Pooping on cave

[Beansdragons]

Hi we have what I was told is an 18 month old bd.

He was rehomed to us from a family that was being deployed. He has a reptile vet appt in a week but he eats well, is active, poops about every other day, and is alert. (He’s súper active and impatient when i start getting his worms lol. I feed his salad first because he won’t eat the salad if I give him worms first).

But a couple things- some is his mealworms look whole I. His stool AND he keeps pooping ON his basking cave spot.

We have had him 3 weeks. His beard is no longer getting black when we are in the room or I’m holding him.




I have realized a couple things about our setup:

40 gal tank (looking for a longer one)
Mealworms daily, fresh salad always, fresh water bowl.

The uvb is on the screen and too small. I will get a better/bigger one.

The heat lamp is also in the screen, I just got a stand/holder.

He is only about 12 inches long.

Any suggestions on the cave pooping?

 

[KarrieRee]

For a 18 month old dragon he is small - please tell us what your using for a UVB- whole mealworms coming out the other end tells me his basking temp is not high enough- what are the basking temps and how are you taking them ? NO stick ons they are inaccurate-- once they find a favorite place to poop then I am not sure how to break them of that -- you need to find another staple feeder for insects- I recommend dubia roaches - they can be ordered on line here www.dubiaroaches.com - the salads need to be fed every morning like your doing but at 18 months old he should be only getting insects 2-3 times per week - meal worms are not a good staple feeder -
Karrie

 

[Beansdragons]

I am headed to the store today to get a dig thermometer. I’m 100% positive we have a bad light set up - it was the inherited one.
I just got (Amazon) the clamp stand and lamp for one side and am will get a new cave and uvb light today.

The cave SMELLS no matter how often I clean it. His poop for the first few days we had him could gag a medical examiner. Now it just stinks like normal poop stinks.

Regarding his age, I don’t know if he is 18 months old. That’s the vet appointment next week. I am the adult that handles the reptiles in the house. I had an iguana for 18 years and he was also a rescue who was not treated or fed well the first year of his life. At any rate we have a vision impaired tangerine leopard gecko in the other room that I have to tong feed so I guess we are the special-needs reptile house LOL. I am going to look through and see if there’s a suggested lamp for me and get that sorted out today.

Also I’ve just discovered he has stress marks on his belly. At least his beard isn’t black now. He’s super laid-back though he doesn’t mind coming out and hanging out with me. He walks on my arm and sit on my back and is curious but in his cage he has black stress marks. I think some of it is the heat isn’t right as you said. I’ll get a dig thermometer today

 

[KarrieRee]

Before you buy anything a 40 gallon tank should have a 24" fixture w/ reflector and a Reptisun 10.0 tube either a T 5 or T 8 -- basking bulbs are trial and error and you need that digital probe thermometer to get it -- NO colored bulbs --- NO COIL UVBS's
Karrie

 

[MrSpectrum]

Before you buy anything a 40 gallon tank should have a 24" fixture w/ reflector and a Reptisun 10.0 tube either a T 5 or T 8

I don't disagree with this, but OP said

40 gal tank (looking for a longer one)

I think I'd size the new UVB for the new enclosure rather than have to replace it again.

Beansdragons, what are you cleaning the cave with? Before replacing it (unless you have other reasons and are going to replace it anyway) I'd try cleaning it with a veterinary cleaner/disinfectant (e.g. F10) or Nature's Miracle Cage Cleaner for Small Animals (which kills odors with enzymes). Then I'd try relocating it elsewhere in the enclosure (or remove it entirely* for a time) to try to modify the behavior. My BD was pretty indiscriminate at first, but eventually settled on one (general) location on the enclosure floor. When I noticed I was cleaning the same spot several days in a row, I began placing paper towel down on that spot (after spot cleaning with above NM). Now he goes on the paper towel over 90% of the time.

*If your dragon uses the hide, you can provide a temporary (i.e. disposable) replacement in a different location until you can get a permanent one or modify the behavior. If he doesn't use the hide (for its intended purpose), a temporary may not be necessary. Mine has several hides, but never uses any of them--he prefers sleeping out in the open.

