Questions on a baby beardie

[ndowens]

I currently have a 10gal tank, yes I know I need a bigger one(like a 40) do plan on getting one when we can. I have 2 light units one is from walmart, the other I got at the pet store. I will probably replace the one from walmart soon. I have a basking lamp, it is a Reptisun 75w I believe, the other is a UVB 13W light, don't remember the brand. I am including pictures so you can get the idea of the setup and stuff. I have a humidity gauge, it currently says around 40. The Temp stick closest to the basking spot gets nearly 95F degrees, though I have the piece of wood pretty close to the light if he/she wants to get closer so I am not sure what the actual temp is. I gave him a bath a little ago, though don't think he really drunk any water, and we have been misting him about 2-3 times a day. He will eat crickets fine, though haven't seen him eat any greens yet. The temp on the cooler side is generally around 80ish degrees F. I need some advice, I am trying to do good and hoping he will live, this is my first time at trying to raise one.

Here are the images:

 

[AKnorthstar]

I cant see the images but you need to know what type of uvb you have. Pretty much the only good one on the market in the u.s. right now is the reptisun 10.0 tube. It needs to be within 6-8 inches of the basking spot and mounted inside the tank with no plastic in the way.

You also need a reliable way to measure your temps, whether it be a temp gun or an accurite thermometer from walmart. You need to make sure your basking spot for a baby is about 105-110. It is very hard to keep a temp gradiant in a 10 gallon so I would upgrade tanks as soon as you can.

You also need to make sure you are dusting his buggies with a calcium supplement about 5x a week.

Hope this helps!

Edit: I can see the images now. Ditch those sticky thermometers and get one from walmart with a probe. They are farily cheep. You can get 2, one for cool side, One with probe on basking spot. Or get a temp gun, they work great.

 

[ndowens]

Currently I am using some Reptivite from Zoo Meds, it looks like it is a multi-vitamin. Just looked at the brand of the UVB, it is a Zoo-med. I am currently broke, spent a lot to do all that I have done, including buying the beardie. So I am hoping I can wait on the temp. I(stressing my thought), would think that since it is around 90-95 degrees on that side; and he can get real close to the lights if he wants to get warmer, that it would be fine for now right? Also the humidity gauge says 40ish, is that fine?

I was thinking of taking the bowl out to lower the amount of humidity in the tank, but I also don't want to chance he will get thirsty before spraying him again.

Also how would I put it in the tank since it doesn't have a clip on the end. The lid is a standard wire top.

P.S. The bulb is a 10.0 UVB rated Zoo-Med
Thanks

 

[AKnorthstar]

The accurite thermometers with probes are very cheap at walmart and if it turns out his basking spot isnt hot enough you can just get a regular household bulb for a basking light. I use a 100 watt household bulb with a cheap dimmer switch from home depot. The problem with stick on or dial thermometers is that they can be off by 20 degrees or more which means you could be freezing or cooking them!

So I have my uvb fixture inside the tank on the back wall using velcro from home depot. It is very crucial that there is no screen or plastic inbetween the bulb and your beardie because it cuts the uvb down a lot. Some people use 3m command hooks to put their fixture inside the tank.

The zoo med reptisun 10.0 is the best bulb in the u.s. so stick with that one now and in the future. They need to be replaced every 6 months.

Is your uvb bulb a tube or a coil bulb? If its a coil it has to be replaced with the tube as the coils are unsafe.

I know its a lot of hassle but google mbd on the forum and you can see the consequences of improper lighting =[ Babies are also very sensitive to temperatures and they grow so fast that it is imperative they have the right lighting and get enough calcium.

 

[ndowens]

What if I cut part of the screen out so most of the light won't be filtered through the screen? Also it is a coil UVB tube.

So if the spot is too hot, he won't move to a little cooler area; assuming that it is too hot?

