New Bearded Dragon owner that needs help

[TheMailSquirrel]

Hi, I bought a juvenile bearded dragon a little over a week ago from a pet store. He's been eating plenty but I just wanted to ask a few questions to make him feel comfortable. This is my first reptile so sorry for any stupid questions. First off, I have a coil UVB light which I read is bad for them. He is squinting and closing his eyes often so I decided to buy the reptisun 10.0 compacted bulb which I just read is as bad for them as the coil so I'm not sure if I should spend another 70$ on lighting for him or just see how the reptisun 10.0 bulb works out, and how would I properly position it? Secondly I placed a log he can climb up and lie on under the basking light, the temperatures are correct(~105f), but he never leaves that spot, is it because the rest of the cage is too cold? Another thing I've noticed is that he never drinks from the water bowl I have setup for him, so I have to put water on my finger and put it on his nose to drink, how do I know he's not dehydrated and how do I make him drink from the bowl and not from my finger? He never eats any fruits or veggies, I place them on a paper towel every morning but he never eats any, im not sure what to do. Finally, he has started to shed and im not sure what to do. Thank you to anyone who answers this I want him to live a long and healthy life!
Liam

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Congratulations on your new beardie. First those coil/ compacts all cause problems. A t5 reptisun 10.0 tube is a very good bulb. You can turn off your uvb for a couple of days to let his eyes heal. As for the water most beardies don't understand a water bowl. I use a syringe to give water a couple times a week. How are you taking the temps? What size is the enclosure?

 

[TheMailSquirrel]

Hi. Congratulations on your new beardie. First those coil/ compacts all cause problems. A t5 reptisun 10.0 tube is a very good bulb. You can turn off your uvb for a couple of days to let his eyes heal. As for the water most beardies don't understand a water bowl. I use a syringe to give water a couple times a week. How are you taking the temps? What size is the enclosure?

Thank you for the reply , I am about to order the t5 bulb thank you . To take the temps I have this lcd thermometer which they gave me which compared to my mediocre thermometer is accurate. If the basking is the right temperature I read that he is supposed to open his mouth, is this true? He currently is in a 20 gallon tank (2 feet, by ~17" by 17", around). Wouldn't the lack of uvb be bad for him? Thank you very much ,
Liam

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[CooperDragon]

It's a good sign that he's eating well. If his bugs are well hydrated with fresh veges then he will probably get most of the hydration he needs from them. I also offer extra water via dripping on his nose with a plastic syringe and letting him lick it. Some of them will drink from bowls but they may need to be trained to do it. Flicking at the water and creating movement often helps with this. Since most of their hydration will come from food though, they don't seem to drink on a regular basis. It's more supplemental from what I've seen.

Don't worry too much if he prefers bugs over veges for now. He needs the protein to support quick growth. It's still a good idea to offer salads so it's a familiar food source. At about 12-18 months old as he approaches full size his appetite will slow and he will slowly transition to about 80%ish vegetarian.

As far as shedding goes, they're pretty good at it. I'd just leave him be and let him do his thing. Don't pick at the skin because if you pull skin that isn't ready to detach it can cause harm. You will see a LOT of sheds in the first few months as he grows quite quickly. You'll soon need a bigger tank.

In a 20g tank a T5 might be too powerful. The optimal output from a T5 is at about 12'' below the bulb. If you can provide that kind of overhead space it may cost in terms of climbing areas which are important for young dragons. A T8 ReptiSun 10.0 in a reflective fixture like the zilla slimline might be a better fit in a 20g tank. The optimal output from that is between about 6-8'' from the bulb. Be sure to remove any clear plastic covering from the fixture as that will intercept the UVB. When you move to a larger tank in a few months (I'd go for at least 4'x2'x2') then a T5 tube is definitely advised.

