Slightly Concerned

[FluffieLizard]

Hey everyone im pretty concerned about my beardie. I got him around January 20th this year and im reading on different sights, mostly this one, beardie growth charts and my little man seems to be growing very slowly. So hes around 5 months old since i got him, and i projected him to be around 2-3 weeks old when i bought him. He seems very active, healthy to me, and very happy all of the time. I'm just not sure what im doing wrong i have asked so many people and looked at so many websites and i think im doing the right thing but he seems very small. All help will be very appreciated, Thanks Bobby

 

[spurlee01]

I have a ton of questions for you to help determine what's going on. I know it's a lot, but it will help us help you.

How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you bath your dragon? How often?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done?

 

[beardie parents]

Every beardie grows differently. Zoom Zoom has grown more since March than before December. She must have had a little small relocation stress that lasted until mid December (we got her at the end of September). She decided to try to brumate a little in mid December (she was about 6 months old then) until March, then her appetite increased quite a lot. We did feed her and Speedy the new reptaid and that, also, helped her appetite. She is just now (close to one year, I guess) about 15.25 inches. Speedy is about 15 inches and she's more than a year old.

 

[FluffieLizard]

How old is your dragon? I believe he is around 6 months now.
How long have you had your dragon? 5 months exactly today.
How long is your dragon? 12 1/2 inches
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 40 Gallon breeder
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? Have been using millet shells (i think it is what they are called) Just bought carpet today for his bday lol.Do you use UVB lights? Yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? It is a 20 watt coil UVB light
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? R-Zilla 20 watt
How old is your UVB bulb? 5 Months, since the day i got him
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? He can get within 11-13 inches from it but he never goes over there, only after he poops he runs around all hyper lolDo you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Yes, R-Zilla, believe it is 150 watt is what i saw, light still on so its bright. What are the basking temps? In the hot area its steady at about 87-90, basking spot is around 95-98 i think, dont have temp gun, not so sure What is the cool side temp? Not so sure Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? I just go based off of a R-Zilla thermometer sticking to the back side of tank.
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? Where he stays at the most, on his little bridge thing with stairsDo you use a heat rock or heat pad? No
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Mostly small crickets (dusted), mealworms (which i know aren't too good for them but pet stores around me have them and crickets only). Sometimes order wax worms, chopped up pieces of apple rarely, banana rarely, grapes often, collard greens, carrots rarely. Have ordered silk and pheonix worms in the past, he doesn't really like them though. I dust all the live food and sometimes veggies.How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? When i wake up around 11:00 A.M. sad yes i know, and usually 2 -3 hours before i turn the lights off, time depending. Around 6-7 p.m.
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Honestly, i gutload crickets sometimes, i usually buy the crickets from store then feed them to him, worms i always gutload though.Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? The rep Cal vitamins and calcium w/d3 5 times a week calcium, 2 times a week vitamins
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? He used to poop every day, now he poops around once every 2-3 days, maybe hes stressed?Do you bath your dragon? How often? Once a week, sometimes 2-3 times if hes shedding
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? He won't drink water at all so i mist him around 4-5 times a weekDoes your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? NoHave you gotten a vet check and fecal done? No

Thanks i hope this info is helpful, im sure im kind of slacking though.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Okay, there are several things that need changing. First, is the UVB, Any coil is bad.
Here is a tube that is wonderful !
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html
Just make sure your baby can get with in 4-8" of this tube. This also needs changing every 5-6 months.

Here is a Mercury Vapor Bulb, that will do your baby Wonders !
http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100-watt-self-ballasted-flood-uvb-lamp.php
Distance should be 12-15" away from baby. Change out annually.

Now onto the diet. Here is an excellent list to choose healthy foods for your lil darlin:
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

The Green is daily, Black is 1-2 times a week, snack/treats.

The thermometer you have isn't accurate, they can be off by as much as 20*F+/-. What you need is either a therm with a probe ( can be found at Walmarts for around $15.) Or a Temp Gun ( got mine at the local Harbor freight for around $40.

With the probe, set it up so the probe is sitting directly on the spot to be measured, leave for 45 minutes for accurate reading.

The temp gun is just point, click and read. Instant accurate reading !

It is so important to make sure that his basking temps are 100-120*F to ensure proper digestion of foods. His cool end should be in the neighborhood of 85-95*F and the ambient air temps around 90-95. Over night temps should not fall below 65*F. If they do, a Ceramic Heat Emitter is the trick. All heat, not lights to keep baby up at nights.

I would also suggest that you offer a warm bath 90-100*F for 15-20 minutes 3-4 times a week. This will increase hydration, and make pooing and shedding easier for him.

This should help getting your baby to grow and be healthy !
Janie.

 

[FluffieLizard]

Sounds good, thanks alot i will definately look into all those items. Few questions i have though. First, the reptisun tube, i have a screen lid, how will it sit on the screen lid and is there something i should buy for it to not sit on the lid? Second is the megaray, with a 40 gallon breeder is the bulb going to be too clost to the beardies basking spot where it would be too hot? Third, if i get a MVB, would that mean i wont need a reptisun would i? Because MVB has both heat and UVB? THanks for the help

 

[spurlee01]

For the reptisun, I have a hood that I just sit on top of my screen top. I honestly don't know about the MVB in a 40 gallon breeder. I think it's okay, but I'm not positive. If you buy an MVB you do not need the reptisun.
Sara

 

[FluffieLizard]

Ok cool thanks alot that was one of the main things i was curious about. Is my heat lamp ok also? Or is a new one a better idea? That only if i were to get a reptisun instead of a MVB.

 

[spurlee01]

Any bright white basking light is fine as long as it gets you the right temps. Some people just use a household bulb to get the temps they need.
Sara