Rango need help

[knittingnurse2013]

Hi. My bearded Dragon needs help. We have had him since the 6th. He is not eating more than 5 or 6 crickets a day and now his tail is turning white. He doesnt really leave his tree. He had a 100wt basking light. 10 uv bulb. Please help me.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....hopefully with some more info on your set up your little guy will be O.K. The white tail just means he's going to shed....beardies do so in patches rather than their whole body. What exact brand of UVB light do you have ? Is it coil, compact or a long tube ? How are you hydrating him , and what size crickets is he eating ? Although he needs to eat more, he's not in bad shape.

 

[knittingnurse2013]

We have aZoo Med ReptiSun T8 10.0 UVB Lamp. We spray him with a bottle a few times a day. He also had a water bowl.
The crickets are a small size I got at the pet store.
How big should I be cutting up his veggies.
Is there anything I can do to get him to eat more.

 

[AHBD]

I should have asked....what size tank is he in and how are you measuring the temps ? If it's a 40 gal. tank the 100 watt bulb may not be getting the tank warm enough. The basking spot should be about 105, the cool side about 80, and the rest of the tank in between those temp.

Are you offering food 2-3X a day ? That gives him a chance to eat more often. You say the crickets are small ? That's good, the recommended size for baby dragons is no longer than the length between their eyes. You can also try Phoenix worms, most beardies love them. The majority of veggies to feed a dragon will be greens.....these include turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion, cilantro....and these can be torn in to bite sized pieces. Any other veggies, like squash, should be finely grated and carrots are not really good for beardies so you can skip those or just a few tiny but finely grated pieces mixed with the greens. Only a small amount of greens is necessary for a baby beardie. All my dragons ate greens as babies but some beardies aren't given them by the breeders and stores so some babies don't show much interest in them but you can still offer them and hope to get him to eat some.

 

[knittingnurse2013]

We have a 30 gallon tank it is 30x12x18. I did get a 150 watt bulb today. I need to get a more accurate temp reading, but the temp on the wall now says 90 on the hot side and 75 on the other. (They are half way down tank.) The lady at the pet store did give me some meal worms to try but I have read they are not good for him. He has greens available always but he doesn't really leave his tree. I am hoping the hotter light will help. I am very worried about his lack of eating.

 

[SDragon]

I'd not use the mealworms for a lizard that small. Especially if you are not clear on the temps

I would prioritise getting that temperature confirmed, if he is too cold that could effect his appetite. Likewise it's very easy to overheat them. I would get a couple of digital thermometers (one for each end) and a temp gun so you can check the hot spot whilst you are adjusting.

When you say you are spraying him a few times a day how do you mean exactly?

As AHBD says how often are you trying to feed him?

Are there any possible stressing factors?

 

[knittingnurse2013]

I got a hotter light 150 and I think it hurt him. He is now limping around not using his front right leg. I'm.worried the light for his tree too hot.
I will look for a gun tomorrow.
I'm not sure about the stress beside maybe being handled.

 

[knittingnurse2013]

I mist him with a water bottle. And started giving him bath today, could that have hurt his foot, the water wasn't hot.

I feed him twice a day in a separate container.

 

[SDragon]

No reason why a bath would hurt him unless too hot or he was struggling, does it look like a burn / is there any visible external injury?

I wouldn't mist, but drip water onto his snout instead, misting regularly will risk your humidty going to high.

I'd stop handling him for now and no baths providing he is drinking from the dropper.

Can you try a third meal time a day?

It's crucial to try and get the temps measured asap.

 

[knittingnurse2013]

I got a digital acu thermometer today, the hot side was 103, the cool side was 85. He did lick a few drops off his nose but hasn't eaten today.

 

[SDragon]

Is that the hot end or directly on the basking spot? You want the basking spot at 110

How's his foot?

Great thst he drank, is today the first day he refused food completely?

 

[knittingnurse2013]

There is no visible injury that I can see but his feet are now very light now I think they're shedding.
He is still limping and not moving much. He is going to the bathroom but not eating. I did get some baby food organic chicken and sweet potato he did lick a tiny tiny bit.
How often should I drip water in his mouth, how much should I try?

P.s. I really appreciate all your help.

 

[SDragon]

It's really no problem!

I'd give him as much as he will lap up, try a couple of times a day, giving baby food first. If he isn't interested in the second drink, just try once a day in the morning. A little dish under his nose might encourage him to drink up any fallen drops he sees.

Hopefully once he sheds his appetite will pick up.