new beardie concern please help (pics)

[princesstrish617]

Hi -

I'm a new bearded dragon owner ....as of last night =). She is 1 1/2 years old. about 13 inches nose-tail and very sweet. I have a few concerns though. As with any pet I decide or think about getting I always research and look at forums.

I've read a bit about droopy eye and took a look at my girl and noticed she may actually have this (or im just very worrisome). I don't know what a normal eye should look like though because I've never owned a bearded. I can't find a pic showing droopy/baggy eyes online either so I took some pics and hope someone here can give me some insight.

Another question I have is it normal when a beady goes to a new home to not eat for the first day or so? She hasnt eaten today. I offered her veges this morning (collard, turnip greens, and pasnip) Nothing so about 5 tonight I gave her some crickets.....nothing....then I tryed meal worms, again nothing. Any insight on this will be helpful also.

I have read some of the questions asked on here before a good answer can be given so I'm going to go ahead and answer them now.....I'll answer them based on what the previous owner was doing and what I "plan" on doing.


How old is your dragon? 1 1/2
How long have you had your dragon? 1 day
How long is your dragon? 13 inchs
What is the sex of your dragon? female (i think)
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 40 gallon breeder
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? slate
Do you use UVB lights? Yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? Flouresant tube
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? Was a ESU repti 7.0. I will be using a reptisun 10.0 which I bought this morning

How old is your UVB bulb? previous owner said it was about time for a change. Bought one today. (repti sun 10.0)
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 6 inches (don't know previously)
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Yes not sure the make its 100 watts + I added another 60 watt today as the temp was only reading 86 F. I'm using zoo meds digital with probe. At first I didnt think it was accurate but I took my temp lol and it came up to 97.00 Maybe off my 1 or so

What are the basking temps? right now my thermometer is reading 91 with the new addition of the 60 watts

What is the cool side temp?

Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? wire with probe end

Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? where she basks she doesnt go all the way to the top of the basking area that ive seen yet anyways

Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? no

What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Prev. Owner told me - parsley & other greens, meal worms, super worms, frozen pinky once a month, occasional crickets and bearded dragon pellets. I will not be giving the pinky mouse or any of the worms. I would like to feed her a variety of veggies, papya, mango, and crickets. Unless you guys suggest otherwise
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? not sure
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Yes I am gutloading now useing a piece of carrot and turnip green
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? pr owner said 3 times bone aid a week and 1 time dragon dust.
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? not sure not today thoughb
Do you bath your dragon? How often? I bathed her today but not sure if previous owner did
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? I will a few times a week
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? no
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? no

 

[auntylolo]

Hi there and congratulations on your pretty new girl!
I personally have never heard of droopy eye :dontknow: but her eyes look fine to me
Thanks for posting those questions, it really helps :wink: Everything looks really good in your planned care, but it looks like you may be a little confused about feeding. Staple livefoods for her would be superworms (around 30 a week), crickets (around 50 a week) and then there's hornworms, butterworms, silkworms and roaches (other members can hopefully give you an idea of how many).
A pinkie is fine to give as a treat to an adult beardie (which she is) once a month, but I'm a little concerned because she is so small. Is the 13" from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail? Does she have a full tail? Anyway, she should be well hydrated and have her proetin cut down both before and after having a pinkie because they are so very rich. She can get by just fine without any pinkies, but IMO they are nice treats for the right dragons. hth x

 

[princesstrish617]

Hi there and congratulations on your pretty new girl!
I personally have never heard of droopy eye :dontknow: but her eyes look fine to me
Thanks for posting those questions, it really helps :wink: Everything looks really good in your planned care, but it looks like you may be a little confused about feeding. Staple livefoods for her would be superworms (around 30 a week), crickets (around 50 a week) and then there's hornworms, butterworms, silkworms and roaches (other members can hopefully give you an idea of how many).
A pinkie is fine to give as a treat to an adult beardie (which she is) once a month, but I'm a little concerned because she is so small. Is the 13" from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail? Does she have a full tail? Anyway, she should be well hydrated and have her proetin cut down both before and after having a pinkie because they are so very rich. She can get by just fine without any pinkies, but IMO they are nice treats for the right dragons. hth x

She does seem fairley small I just measured her and she is 13 inches full tail. What could that be a sign of and will she ever catch up if she is a bit small? Is there anything I can do to help with size if this in indeed an issue? Thank you for your help.

 

[auntylolo]

It's hard to say really, since you can only go on what you've been told about her previous care. Usually stunted growth is due to not enough food and/or poor/no uvb. But she looks pretty well built, and even tho the esu uvb isn't the best, it does give some uvb and she doesn't look to have any signs of mvb from her head shot. The only other thing I can think of is has she ever been bred? If she has, then she was too young and that could be why she's small as egg laying uses alot of calcium and nutrients that otherwise would've been used for growing.
There is a chance she will catch up a little with some extra live food, maybe try twice the amounts I suggested in my previous post for a couple of months and see if it makes any difference :dontknow:

Something I just thought of, is there any possibility she is a rankins or lawsons dragon? I don't know much about them, but a few people on here have them so maybe if you post in General with some good shots of her head they could help you out.

 

[princesstrish617]

I don't think she's pooped at all but I am seeing little green pellets in the cage so im not sure if thats poop?

 

[auntylolo]

Doesn't sound like it, can you take a photo?