Questions about temps and sleepy beardie

[carlyandpuff]

I have a beardie named Puff. I got him when he was a baby, and now he's 12 months old. I've been feeling like I want to ask someone questions to make sure I'm doing everything right, and I always read things on this website so I figured I'd post them on here.

Puff's tank is 75 gallons, and it's about 21.5 inches tall. It's kind of hard to get his whole tank to the right temps because the light is so high up on one side. Right now about 3/4 of his tank is around 73 degrees, and he has a hammock that goes up close to the light on the far right side of the tank, where it gets to about 100 or a bit higher. He spends almost all of his time basking on the top of the hammock or sitting lower on it, at about 78 degrees. Do these temps seem okay? I've read that the cool side should be 75-80, warm side should be 90-95, and basking spot should be 95-100. I just don't really have an area in the tank that would be the warm side, since it goes from 78 to 100 in only a few inches.

Recently Puff has been acting more tired and lazy than usual, and I'm not sure what the cause of it is. He won't eat his greens for like 3 days and then he will eat some one day, but he eats dubais whenever I offer them to him. He used to eat a whole salad every day, and now he isn't at all interested. Whenever I hold him during the day, he will sometimes run around or sit and watch tv with me, but more often than not recently he's just snuggled into my blanket and gone to sleep. He also slept in his hide from 4pm yesterday until this morning when I woke him up. Could he maybe be wanting to brumate? It's still summer and he's only 12 months old which is why it seems kinda weird, but I don't know. Thanks for the help!

 

[KarrieRee]

Post a pic of the tank so we can see --- it sounds like its a temp issue / w/ lighting issue but we need to see so we can help better
Karrie

 

[carlyandpuff]

Here's his tank. He has a 100w bulb in that 8.5 inch dome light, and a Reptisun 10.0 UVB

 

[KarrieRee]

Is there a reflecto on the fixture-- if not I recommend you get one and move the UVB directly over him-- at this point he's not getting any UVB-- what bulb is the UVB a T 8 or T 5? Distance plays a role for the bulbs
Karrie

 

[carlyandpuff]

Yes the fixture is reflective, and it's a T8, he spends a lot of time during the day on the lower part of his hammock so I figured that he was getting UVB while he sits under it.

 

[KarrieRee]

It's better if it's over him - it needs to be 6-8 inches from basking decor-- it's possible he is getting ready to brumate-- is he eating and pooping?
Karrie

 

[carlyandpuff]

Okay, I'll move it over towards the heat lamp more. He hasn't been eating his greens, but he eats dubai roaches about every other day. I've been trying to not feed him as much to try to get him to eat his greens, normally he would get dubais every day. He used to eat his whole bowl of greens every day but now he isn't interested in them.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok see if getting the UVB over him sparks the appetite back -- do you know if he's losing weight? What about his poops do they smell so bad they want to make you leave the room? Are his poops runny?
Karrie

 

[Claudiusx]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[carlyandpuff]

He hasn't pooped in like a week, but the last poop was noticeably runny, not smelly though. I wasn't too concerned about it because his poops are sometimes runny but then they will be normal the next time. I also figured that he hasn't been pooping as much because he hasn't been eating as much as he normally does.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok so see if getting the UVB re situated helps w/ the eating and maybe the pooping -
Karrie

 

[carlyandpuff]

Okay, thanks for your help. How long do you think it might take to help? And if nothing changes what should I do?

 

[KarrieRee]

Still leave the UVB in the tank --- its going to benefit him in the long run-- watch his behavior see if he goes and sits under that tube fixture -- it wont take long--- just make sure you follow what I posted w/ distance etc.............. keep us posted and make sure there is NO plastic cover over the bulb as well you want that bulb exposed
Karrie

 

[MNEXUS]

Does he have a way to get up near his lights so he can get at different temp gradients for basking ? what uvb light are you using and how old is it? UVB lights can wear out or be blocked but still shine light. important to replace the uvb light regularly ,once a year?. lighting and nutrition can make all the difference i have found. i recently lost my H.R. on the 11th he would have been 15 on the 25th of august. i get my uvb lights from bob mackie at http://www.reptileuv.com. Worth every penny and not that much more than local honestly .i was so amazed at the difference, i ordered for all my guys . They will help with which light for your enclosure for enclosure size . might double check the dates on your calcuium and vitamins you are dusting with, they can expire. I dont remember when H.R. decided to start brumating i just got used to him burrowng under his vinyl cage liner in auggust and sleeping till feb or so . maybe yours is going to brumate. They will eat less and purge and then try to bed down if that is the case... hope this helps .

 

[KarrieRee]

6 months is too long for brumation- 3 is tops
Karrie