I agree with switching to dubias (if legal where you are; if not, there are other options). Giant mealies are better than regular mealies, and super worms are better than both/either.
insect feeder nutritional information
I recommend reading a few of the articles in the above link, as info can vary between sites/research.
If the mealies are small, he may be swallowing them whole, which could also explain passing them intact; either way--whole or insufficient basking--he may not be assimilating the nutrients.

Occasionally, stress marks can be(come) permanent. This isn't your fault--it just happens. Time will tell.

What size enclosure are you contemplating? (I'd suggest/recommend at least 48" x 24" x 24" or larger)
There are lots of options, and folks here have experience with many/most of them, so feel free to ask.
Opinions are like heinies; everybody's got one (and sometimes more than one! :shock: ) :laughing6:

 

[Beansdragons]

Hi all sorry about the wait, I was out of town.

I’m still looking for a bigger enclosure and I don’t want to buy a light twice. I’ve removed the mesh screen and the lights now hang over him vs being on the screen.

He is NOT 12 inches long, apparently I am an *****. He’s maybe 18 inches or longer. I can’t measure him exactly he keeps running around in his room lol. He’s pretty curious and still learning to trust us.

I’ll try to post some pictures.

 

[KarrieRee]

You can try FB Marketplace and Craigslist if you want used -- try and find one w/ front doors - and if you do find one make sure you sanitize it real good before use-- you can always check out the DIY board here on the forum or look for new on the Enclosure board under topic the Great Big List of Enclosures --- Zen Habitats are good along w/ Carolina Cages as well along w/ others
Karrie

 

[Beansdragons]

Oh the cleaning solution: it’s an alcohol based cleaning solution. Repti-something. I’m at work now so I don’t have it on hand but usually I wash off the poop with soap and water, then I spray it, let it dry, and rewash it.

I also clean his tank similarly to this if hes poop painted with his tail.

Lol I’ve missed the hero community since my Georgie passed. I remember all of the opinions. I once had an argument about the nutritional value of monkey chow vs regular greens for iguanas. His Iggy was so sick and he wouldn’t listen to ANYONE.

So I appreciate the input and advice.

Side note - we were mildly duped about the family. They aren’t deploying and just didn’t want him anymore. He was rarely handled and his cage had reptile carpet in it that was rarely thoroughly cleaned. So here we clean it after ever poop.

This is a lot more handling than he’s used to. He is pacing the enclosure so I think it’s too small and he needs more to climb/move around on.

 

[Beansdragons]

You can try FB Marketplace and Craigslist if you want used -- try and find one w/ front doors - and if you do find one make sure you sanitize it real good before use-- you can always check out the DIY board here on the forum or look for new on the Enclosure board under topic the Great Big List of Enclosures --- Zen Habitats are good along w/ Carolina Cages as well along w/ others
Karrie

Thanks! I’ve been looking in Craigslist and marketplace as well as out the word out to friends. We will get something in a week or so I’m sure.

Here’s bruce
https://ibb.co/fxNHXV9
https://ibb.co/2Nx0w4D
https://ibb.co/Q9mbQ83
https://ibb.co/ZSVF12K
https://ibb.co/273dfGV
https://ibb.co/9H8ykQx
https://ibb.co/gVxt22L
https://ibb.co/LvqBY3d

 

[KarrieRee]

When you get tired of cleaning the carpet and you get your bigger tank you can swap the carpet out for some slated ceramic tile or NON adhesive shelf liner - both are easy to clean w/ vinegar / water in a spray bottle both are cheap and insects cant get underneath-- the tile would need to be cut w/ a tile cutter so you dont get the jagged edges -- do not glue or grout - you can then pull the tile to clean and you can use some thick paper towels like a shop towel underneath to catch the watery / urate --
Karrie

 

[MrSpectrum]

He is NOT 12 inches long, apparently I am an *****. He’s maybe 18 inches or longer. I can’t measure him exactly he keeps running around in his room lol. He’s pretty curious and still learning to trust us.

