Sick or Brumating

[Ktkiller]

Hi guys! New beardie owner here! I just got my about 8 month old bearded dragon about three weeks ago, he lives in a 40 gallon tank. Basking light @ 105 and cool side at 78. Recently he's stopped eating, might have one cricket and has stopped basking (used to sit under the basking light all day and sleep there), just sits under his tree in the shade and sometimes tries to dig, and then closes his eyes shut most of the time. He also hasn't pooped in a couple days and when I take him out of his tank he just sits on the floor where as he used to make a run for it. I'm nervous he might be sick or is he just brumating. Doesn't black beard or puff up at me. Any help is appreciated I'm worried!

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, that's not brumation but a few things can be causing the behavior. He may be dehydrated so offer water on his snout using a spray bottle or eyedropper. Be patient + let it go slowly....drip, stop, repeat until he drinks [ hopefully ]

What exact type + brand of lights do you have ? Be specific, and include pics. Post pics of the dragon as well, full body shots and also of the tank. Here's how to post pics :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then use the XIMG to upload them

 

[EllenD]

In addition to answering the UVB lighting questions that AHBD has already asked (very important, as inadequate UVB/UVA lighting is one of the main causes of a lack of appetite and lethargy), what type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures inside his tank?

 

[Ktkiller]

Hi thanks for replying to me! I will of course post picture once I am home of everything. But for information my basking light is 50w and it came with the tank (national geographic reptile desert kit) it also came with a uvb light but I switched it to a 100w 10.0 reptisun uvb light instead. I use two thermometers, one on the cold side (which he never goes too) that thermometer came with the tank. The thermometer I use on the basking side is called great choice LCD thermometer strip. I also give him a back 4-5 times a week cause hats the only place he poos. I should mention it's only been two days since he last had a poo, and only started this weird behaviour of not eating and hiding with his eyes close yesterday. I'll post pictures once I get home!

 

[EllenD]

Thanks for answering the questions so quickly...

Okay, so the thermometer that you have located on the Hot Side of his tank that is reading 105 degrees is just a stick-on thermometer strip? If so, then this is your main issue. I want to make sure that you're understanding exactly what I'm saying/asking here, as this can be confusing, especially for new owners. So just to clarify, you have 2 thermometers inside his tank, one on the Cool Side and one on the Hot Side, and both of them are some type of "stick-on" thermometers that are stuck to the glass of the tank, correct? And the one that is stuck to the glass on the Hot Side of the tank is the one that is reading a temperature of 105 degrees, correct?

If so, then this is why he's hiding out of the light, not basking, lethargic, and not eating, as his temperatures inside the tank are way too hot (not on the Cool Side, it's fine).

There are 3 temperature "zones" inside a Bearded Dragon's tank, and these are the 3 temperatures that you need to monitor. They are:

COOL SIDE AMBIENT (air) TEMPERATURE: The air temperature within the Cool Side of the tank, which should be between 75-80 degrees F maximum.

HOT SIDE AMBIENT (air) TEMPERATURE: The air temperature within the Hot Side of the tank, which should be between 88-93 degrees F maximum.

BASKING SPOT TEMPERATURE: The SURFACE temperature of the main basking spot/platform that is located within the Hot Side of the tank, and that is located underneath both the UVB light and the Basking Light....Should be between 105-110 degrees F maximum for a baby/juvenile under a year old, and between 100-105 degrees F for an adult dragon over a year or so old. ********THIS TEMPERATURE IS A SURFACE TEMPERATURE, NOT AN AMBIENT/AIR TEMPERATURE, AND CANNOT BE TAKEN BY ANY TYPE OF STICK-ON THERMOMETER!!!! IT MUST BE TAKEN BY EITHER A DIGITAL THERMOMETER THAT HAS A PROBE THAT YOU CAN SIT DIRECTLY ON THE BASKING SPOT/PLATFORM, OR BY AN INFRARED TEMPERATURE GUN THAT YOU CAN POINT DIRECTLY AT THE SURFACE OF THE BASKING SPOT/PLATFORM...

****So if I'm correct and that "All Living Things" LCD Strip Thermometer does not have a Probe on a wire that you are placing directly on his Basking Spot/Platform to get that Surface Temperature of 105 degrees F, and it's simply a thermometer that is stuck on the glass within the Hot Side of his tank, then that 105 degrees F is not actually his Basking Spot Surface Temperature that should be between 105-110 degrees F, but rather the Hot Side Ambient (air) Temperature that should be only between 88-93 degrees F...

How large is your dragon's tank?

And another question, the Reptisun 10.0 UVB light that you purchased, is it the long, fluorescent tube version of this UVB light (at least 18" long and inside a long tube fixture), or is it either the compact or coil version of this UVB light (like a regular light bulb and screws into a regular light bulb socket)?

 

[nsalabes]

So this is interesting. (Hope you don't mind me piggybacking on your thread.) My beardie is sitting on the cool side of the enclosure and not eating as well. It's been about 3 days. She has her eyes closed most of the time. I have a 60 gallon tank with a warm side measuring 95 and a cool side measuring 70. The thermometer is an analogue. The warm side has a red heat light and the thermometer is about 3/4 up the wall. The cool side thermometer is about 1/4 up the wall. The warm side has a sloped branch up to the light. I got her 2 months ago. She is 3 1/2 years old. She has never had a bath in her life.

 

[Ktkiller]

Hi sorry I don't think my second message posted! I also wasn't clear, the stick on strip reads 85-95 in his basking area and his basking spot reads 105. His tanks is 40 gallon, 36l x 16 w x 18 h. And his uvb light is he compact tube is a normal light fixture! I'll post some pics now!

 

[Ktkiller]

 

[Ktkiller]

Btw he just ate 15 crickets and pooped? So idk if he's good but the whole sleeping and hiding thing scared me

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

He is a little cutie indeed! That's great he did eat for you so hopefully his appetite will
come back full force.
The compact/coil lights really are not designed to emit good enough or strong enough UVB
especially for beardies. They do emit a lower wavelength frequency which can be harmful
& they don't have very high UVA levels either which makes them straining to their eyes.
He is likely wanting away from the light.
As suggested, I would look into getting either a Reptisun 10 tube or an Arcadia D32 12 or 14%
tube bulb for a much better quality of light. Is your basking bulb a bright white light also,
like a halogen?
You will need either a temp gun or a digital probe to more accurately measure the temps for
him. If they are too hot or too cold, it will greatly affect the appetite along with their over
all health & well being, too.
I think he will most definitely improve with enhanced UVB lighting for him. You will most
likely have to order the lights online because most pet stores just don't carry them.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie