there something else wrong?

 

[CooperDragon]

After only 3 days, he may still be adjusting. If you can post some photos of him it will give us a better idea of his general health. If you'd like to provide details about your setup, we'll be happy to give it a checkup to make sure everything is just right for your new buddy. Info about surface temp readings, and types of lighting and their distances above the enclosure would be helpful.

You can upload photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them to your thread using the XIMG button when you reply.

 

[lisetteojeda]

Thank you so much! Actually, I think I figured it out. Not only was he still adjusting but he also started shedding yesterday and I know they will stop eating altogether during that. He has started to get an appetite again so I think he is okay. Thank you, though!

 

[KarrieRee]

Please make sure your using NO coils for UVB they are inadequate and basking temps are being taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 105-110 and there are NO colored bulbs being used for heat
Karrie

 

[lisetteojeda]

@KarrieRee thank you so much for the advice! Could you possibly share what you use? I’m willing to buy anything to make sure that he has all he needs.

 

[KarrieRee]

https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html 24" for 40 gallon and up It comes w/ a 5.0 bulb this bulb can be used but its more for aquarium use you can use it as a back up but distance and placement would be different from the bulb I am recommending
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-t5.html
same size 22" bulbs would need to be changed out in a year or so usually about a month before -
This place is good and fast and they ship Fed Ex - and they sell out of these fixtures very quickly -- the digital probe is like this I dont know if you have one but its good to get two of them one for each side of the tank --
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-digital-thermometer.html
Karrie

 

[Valkyrie47]

I just got a baby a few weeks ago and mine did the same thing, in which I posted like 30 threads here freaking out ? she ended up shedding a few days later and is now an eating machine. She wasn't eating much except the first day, she was sleeping all the time, acting "weird" (I have no reference for this as this is my first beardie)
I'm thinking this is all pretty normal for a new beardie! Good luck! Cheers, Amanda & Ebrietas the Beardie