Newbie Help

TigerSunset

Member
Beardie name(s)
Harold
I'm a new beardie owner. I had one several years ago, but I feel like I'm brand new to it again.
I got my lil guy/girl about a week ago. He just seems to stay on his basking area at all times, he move around but doesn't really come down off of there that I've noticed.
I have a 12x12x36 tank. 20 gal long I believe.
I have a T5 uvb bulb and a 75W basking bulb during the day, and then a 60W ceramic heat emitter I use at night.
He also doesn't seem interested in eating.
I tried moving him into a box to feed outside of enclosure, he ate 2 crickets and then got mad, wanted back in his house and didn't eat any more.
I can't tell exact temps right now cause dummy me forgot to get temp and humidity gauges. The guy at the pet store didn't ask me if I had them either, so ya know the expert should have reminded me I needed those. They are on the way though, ordered them and should arrive soon.
Could the issue be it's just not warm enough?
Would it be ok to run both the basking bulb and the heat emitter at the same time to get it to temp?
I also have a 100W basking bulb on the way too.
He seems alert, looks at me when I walk in the room, title his head, looks around, but I haven't seen hive move off of that spot, and no poop either.
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Can you post pics of him in his new digs ? They can be stressed from moving to an entirely new place so that can be part of the reason for his behavior. At least he ate a little and is looking alert.
A probe thermometer will be better than the dual gauges that the companies sell, those can be off by quite a bit. Until your 100 watt bulb comes you can put the CHE on a few inches away from the 75 watt bulb to see if he stays under it for more heat or if he moves away. But get the digital thermometer with probe for accurate temperature reading.
 

TigerSunset

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Harold
Can you post pics of him in his new digs ? They can be stressed from moving to an entirely new place so that can be part of the reason for his behavior. At least he ate a little and is looking alert.
A probe thermometer will be better than the dual gauges that the companies sell, those can be off by quite a bit. Until your 100 watt bulb comes you can put the CHE on a few inches away from the 75 watt bulb to see if he stays under it for more heat or if he moves away. But get the digital thermometer with probe for accurate temperature reading.
I also have a temp gun on the way, do I need the one with a probe in addition to the temp gun? If so I will get one ordered ASAP.
I also have a better basking thing on the way as well, right now he's just sitting on top of the leafy vine thing.
I've also read that the substrate I have isn't ideal, so I do plan on getting that stuff out of there as soon as he will let me handle him. I was gonna do that today but he was black bearding, so I left him alone.
Here's a pic of his current setup.
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I'm a new beardie owner. I had one several years ago, but I feel like I'm brand new to it again.
I got my lil guy/girl about a week ago. He just seems to stay on his basking area at all times, he move around but doesn't really come down off of there that I've noticed.
I have a 12x12x36 tank. 20 gal long I believe.
I have a T5 uvb bulb and a 75W basking bulb during the day, and then a 60W ceramic heat emitter I use at night.
He also doesn't seem interested in eating.
I tried moving him into a box to feed outside of enclosure, he ate 2 crickets and then got mad, wanted back in his house and didn't eat any more.
I can't tell exact temps right now cause dummy me forgot to get temp and humidity gauges. The guy at the pet store didn't ask me if I had them either, so ya know the expert should have reminded me I needed those. They are on the way though, ordered them and should arrive soon.
Could the issue be it's just not warm enough?
Would it be ok to run both the basking bulb and the heat emitter at the same time to get it to temp?
I also have a 100W basking bulb on the way too.
He seems alert, looks at me when I walk in the room, title his head, looks around, but I haven't seen hive move off of that spot, and no poop either.
20 gallon long tank I used a 75 watt bulb -- you want temps 105-110 surface basking temps -- I would not do any changing w/ bulbs till you get a accurate reading - if hes sitting in that spot most of the time your temp is somewhat correct -- is he dark? they will do that to absorb heat -- relocation stress for the lack of eating give him time are you offering salads? You dont want night time temps above 75 or below 65-- your UVB should be directly over a piece of basking decor 12 inches NO screen -- you can place it width wise across that tank close to the basking bulb -- I used a clamp on the basking bulb clamped to the end of the tank -- posting a pic of the tank
IMG_20190914_084445.jpg

digital probe thermometers are best
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
He looks a bit thin , try to offer some water with a syringe. Move the dual fixture over so you position the uvb strip closer to the middle. And you don't need a temp. gun, the digital with probe is fine , you have to leave the probe at the spot for 20 minutes to be sure to register the right temp
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I also have a temp gun on the way, do I need the one with a probe in addition to the temp gun? If so I will get one ordered ASAP.
I also have a better basking thing on the way as well, right now he's just sitting on top of the leafy vine thing.
I've also read that the substrate I have isn't ideal, so I do plan on getting that stuff out of there as soon as he will let me handle him. I was gonna do that today but he was black bearding, so I left him alone.
Here's a pic of his current setup.
Ok you have a wide hole screen please get a piece of decor directly under the UVB 8-10 inches
 

TigerSunset

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Harold
20 gallon long tank I used a 75 watt bulb -- you want temps 105-110 surface basking temps -- I would not do any changing w/ bulbs till you get a accurate reading - if hes sitting in that spot most of the time your temp is somewhat correct -- is he dark? they will do that to absorb heat -- relocation stress for the lack of eating give him time are you offering salads? You dont want night time temps above 75 or below 65-- your UVB should be directly over a piece of basking decor 12 inches NO screen -- you can place it width wise across that tank close to the basking bulb -- I used a clamp on the basking bulb clamped to the end of the tank -- posting a pic of the tank
View attachment 94750
digital probe thermometers are best
I see how you have you're uvb, thank you for showing me that, I will get it turned around. As for no screen, I don't want him jumping out, I believe the one I got came with hardware so I could place it directly inside attached to the screen, so I will see how to go about doing that.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I see how you have you're uvb, thank you for showing me that, I will get it turned around. As for no screen, I don't want him jumping out, I believe the one I got came with hardware so I could place it directly inside attached to the screen, so I will see how to go about doing that.
Ok you have a wide hole screen please get a piece of decor directly under the UVB 8-10 inches-- you can leave it on top
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I was going to give him a bath to see if that would encourage drinking, but again he was black bearding so I left him alone. you mentioned a syringe to give water. Where should I get that? And what would be the proper method for doing so?
I would drop water on his nose and see if he will lick -- you can watch his poops for dehydration - urate should be white formed and moist if its crusty looking or dried out hes dehydrated - poop should be dark and formed and moist
 

TigerSunset

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Harold
You can get one at any drugstore, an eyedropper is probably even better. Drugstore or Walmart
Awesome, eye dropper would probably be easiest to do. Walmart down the road, I will go there as soon as husband is home from work. Hopefully a pharmacist can help me get one that isn't part of some medication.
 

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