Something's wrong; Help!

[DrScales]

Hi there, please help. My little guy hasn't been doing much lately so I thought I would try to take him out of his tank for a while and play with him. I opened the tank and put my hand in it and his beard turned all black and puffed up. Or it was already black. Still. Recently, I bought a 13 watt bulb with UVB & UVA. I know someone said screen (the top of the terrarium) filters out UVB, but I went to a few pet stores and they told me otherwise. Does this bulb have to do with this? Should I get a UVB fixture for the inside of his tank and a basking bulb on top??? Please, I need a quick response, I don't know if he's gonna die or what.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, how's he doing now ? How big + old is he, juvenile or adult ? It's true that scree filters out some UVB but the UVB bulb wouldn't cause a sudden black beard. That would be from either natural hormone surge of a breeding age male or angry/stressful reaction to something. Can you give a rundown of his set up and what he eats. etc ? Can you post pics of him and his tank ? To do so you can post them on a site like Photobucket, then copy/paste the img/url here.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[AcceptableGeek]

I'd be weary of pet store advice. Optimal setting is unfiltered UVB. I don't use a screen on my tank. I'm guessing you have the cfl UVB? If you are able if recommend upgrading to the t5 tube. You would be surprised how having proper UVB effects their behavior.

What is your tank temps btw?

 

[DrScales]

Okay, I went to the vet. I found out it's a she after all, but evrything was fine after i took her back home... it was wierd. I use a reptisun 10.0 bulb.