The UVB light should be at least as wide as your dragon and maybe 1/2 the length of your enclosure. It should sit above the basking area so the highest UVB concentration is over the basking area along with the heat and bright white light from the basking light. The cool side of the tank should also have little or no UVB to create a gradient (just as with temperature) so your dragon can choose what he wants at a given time. They tend to move about during the day.

 

[TheMailSquirrel]

It's a good sign that he's eating well. If his bugs are well hydrated with fresh veges then he will probably get most of the hydration he needs from them. I also offer extra water via dripping on his nose with a plastic syringe and letting him lick it. Some of them will drink from bowls but they may need to be trained to do it. Flicking at the water and creating movement often helps with this. Since most of their hydration will come from food though, they don't seem to drink on a regular basis. It's more supplemental from what I've seen.

Don't worry too much if he prefers bugs over veges for now. He needs the protein to support quick growth. It's still a good idea to offer salads so it's a familiar food source. At about 12-18 months old as he approaches full size his appetite will slow and he will slowly transition to about 80%ish vegetarian.

As far as shedding goes, they're pretty good at it. I'd just leave him be and let him do his thing. Don't pick at the skin because if you pull skin that isn't ready to detach it can cause harm. You will see a LOT of sheds in the first few months as he grows quite quickly. You'll soon need a bigger tank.

In a 20g tank a T5 might be too powerful. The optimal output from a T5 is at about 12'' below the bulb. If you can provide that kind of overhead space it may cost in terms of climbing areas which are important for young dragons. A T8 ReptiSun 10.0 in a reflective fixture like the zilla slimline might be a better fit in a 20g tank. The optimal output from that is between about 6-8'' from the bulb. Be sure to remove any clear plastic covering from the fixture as that will intercept the UVB. When you move to a larger tank in a few months (I'd go for at least 4'x2'x2') then a T5 tube is definitely advised.

The UVB light should be at least as wide as your dragon and maybe 1/2 the length of your enclosure. It should sit above the basking area so the highest UVB concentration is over the basking area along with the heat and bright white light from the basking light. The cool side of the tank should also have little or no UVB to create a gradient (just as with temperature) so your dragon can choose what he wants at a given time. They tend to move about during the day.

Thank you for the reply, I bought a reptisun t8 but it is 22" so I'll just place it in such a way to fit what you have suggested. I read that i should leave uv off for atleast a week to let his eyes heal, is this correct? Thank you all .

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I moved your thread to Enclosures because of the specificity of questions on lighting which this forum covers.
In your initial post, most of your questions & concerns did cover lighting issues. While there are other topics covered under Enclosures, your post will be just fine here even with other health questions.

Tracie

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

If he has been squinting at all, or you have noticed his eyes may be bothering him, you can leave any UVB sources off for a few days or so to help out for him.
The Reptisun 10 tube bulb will be great for him. Are you mounting it on top of your screen or underneath of it?
Congratulations on your new baby.

Tracie

 

[TheMailSquirrel]

Hello,

If he has been squinting at all, or you have noticed his eyes may be bothering him, you can leave any UVB sources off for a few days or so to help out for him.
The Reptisun 10 tube bulb will be great for him. Are you mounting it on top of your screen or underneath of it?
Congratulations on your new baby.

Tracie

Thank you, . I am mounting it on top of the enclosure. How big should the enclosure be for an adult beary.
Thanks,
Liam.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Liam,

You are welcome. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Most of us recommend at the minimum a 40 gallon tank for an adult but I think a 75 gallon or larger is much better. They do need adequate turnaround size to decrease stress on the tail when turning around.
Mounting it on top of the screen will be just fine for him. I hope he is doing well today.

Tracie

 

[TheMailSquirrel]

Hello Liam,

You are welcome. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Most of us recommend at the minimum a 40 gallon tank for an adult but I think a 75 gallon or larger is much better. They do need adequate turnaround size to decrease stress on the tail when turning around.
Mounting it on top of the screen will be just fine for him. I hope he is doing well today.

Tracie

Thank you very much! And he is getting better ,
Liam.