slight lumps in stomach? assuming it’s just his bugs

[redborzoi]

hi, i have a new 7 week old baby i just recently bought at a expo near me. he hasn’t been eating as much as he should (was also shedding a couple days ago though too) and i’m noticing really slight lumps in his stomach after he eats? i’m hoping this is just his meal- he gets small dubia no longer then the space between his eyes three times a day. usually only eats 3-4 bugs each feeding which i thought was a little unusual.

here are some photos of him, please lmk if you think he looks healthy and okay! hoping the weak appetite is just a combination of new home (got him a week ago) and the shedding.

https://ibb.co/f4TZrKX
https://ibb.co/Bn0GJxR
https://ibb.co/W3FVNvY
https://ibb.co/4WN7QbL
https://ibb.co/M88tvV9
https://ibb.co/jZhvY2d

i’m probably just worrying about nothing since i’m a new owner and have no experience haha !! thank you for taking a look at him if you do!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hes adorable --- hes got some stress marks going - he will go thru relocation stress but he should not stop eating all together --- lets go over the UVB and the basking temps-- what are you using for a UVB? NO coils please -- basking temps need to be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- No stick ons --- NO colored bulbs No heat rocks or mats and No sand -- the basking temps and the UVB are the most important things in the tank -- as far as the lumps in the stomach its possible its the insects -- make sure your offering salads every morning http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing is a good staple feeder - your gonna haft to get some BSFL to lure him to the salad bowl if hes not eating salads - they are a great staple feeder use as many as you want and DO NOT dust them --- add them to the salads in front of him -- you will need a bowl like this to keep the BSFL in and you can also add the dubias to the bowl AFTER he eats some of the salad and BSFL www.symtonbsf.com
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?pf_rd_r=R0HNPKXJ2ZARWAT5MPAH&pf_rd_p=c5b6893a-24f2-4a59-9d4b-aff5065c90ec&pd_rd_r=0173f98f-f39b-4d44-9f76-6ae4d88c419b&pd_rd_w=AuGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
But you need to make sure the basking temps is correct for him to start his digestion

 

[redborzoi]

Hes adorable --- hes got some stress marks going - he will go thru relocation stress but he should not stop eating all together --- lets go over the UVB and the basking temps-- what are you using for a UVB? NO coils please -- basking temps need to be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- No stick ons --- NO colored bulbs No heat rocks or mats and No sand -- the basking temps and the UVB are the most important things in the tank -- as far as the lumps in the stomach its possible its the insects -- make sure your offering salads every morning http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing is a good staple feeder - your gonna haft to get some BSFL to lure him to the salad bowl if hes not eating salads - they are a great staple feeder use as many as you want and DO NOT dust them --- add them to the salads in front of him -- you will need a bowl like this to keep the BSFL in and you can also add the dubias to the bowl AFTER he eats some of the salad and BSFL http://www.symtonbsf.com
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?pf_rd_r=R0HNPKXJ2ZARWAT5MPAH&pf_rd_p=c5b6893a-24f2-4a59-9d4b-aff5065c90ec&pd_rd_r=0173f98f-f39b-4d44-9f76-6ae4d88c419b&pd_rd_w=AuGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
But you need to make sure the basking temps is correct for him to start his digestion

yep i noticed the stress marks- hes darker in the morning then in the middle of the day which was when the photos were taken, that’s usually the lightest he gets. for UVB i made a earlier post and i think you helped me through with that- it’s a T8 mounted on the inside of his tank on the screen lid with a tin foil reflector- basking temps vary - i tested them with a infrared laser temperature gun and they were 104- ive seen them get as high as 122 but the dragon moves away when they get that hot- i’m still trying to perfect the position of the light so it doesn’t get too hot. it’s a 75 watt reptile bulb in a ceramic fixture. right now he’s getting a salad of dandelion/collard greens , butternut squash , and i add a couple pieces of beardie pie repashy in there as well- he’s not eating a lot of his salad but i’ve caught him eating it a few times, mostly the butternut squash.

planning on ordering silk worms and black solider fly larvae to add with his dubia staple- hopefully he will like them, i dust all bugs in calcium every day and vitamins 1 time a week- definitely need a bowl that dubia can’t crawl out of as he has paper towel as his substrate and they hide underneath it- maybe then he will end up eating more

i was concerned about the amount he’s eating- it doesn’t seem adequate for his age- he’s 7 weeks and only eats about 12-20 bugs a day

 

[KarrieRee]

He should be eating more but the relocation stress is probably slowing him down -- and the shedding as well --- I would work on the basking temps- I would look at getting a piece of decor that offers a heat gradient something like this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/habitats-and-decor/habitat-decor/thrive-driftwood-reptile-decor-54734.html?cgid=500116 this piece can be placed in the tank different ways I have two of them and have the stick part laying on the floor w/ the big truck piece under the basking bulb - you can look for something similar --- as far as the fixture I would look at upgrading w/ the reflector --- they make all the difference in the behavior and health of the dragon --- what does the poop like like - it should be dark formed and moist w/ the urate white formed and moist - no dried out chalky looking and no undigested insects - as long as your temps and UVB are correct he will come around and appetite will increase - I am glad hes eating its when they stop all together there is a concern

 

[redborzoi]

He should be eating more --- I would work on the basking temps- I would look at getting a piece of decor that offers a heat gradient something like this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/habitats-and-decor/habitat-decor/thrive-driftwood-reptile-decor-54734.html?cgid=500116 this piece can be placed in the tank different ways I have two of them and have the stick part laying on the floor w/ the big truck piece under the basking bulb - you can look for something similar --- as far as the fixture I would look at upgrading w/ the reflector --- they make all the difference in the behavior and health of the dragon --- what does the poop like like - it should be dark formed and moist w/ the urate white formed and moist - no dried out chalky looking and no undigested insects -

i will look into getting some basking spot like that- so it can regulate it’s temperature better- i have something similar but it’s a bit large so i might change it out for the link you sent.

his poop is dark brown formed + white urate- it is dried out but only because it sits under his lamp for a while which makes it look dried- i give him water drops on his nose daily which he licks off and mist his greens as well

what would you recommend for upgrading the reflector ? or do i need to if i’m going to move him into a big tank soon -

 

[KarrieRee]

I would get a 24" Zoo Med -- Sunblaster--- or a Acradia Pro T 5 --- all have reflectors in them --- its gonna better suit the big tank - you want a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia 12% bulb
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjA0In0=

 

[redborzoi]

I would get a 24" Zoo Med -- Sunblaster--- or a Acradia Pro T 5 --- all have reflectors in them --- its gonna better suit the big tank - you want a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia 12% bulb
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjA0In0=

i will look into that- it will fit in a 4x2x2 tank as well as this 20 gallon?

 

[KarrieRee]

The 20 gallon you will need to place the fixture on top --- w/ that I would recommend getting the Zoo Med fixture -- it will come w/ a 5.0 bulb that you can use on the 20 gallon now --- but it must be unobstructed --- NO screen ---------- place width wise on the tank on one end then take the screen and butt it up to the UVB fixture - place a piece of decor directly under the UVB 6-8 inches --------- when you upgrade to the 4x2x2 it will need to go inside the tank w/ a different distance --- thats when you need to change out the bulb to the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb