Rook; New dragon, to a first time owner (Questions Inside!)

[BeardedLion]

I've been frequenting these forums as just a reader for awhile, doing my research before I got my dragon, but I've decided to finally participate now. I've had him for a grand total of 24 hours now, so I'm still getting him settled in.

His name is Rook. I got him from a local breeder who has many impressive dragons. He is around 3+ months old and currently a little over 10'' long. He's definitely got some bulk, and by holding him you can tell he's definitely been eating.


His current setup:

- 48 x 16 x 21 V415 Vision Cage
- Day: Zoo Med 5.5'' deep dome heat lamp w/ 100 watt Zoo Med repti basking spot lamp
- Night: Zoo Med 5.5'' deluxe porcelain clamp lamp w/ 60w ceramic heat emitter
- 18'' domed light fixture w/ Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 High Output UVB fluorescent bulb
- Food bowl
- Water bowl (now removed)
- Basking branch
- Basking rock/Hide

Tank temperature stays around 85 degrees, and his basking spot is primarily the rock, because even at that distance it gets to 110 degrees. Potentially going to switch to a 75w bulb, but so far, he doesn't leave that spot very often. Been moving his branch around the cage to where he would use it more, so currently it's in the right corner of the cage, which seems to be a slightly cooler alternative basking spot. As I said above, I took the water bowl out, because even though it's far from the basking lamp, humidity was a little higher than I'd like it (around 50), which I think is due to the structure of the vision cage. He'll just need to get his moisture from his baths



My main issue I'm trying to get used to is feeding. The breeder I received him from feeds them a variety of insects, but he has been eating super worms (which I know is usually something dragons of his size shouldn't eat). Problem is, within the past 24 hours, that's all he's wanted to eat (besides his assortment from greens, veggies, and fruit, which he had a bit of). I got him some crickets and dubia, but he straight up turned his head away, even when I held one up with the tongs. He finally gave in and ate one dubia, but he wasn't interested in anymore after the fact. Earlier in the day, he lead the slaughter against 6 supers, and immediately went to bask afterwards. He did indeed dedicate later that evening, which is a good sign. I ordered some phoenix worms and even some beardie bites, just to give him some options. Might have to resort to some wax worms. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why he wouldn't be interested in these two insects that are considered a major staple in adolescent dragons' diets?

Hope he's just getting settled in. He's such a well mannered little guy.

 

[Taterbug]

What a handsome little dragon! He is a really nice color, I've not seen many like that.

I've had the experience with my guys that they favored supers over anything else once they had a few. When I asked, my vet said she sees it with her dragons too. Since its only been a day I wouldn't keep up with the supers so that he doesn't come to expect them (they aren't as healthy as crickets or roaches), and I wouldn't resort to waxworms - he should get hungry enough/settle in soon and be more interested in the dubia and crickets.

I'm curious of your humidity changed at all after taking out the water dish? He will actually be getting moisture form his food, and from his bath only of he drinks in it.

Is the UVB a tube or a compact? At that distance you will definatly want a T5 tube or an MVB.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

The humidity dropped to about 40 over night, which is pretty good, down from 50. The bulb is a t8 tube, which I read was good if it needed to cover more than 20 inches of distance. I'll definitely give the roaches another try this morning and see if he wants them.

 

[Taterbug]

The humidity dropped to about 40 over night, which is pretty good, down from 50. The bulb is a t8 tube, which I read was good if it needed to cover more than 20 inches of distance. I'll definitely give the roaches another try this morning and see if he wants them.

The T8 tubes with a reflector are good to about 12", after that the UVB emissions are really quite low. It looks like your little one can get about that close on his branch but that's the only place he will be getting much exposure. Zoomed really over sells some of their products - there are independent testing results and discussions on the uv meter owners group on yahoo! If you are interested.

I just noticed in your picture you have the gauge type thermometer on his cave hut - do you have other thermometers too?

