PICTURES PLEASE HELP!!!

[jeLcoke]

Well here is what Godzilla looked like this morning and for the last two weeks:

As of around 5pm today when I got home from work, he now looks like this:

I'm hoping someone can tell me how to fix this..or what the hell it is...its killing me not knowing

 

[LJean]

Do you mean the coloring? Looks like maybe he is getting ready to shed.
Otherwise, I can't help.

 

[vickson420]

It would help if you explain a little bit more.I am not really sure what we are looking for other then he seems to be a bit dehydrated thus all the wrinkles in his skin and there appears to be some discoloration.color variation but that could just be shed.In the last pic it looks like possibly retained shed.

 

[jeLcoke]

The last pic shows off the coloration best. He just went from a sandy light colour this morning to the darker blackish colouring he has now. I know for a fact in the 2 weeks I've had him he hasn't shed yet..so hopefully that is what it is.

I usually give him a bath every other day or so...warm water up to his arm pits and he usually chills in it for 3-4 minutes (not actually drinking anything) before he gets a little squirmish and tries to make a break for it.

Does that sound good enough to keep him hydrated?

 

[vickson420]

Ok then I am going with shed as that was my first instinct however he really needs 15-20 minutes in the bath in order for him to really be hydrated well.I am not sure he will get too much from 3-4 monutes at a time although you are doing it often so if he is dehydrated its probably not to bad at this point.Try slowly upping the time of the baths and make sure he gets 20 minutes 1-2 per week.It will also help the shed.Just watch him over the next few days and see how it progresses you will know in a few days if its shed.

 

[jeLcoke]

Thanks for the tips.
Probably a dumb question but I'm still fresh but what are sure fire signs of shedding? I don't really notice any skin falling off or anything.

All I notice right now is a really bad ass attitude..

 

[vickson420]

One down:
Bad Attitude
Also can have
1)lack of appetite
2)skin will appear cloudy/greyish in color initially then will start to lift up and peel off in sections.Beardies dont shed like snakes.They shed in pieces not full body.

 

[jeLcoke]

Nice well I owe you for your help.
I will keep a look out for the skin falling off.

 

[LJean]

Oh, and I just wanted to mention that Oscar gets dark on his body when he is unhappy. Doesn't even have to have a blackbeard, just body color gets a bit darker.

 

[jeLcoke]

Well its been a couple days now and he hasn't eaten a single cricket since...only his salad...and i only notice a little bit of skin around his mouth falling off..just small pieces...

Are we up ***** creek? he also won't let me pick him up now

 

[vickson420]

Can you post some more pics?Dont get me wrong it all still sounds like shed to me but better safe then sorry.Remember symptom 1 and 2? Bad attitude and lack of eating!

I do have a question what type of lighting and UVB are you using and how close can he get to it?

 

[jeLcoke]

I'll try and snap some more pics in a couple minutes..

UVB lighting is a 10.0 compact ...he can get about 10-12" away from it

 

[vickson420]

I'll try and snap some more pics in a couple minutes..

UVB lighting is a 10.0 compact ...he can get about 10-12" away from it

Oh I see ok your not going to be happy with me BUT please ditch that bulb.Coils and compacts are known to cause a myriad of health issues with beardies and IF its not basic shed that would be where I would point the finger at next.

 

[jeLcoke]

Ok so ditch the compact...get a tube? reptiSun 10.0??

ALso, the pet store dude said uvb should really only be on for about 6hours a day? is that true? or should it be on for the full 12-14 hours?

One last question, you have any tricks of the trade for feeding crickets...putting them in his viv? put him into the cricket tank??

 

[vickson420]

Yes tube ReptiSUN 10.0 is great.You should keep the UVB on for 12-14 hours a day.If he had the benefit of real UVB from the sun then it wouldnt be needed but since they dont you do need to continue with 12hours of uvb.

As for feeding I never fed crix inside the enclosure as they are a real pain in the neck to remove the ones e doesnt eat.Generally the best way is to use a seperate feeding tub and if he is lazy about catching them you can put them in the refidgerator for a minute to slow them down first before giving them to him.I will warn you some dont take to the feeding tub and you do have to feed in the enclosure.If thats the case with him then I recommend you dont keep too much in there where the little buggers can hide and I definately recommend no loose substrate whatsoever even play sand.