Hi Everyone
So glad a found this forum today! The search "new bearded dragon HELP" did not disappoint.
I thought I did enough research before buying my new bearded dragon, Shelly, at an expo this past weekend. As it turns out, I have no idea what I'm doing. The booth I opted to buy her from was exclusive to beardies, so I assumed I was getting solid advice. Maybe it was and I'm poorly executing... who knows.
I bought the 20 gallon starter kit, which I was told included everything I needed to get her all set up and comfortable (but that I would need to upgrade her home when she gets a bit bigger). I have the light on the far left side with a piece of wood for her to climb up on and get closer to the lamp if she chooses. Then I have the under-tank heater on the right side, with a hiding spot and a hammock for her as well. She has access to water all day long although I’ve only seen her drink, briefly, one time. There is a piece of felt-like material on the bottom which I have also covered up with a paper towel in an effort to keep her home clean. Except she hasn’t pooped… not even once since Saturday.
On Saturday I tried feeding her and she rejected everything I offered. I chalked it up to new-home stress and let her be. Yesterday (Sunday) I offered her the small roaches in the morning and she ate two before letting the others use her to climb on. I removed them and offered her many different types of fruit and veggies, to which she didn’t even fake interest in. Then I tried the dried food, which she did check out but never ate.
This morning I put some more roaches in there for her, but she only ate one and again watched the others crawl around her home until I took them out. I gave her greens and blueberries, plus a second bowl with the dried (but moistened) food before leaving for work. My husband stopped home for lunch and said it doesn’t look as though she has touched anything. And still no poop.
She will let me hold her, and is very curious about her surroundings. She’s alert and even showed me that she can JUMP (which I didn’t know about until she leapt across the couch). She’s not too fond of my youngest son, but she will let me hold her contently for quite a while so I have to assume that she’s at least comfortable with me? Or maybe she’s cold and using me as a heat source….
The heat lamp on the left runs for 13 hours, but the stick-on thermometer only shows 90-degrees which doesn’t seem right. I ordered digital thermometers (two) on Saturday but I’m wondering if I should go buy some in-store tonight if this is as serious as it seems rather than waiting until Wednesday for delivery?
Sorry for the rather long post, but I do appreciate any/all comments & feedback!
-Abby
So glad a found this forum today! The search "new bearded dragon HELP" did not disappoint.
I thought I did enough research before buying my new bearded dragon, Shelly, at an expo this past weekend. As it turns out, I have no idea what I'm doing. The booth I opted to buy her from was exclusive to beardies, so I assumed I was getting solid advice. Maybe it was and I'm poorly executing... who knows.
I bought the 20 gallon starter kit, which I was told included everything I needed to get her all set up and comfortable (but that I would need to upgrade her home when she gets a bit bigger). I have the light on the far left side with a piece of wood for her to climb up on and get closer to the lamp if she chooses. Then I have the under-tank heater on the right side, with a hiding spot and a hammock for her as well. She has access to water all day long although I’ve only seen her drink, briefly, one time. There is a piece of felt-like material on the bottom which I have also covered up with a paper towel in an effort to keep her home clean. Except she hasn’t pooped… not even once since Saturday.
On Saturday I tried feeding her and she rejected everything I offered. I chalked it up to new-home stress and let her be. Yesterday (Sunday) I offered her the small roaches in the morning and she ate two before letting the others use her to climb on. I removed them and offered her many different types of fruit and veggies, to which she didn’t even fake interest in. Then I tried the dried food, which she did check out but never ate.
This morning I put some more roaches in there for her, but she only ate one and again watched the others crawl around her home until I took them out. I gave her greens and blueberries, plus a second bowl with the dried (but moistened) food before leaving for work. My husband stopped home for lunch and said it doesn’t look as though she has touched anything. And still no poop.
She will let me hold her, and is very curious about her surroundings. She’s alert and even showed me that she can JUMP (which I didn’t know about until she leapt across the couch). She’s not too fond of my youngest son, but she will let me hold her contently for quite a while so I have to assume that she’s at least comfortable with me? Or maybe she’s cold and using me as a heat source….
The heat lamp on the left runs for 13 hours, but the stick-on thermometer only shows 90-degrees which doesn’t seem right. I ordered digital thermometers (two) on Saturday but I’m wondering if I should go buy some in-store tonight if this is as serious as it seems rather than waiting until Wednesday for delivery?
Sorry for the rather long post, but I do appreciate any/all comments & feedback!
-Abby