Maybe he grew while you were out of town? :lol:

I measure ZaRDoZ every week (he's still a growing boy ). I put a yardstick down (he's longer than a foot), catch him (ignoring the hissing & bearding) hold him in one hand at one end of the yardstick, and gently pull/straighten his tail to get the most accurate length possible. I used to follow him around with a ruler, trying to guesstimate his length without molesting him (not that way, preverts :x ), but that became impractical.

Taming/handling become easier with time. It's taken me several months to get Z to the point that I can pick him up without too much of a fight, but it does get easier, especially if/when there's a reward involved (nice fat juicy super worm ).

The The Great Big List of Adult Enclosures! is currently locked, and very much out of date (Last post Jul 17, 2013). I posted once about unlocking it because I had several additions/updates, but apparently my plea fell on deaf ears (or blind eyes, IDK which...) I think it's a very useful/worthwhile reference thread, but does need periodic (annual?) updating.

Nice looking dragon--very wild-looking! Also looks very healthy to me except for the stress marks on his anterior. IDK if they're temporary or you may have gotten him that way.

 

[DragonPete]

Neat Dragon! Have to agree with MrSpectrum, he def has a 'wild' look about him, quite handsome and different. ? Hate to hear that about his previous owners. ? I don't understand that. They are living beings not old shoes you throw away when tired of them. But that's me. ?
So glad he has you and a new family to care for him.?
Welcome!
-Dee

 

[Beansdragons]

When you get tired of cleaning the carpet and you get your bigger tank you can swap the carpet out for some slated ceramic tile or NON adhesive shelf liner - both are easy to clean w/ vinegar / water in a spray bottle both are cheap and insects cant get underneath-- the tile would need to be cut w/ a tile cutter so you dont get the jagged edges -- do not glue or grout - you can then pull the tile to clean and you can use some thick paper towels like a shop towel underneath to catch the watery / urate --
Karrie

I use thick paper towels, threw out the carpet it’s GROSS

 

[Beansdragons]

Yea I don’t get people. Jerks. That’s how I got the L.gecko too. She just didn’t want her anymore. I had to completely overhaul her enclosure and man was it gross and sorry. Upped her vitamins, got her a cool/moist dirt hide and regular feeds and that tail fattened right up. She’s still as blind as Velma without her glasses but doing better.

Bruce will be a challenge too a bit. He’s is pretty laid back and curious. No hissing or biting. If you support his underside he doesn’t even freak out when you handle him.

I’ll check out the links. Thanks guys!

Lol my husband is feeling out about the dubias- ? think I can get away with calling them
Beetles???

 

[MrSpectrum]

Lol my husband is feeling out about the dubias- ? think I can get away with calling them Beetles???

You can call 'em Granny's Peach Tea if you want to... :laughhard:
As long as you don't start naming them John, Paul, George, & Ringo... :lol:
(But they're still roaches.)

(just) dubias?
blaps? (for the genus Blaptica)
cucarachas?
feeders? (more generic)
bugs? (or bugz)

Or just call 'em what I do... num-numz ('cuz when he eats 'em, he goes, "Num-num-num-num-num") :laughing6:

Yea I don’t get people. Jerks.

There are some people who... well, without getting all Pop Psy, let's just say need to be trendy. The type that run out & buy a Chihuahua after seeing Beverly Hills Chihuahua, or a Dalmation after seeing 101 Dalmatians, getting baby bunnies at Easter, etc. Basically impulse purchases, but with living creatures. I wouldn't call them evil, but unthinking, ill-prepared, immature, irresponsible, and definitely short-term thinkers. They often won't consider things like veterinary expenses, and their pets invariably wind up dead, neglected, or with rescues. Once they've made up their minds getting a _____ would be "cool", its difficult to get them to listen to reason. Thank providence it's not so easy to adopt children.

I wouldn't argue with "jerks", but as long as they're not a danger to themselves or other humans, there isn't much we can do, practically speaking. :study: