mcfly121901
Member
Hello! I'd like to talk about some health concerns I have about my new beardie. I picked him up from a local (trusted) pet store on Saturday the 13th.
Husbandry:
20l fish tank
100w basking bulb
Reptisun 10.0 T5 tube bulb
110* F basking spot
85*-90* ambient temperature
30-15% humidity (not too happy about this)
Ceramic tile for substrate
http://postimg.org/image/9f03ag7zb/
http://postimg.org/image/ityxr3iof/
Now, on to the dragon.
Nothing special, a regular little one. estimated 4-6 weeks old. He hasn't been eating much since I've had him/her. (I named it Cleo for now.) We bought him small crickets for the first 2 days we've had him. He would eat 2-3 over the coarse of an hour, then go and bask. It took a full day for him to eat through all 10 of them, and I only witnessed him eating a few. On Sunday, we stopped by another pet store to buy some meal worms. Now, I know the concern of meal worms with bearded dragons here (large amount of chitin, causes impactions) but I will talk more about why I have to buy them later. He only ate 3 worms today and then went to bask again.
He also has an issue with his eyes. When he basks, he blinks normally, but every about 30 seconds he slowly shuts an eye (only one at a time) and keeps it shut for about three seconds.he then opens it and acts like nothing happens. I've seen this happen with both eyes, but it is mostly in his right eye. I've heard it is because of the Compact UVB bulbs used in pet shops. Their eyes are damaged, and were given no time to heal when switching to the new habitat with a tube bulb. I've turned off the UVB light for today only, and I think i may be seeing some results.
My biggest concern is his poop. He has not passed anything in the 3 days I've had him. I bathed him on Sunday but nothing happened. I may have seen some minuscule droplets of stool in his tank, but it could just be some specks. he has not have had normal stool yet.
He has not- and will not -leave his basking spot unless I take him off. He is a little skittish, so he will try to wiggle a bit. I have to pick him up and put him on the tile when I'm feeding him. when I take my hand out for around 30 seconds, he will hop right back onto the branch. He also hasn't touched his greens at all. only kale is in the bowl at the moment, but he hasn't even looked at it.
Now, on to MY problems. My mother is the cause of most of these issues. First off, the meal worms. Honestly, I hate them, as they aren't healthy for the bearded dragon, but my mom is too squeamish to get Dubia roaches or a healthier option. She is also not willing to pay lots for healthy staple feeders, such as Phoenix Worms. It angers me because I've been doing research for a full year on these lizards, and I've wanted one so bad, and now they are denying my research.
She also denies the fact that they need a SALAD, not just kale in their tank, at all times. she won't get Cleo any vegetables when she goes to the supermarket.
Lastly, and probably the worst, is that my mom refuses to take Cleo to the vet. I've asked her multiple times, but she says I have to search up home remedys because she won't take it to a vet. We have a cat and a dog, and now my lizard. She needs to treat it like another pet, not just a pest!
If you have any questions on my husbandry or anything that can help me and my dragon, please go ahead and reply. I need answers fast, as I am paranoid that he isn't healthy right now. Please help, and thank you!
http://postimg.org/image/u733jbznz/
Husbandry:
20l fish tank
100w basking bulb
Reptisun 10.0 T5 tube bulb
110* F basking spot
85*-90* ambient temperature
30-15% humidity (not too happy about this)
Ceramic tile for substrate
http://postimg.org/image/9f03ag7zb/
http://postimg.org/image/ityxr3iof/
Now, on to the dragon.
Nothing special, a regular little one. estimated 4-6 weeks old. He hasn't been eating much since I've had him/her. (I named it Cleo for now.) We bought him small crickets for the first 2 days we've had him. He would eat 2-3 over the coarse of an hour, then go and bask. It took a full day for him to eat through all 10 of them, and I only witnessed him eating a few. On Sunday, we stopped by another pet store to buy some meal worms. Now, I know the concern of meal worms with bearded dragons here (large amount of chitin, causes impactions) but I will talk more about why I have to buy them later. He only ate 3 worms today and then went to bask again.
He also has an issue with his eyes. When he basks, he blinks normally, but every about 30 seconds he slowly shuts an eye (only one at a time) and keeps it shut for about three seconds.he then opens it and acts like nothing happens. I've seen this happen with both eyes, but it is mostly in his right eye. I've heard it is because of the Compact UVB bulbs used in pet shops. Their eyes are damaged, and were given no time to heal when switching to the new habitat with a tube bulb. I've turned off the UVB light for today only, and I think i may be seeing some results.
My biggest concern is his poop. He has not passed anything in the 3 days I've had him. I bathed him on Sunday but nothing happened. I may have seen some minuscule droplets of stool in his tank, but it could just be some specks. he has not have had normal stool yet.
He has not- and will not -leave his basking spot unless I take him off. He is a little skittish, so he will try to wiggle a bit. I have to pick him up and put him on the tile when I'm feeding him. when I take my hand out for around 30 seconds, he will hop right back onto the branch. He also hasn't touched his greens at all. only kale is in the bowl at the moment, but he hasn't even looked at it.
Now, on to MY problems. My mother is the cause of most of these issues. First off, the meal worms. Honestly, I hate them, as they aren't healthy for the bearded dragon, but my mom is too squeamish to get Dubia roaches or a healthier option. She is also not willing to pay lots for healthy staple feeders, such as Phoenix Worms. It angers me because I've been doing research for a full year on these lizards, and I've wanted one so bad, and now they are denying my research.
She also denies the fact that they need a SALAD, not just kale in their tank, at all times. she won't get Cleo any vegetables when she goes to the supermarket.
Lastly, and probably the worst, is that my mom refuses to take Cleo to the vet. I've asked her multiple times, but she says I have to search up home remedys because she won't take it to a vet. We have a cat and a dog, and now my lizard. She needs to treat it like another pet, not just a pest!
If you have any questions on my husbandry or anything that can help me and my dragon, please go ahead and reply. I need answers fast, as I am paranoid that he isn't healthy right now. Please help, and thank you!
http://postimg.org/image/u733jbznz/
I like the basking log, but it may be best to put it on it's side so it's not quite so close to the light. About his eyes, they do open + close them at random times, it doesn't necessarily mean his eyes are not well. I can't remember which of the 10.0 bulbs are stronger but as long as you have the screen top, the UVB should be acceptable at that distance. As for mealworms, you really have to be very careful....if he gets impacted it can be very dangerous or at least distressing. Will your mom put up with crickets ? If so, order a 1,000 on line from somewhere like Armstrong crickets [ get the 3/8" or 1/4 inch size ] and they will last for a few weeks. There are instructions for keeping them in the feeders forum I believe, or on youtube. You can't raise a beardie on 3-4 mealworms a day. He will not be healthy. He may be impacted already, so get some applesauce, baby food prunes to have on hand and add a few drops of veg. oil or honey if he gets lethargic + doesn't poo. As for greens, ask your mom to buy one of the mixed bags that you would use for your own salad and pick the best dark greens out of there, plus a little kale. Babies don't eat too many greens but it's good to try it at least 2-3X a week if that's all you can get. If it's warm where you live and you have a yard that has dandelion leaves or ground clover you can use that, too. Oh, the reason he might be staying off the tile is that it may be hot since it soaks up the heat. it's fine if he wants to hang on his log. To 
