New Beard ie! Help

[mattsmith93]

I bought a new bearded dragon with a tank setup. It has a habitat thermostat with an arcade euro range bulb and I am trying to feed him locusts/crickets but he only eats a few on and off.

The problem is that on his basking spot sometimes he curls his front feet up so there arched and sometimes his back feet drag. But at the same time he climbs up a background that's been put in and eats his spring green. What could this be?

Oh and when I mean drag I don't mean he can't use them he runs around fine it's just when he basks. Also I have found the white urine but haven't seen any poo?

 

[Taterbug]

What are your temperatures and how are you measuring them?

 

[mattsmith93]

I'm using an ir gun. Well there's so many ways people measure which do you guys prefer? For instance the surface of his log is at 100-108F and cool size at same height is at 75F

 

[CooperDragon]

Those are good temperatures. Can you post a photo of your setup for us? They do tend to hang their legs when they bask sometimes and that's OK as long as they are able to use the legs when they want to move about. How long have you had your dragon? If he is still new, he may be experiencing relocation stress which can affect appetite and behavior. That can last for the first couple of weeks depending on the dragon.

 

[Taterbug]

I have a collection of temperature meters :3 I know what you mean. My favorite is IR gun, but a probe or other non-IR sensor is good for ambient temps - IR only measures surfaces. I use both. The IR gun is useful to map the temperature of the basking areas and get quick readings, but it's possible to have too hot a basking spot and too cool of ambient air.

Lifting the toes can be a response to heat as can keeping the belly off the ground, check that your basking spot doesn't have any hotspots - some spot lights can have trouble with even heat.

Could you show a picture or describe the back legs dragging? Does he just stick them straight out?

 

[mattsmith93]

Well when he wants to run around he is perfectly fine he runs up the background and scurrys about. Well I keep measuring at numerous plays but the ma I have seen it go at numerous temperatures is 12th which isn't dangerous to be fair and his cool side is sufficient as he goes there comfortably.

I upload the setup and show you.

He ate some bark of the log which was in there so I removed the main bit as the crickets kept hiding in it. From then he still has had a decent poo each day with ease and had 2 today so I don't think he has had impaction. He has also eaten 6 bugs today so he's getting better. He used to hate getting handled but he is getting a lot better and doesn't even go black much. When he opens his mouth I just rub his beard and he shuts his eyes so he seems to enjoy it.