Interesting about the humidity - is the ventilation just up under the lights? That makes sense.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

In the cage, no, that's the only thermometer. But I have an IR non contact as well. Good to know about the bulb, I was looking to go 24 inch instead of 18 anyway. Would you recommend coupling a T5 tube with an mvb basking bulb?

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

Oh, and yes, the ventilation is just up near the lights. Would have been nice if it had some size vents, but oh well. At least it holds heat very well.

 

[Taterbug]

If you stager the lights I think you can use both - I am not familiar with how to set that up exactly so it's worth reading around. The MVB would also help give you some UVA. Some MVB are enough for basking other need an extra heat bulb.

Did you check the temps with the IR gun too? The dial guages can be inaccurate is all, so if you are checking hem against a more accurate meter then it should be fine.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

Yeah, that's how I found out the basking spot was warmer than it needed to be.

Just tried giving him some crickets and dubia in his 10 gallon feed tank. Wasn't interested in them at all and rather just press his nose to the glass and paw at it. Back to his basking rock he went. I'll try again tonight. Hopefully his phoenix worms arrive soon.

 

[Taterbug]

Yeah, that's how I found out the basking spot was warmer than it needed to be.

Just tried giving him some crickets and dubia in his 10 gallon feed tank. Wasn't interested in them at all and rather just press his nose to the glass and paw at it. Back to his basking rock he went. I'll try again tonight. Hopefully his phoenix worms arrive soon.

Have you alwyas been feeding him in a separate enclosure? Might be worth trying in his home if you haven't - some get too distracted by being moved or the new tub and won't eat. You can also try leaving the dubia in a dish, he might pick them off on his own time.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

The first ever dubia feeding was in the large enclosure, which resulted in massive dubia wrangling when he left them alone. Decided to use the feeder tank after that. Their immediate instinct is to run and hide somewhere when in the cage, which is usually flattened up against the wall, under the lip where the sliding glass is.

 

[Taterbug]

The first ever dubia feeding was in the large enclosure, which resulted in massive dubia wrangling when he left them alone. Decided to use the feeder tank after that. Their immediate instinct is to run and hide somewhere when in the cage, which is usually flattened up against the wall, under the lip where the sliding glass is.

Yeah, when I can't supervise feeding I like to use little glass bowls at least 1.5-2x as tall as the dubia are long. They have a really hard time climbing out but the dragon shouldn't have trouble. Just a thought.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

That's a good idea. I think he might be shy. I just want to make sure Rook can actually get in the bowl if he wanted them. I mean, he wouldn't starve himself to death right? He's going to give in and feed eventually?

 

[Taterbug]

That's a good idea. I think he might be shy. I just want to make sure Rook can actually get in the bowl if he wanted them. I mean, he wouldn't starve himself to death right? He's going to give in and feed eventually?

It's only been a couple days, right? Sometimes it takes a week or more for them to really settle in. A healthy dragon won't starve itself and they can go for longer than we might think (or approve of) without eating much. Rook looks like a healthy little guy, I wouldn't worry too much yet. If he has salads, then he can always pick at that too.

They are also resourceful when they want/need to be, I'm sure he will be able to get into a dish 1-2" deep. When I first got Pepper it took him a little bit to figure out he had to get the roaches from above from a clear dish, but never had a problem after that.

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

Yeah, I've kept his veggie bowl consistently full of fresh stuff. Kale and carrots mostly. Just picked up a butternut squash to see if he likes it, and I had my roommate pick up some collard greens to see if those are more tasty. He ravaged his salad bowl the morning of the super worms, but he's kinda ignored it the past day. It has only been a couple days, so I'm probably over worrying. I just don't want to brush something off as something small, when it could be a sign of something I could do better.

Gonna go pick up a tiny glass bowl to put inside of his old water dish, that has little stairs on the outside of it. Might as well make use of it!

 

[MakoTrevelyan]

This morning he ate 6 crickets and 3 dubia. Decent sized too. Also had a tiny ball of banana and some kale beforehand. Definitely a start!