New Dragon and New Owner!

[Johne28]

Hi everyone!

This is my first post and my very first dragon! I wanted to share my setup and some pictures so I could get some feed back on if I need anything else or to hear your opinions! I got him yesterday and hes been running on the back glass all the time. Will he stop doing that? He slept last night once I turned the lights all off and didn't move from the spot till this morning. Is that normal? He ate a couple crickets yesterday and ate a few pieces of Turnip Greens, Butternut Squash and Cucumber. I read this is normal till he gets use to his new home. Should I just leave him doing his thing before I interact with him?

I have about 1000 crickets, I'm starting a Dubia colony and I ordered 300 phoenix worms and 2 things of food bites for him.

This is the basking light I have connected to a dimmer and have the temp at 100- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYDE9JY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

Other light- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00780X1O2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages01

The night lamp to heat it is a Zoo Med Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter 100 watt.

Any feedback or opinions on his setup will be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. He's a cutie pie . First you need a good uvb light. Those compact ones are not very good and have been known to bother their eyes. That might be why he wants out. You need a reptisun 10.0 Tube. You can use the slime line fixture, but there again not a very good bulb. Make sure there is no plastic on it covering the bulb. Also how are you taking the temps? If you are using a round gauage one or stick on those are very inaccurate. A temp gun or a digital with a wire probe are the most accurate. You need to know the temp on the basking spot. How big is his enclosure? He really should be in a bigger one and it's hard to get the correct temps in a small tank.

 

[Johne28]

Thanks for the reply! I'll be making a list of what I need! I'll be getting another light and temp gun! What about his basking light?! Should I replace that? He's in a 55 gallon tank right now. I'll be building one for him soon!

 

[destiny1998]

You can use that basking light as long as the basking spot is the corrcet temperature. 105 or so no hotter then 110. I use a halogen flood bulb for mine Par38 with 1070 lumens and its a 60w.

 

[Johne28]

So he ate 11 crickets yesterday from my fingers but still seems scared of me and says hiding a lot. He basked for a little yesterday then went back to running into the glass. So my questions are-

Should I cover the glass so he can't see himself in the back?

Will he starting eating more soon?

Is it a concern he sleeps a lot?

I'm trying and getting everything I think this little guy needs!

 

[destiny1998]

I would turn off his uvb light since that is probably why he won't bask and get him the reptisun 10.0 tube asap. Also it sounds like he is still adjusting to his new surroundings. I have had to put paper on the sides of the tank as mine like to attack himself if he sees his own reflection.

 

[Johne28]

Are you talking about turning off the 18 inch light I put a link to? That's the one I should remove? I took that off when you told me too! I now have the Reptisun 10.0 on the tank! I put him on the basking spot and he's been active for a couple hours now. He ate only 1 cricket and 1 dubia and some butternut squash tonight. I only got him Saturday so is he still getting use to it all?

Thanks for your replies Destiny!

 

[anastasia6988]

Welcome to you both! He is a cutie!

I agree with the above mentioned about him still acclimating to his surroundings and this could cause the "stress" behavior. Just try not to over handle the first week or so as he adjusts to his new home. I still handled my little guy the first week I got him, only once a day for a few mins, and he was fine. Still ate like a champ and basked, ect. So Im sure it varies with each dragon. Use your judgement.

I thought at first he was scared of his reflection too, but with time he either got use to it or just got comfortable in his home and he doesn't get bothered by reflections anymore. I did end up putting a scenic background on the tank just this past weekend, but only for cosmetics. So I say this is your preference. I think he will adjust with time.

Also I have heard over and over again only use the reptisun 10.0.tube for uvb so I would also recommend this. And of course good temp gun to ensure proper temps.

Congratulations on your new beardie and welcome to the board!

 

[anastasia6988]

Just saw you already got the reptisun 10.0

 

[Johne28]

Thanks for the reply! I got my temp gun and the basking spot was only at 91! So I bumped it to 101! He's been basking since I've done that ever since!

Not really eating much yet. He is drinking and I do spray him down once a day. He has pooped yesterday and today! Idk what though lol.

He gets skittish when I put my hand in there to clean up or put food in. Like he pushes his body down to the ground or moves away. How long does it take for him to start eating normally? I read 2 weeks?

 

[anastasia6988]

Well its good he's basking and going to the bathroom. Just keep offering him a variety of foods and give it some time. I've heard it can take a week or so for them to acclimate but he will definitely need to eat soon. I'm sure he will with a little more time.