Also how many crickets should I provide for the little guy, around 2-3 times a day. I know sites say whatever they can eat in 5-10 min, but I rather know the average of how many they eat in a time period.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. You need a reptisun10.0 TUBE not coil or compact as they will burm her eyes. Get rid of it asap! Also your beardie can easily eat 50 or more crickets a day. An under the cabinet light fixture can also be found at Walmart. The correct temps and lights are crucial to the health of your beardie.

 

[ndowens]

Ok, so now I know to feed him/her more crickets. I didn't think I should feed him that many; so I have been accidentally "starving" him from his prey, though I make sure to have greens in there. Though found out Kale is bad, in which he has ate some, but through away the kale after seeing that. So I will put some collards in there. When spraying him with water, do I spray him all over or just aim for the mouth area. He doesn't seem to drink when I do that nor bathing.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Misting him does not hydrate him. Also it raises the humidity in his tank and can cause respiratory infection. He needs baths everyday.

 

[Sauzo]

Ditch the water bowl since beardies don't usually drink standing water and quit misting. Soak your beardie every other day or everyday if he/she is a very young baby. Use a pan or something(I use a sterilite tub) and soak them for around 20 mins in lukewarm water.

As for food, they eat a lot as babies. Harley was eating around 30-45 dubias a day as a baby and dubias are double the meat vs chitin of crickets so that means cricketwise, she was eating around 60-90 crickets a day. Some people say dubias are 3:1 meat ratio vs crickets which in that case, you can do the math. Regardless, that gives you an idea of how much a baby can eat.

 

[ndowens]

Also I noticed two black spots right behind his neck, I am including a pic of it, hope you guys can see it. I was reading on the forum that a black spot can be fungus, can you tell me if you think it is.



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I tried finding the temp prob at walmart, went to kmart and 3 other places. So I will end up having to get one online. ATM I used a digital temp you would use on us, the ones with a metal tip. It got to +110, and just said High temp, so It may be hotter than 110.

 

[Sauzo]

Those spots on their shoulders are their shoulderpads. It's normal. As for temperature, just go to Sears or Home Depot or Lowes and get a temperature gun. I got this one from Home Depot awhile ago for like 30 bucks http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Non-Contact-Infrared-Thermometer-IR001/100674438#.UnLiBczn_ZI

 

[ndowens]

Thanks for telling me that, glad it is no fungus. Also I just bought a 60w clear bulb is that ok or do they need the standard white. I couldn't find the standard 60w, so I got the clear bulb. They had a 75w standard but I am thinking the basking bulb I have right now, is too hot. Though I have also read about them opening their mouth when the temp is right, and I do see him doing that sometimes.

I bought a dropper from the infant dept at Dollar General, so hoping I can get him to drink some water. Currently I am out of insects, though I will plan to get some as soon as I can, probably will when I got off of work Saturday. Maybe it will encourage him/her to eat a little more greens than normal. He barely eats the greens.

P.S. The dropper may work, he/she opened its mouth once when I was dropping water near its mouth.

 

[destiny1998]

He needs protein eveyday as babies grow very fast. They need 80% protein 20%veggies. Most babaies dont eat salad every day. You can order bulk feeders on line for cheaper than at a pet store.

 

[ndowens]

K. I think the wife will be going out sometime today, so she can stop and get him some crickets. On the household bulbs I bought that are 60W clear are those fine or do they need to by standard soft-white or white. I got the 60w because I am thinking the 75w basking may be getting too hot, unsure until I can get a probe. The clear doesn't output as much light as the standard 75w, I thought the less light output the better maybe, to not blind him/her.

 

[DixieLonestar20x]

You dont want the softwite you want the clear.

Go get 3m double sided tape at walmart ($6) to attach your uvb. that is what I used on mine. I have a 30" walmart under cabinet fixture with a reptisun 10.0 in it and it is perfect. plus it looks much better being mounted inside rather than sitting on top.

Make sure to temp the actual basking spot not just the air around it. That is what helps them digest. If the basking spot temp is not correct ( aim for 105 if you can hit it though 110 is great to help your babies eating intake) then your beardie may not be digesting properly which can quickly lead to be a BIG problem.