Still not shedding?

[TiffanyLeigh]

So I had a post a few days ago concerning my new baby not eating. Come to find out she is indeed shedding on her head, but it doesn't seem to actually be coming off. Is this normal? It's been about a week now she has had the dark grey skin on the top of her head. She's very irritable and won't eat crix.(she prefers worms and roaches) Also, her head is a bit puffy and looks to be a small bump on one side of the nose. Just wondering if I'm over reacting? Thanks

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. It's not unusual for the shed to take a few weeks to be ready to come off.

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

Ok thanks. This is my first beardie and I'm at my wits end trying to figure out why she won't eat etc. I had to order roaches and Phoenix worms because I can't find silkworms anywhere at the moment. Thanks again.

 

[diamc]

Your beardie is adorable. Yes, looks like getting ready to shed. It is normal for them look a little bit puffy when shedding and the "small bump on one side of the nose" could be that he is getting ready to shed a nose plug which is also completely normal. Baths help a lot with shedding.

He looks a little dark in color. Could you fill us in on the tank temps especially the basking SURFACE temp and bottom of the cool side? Also, what type of thermometer are you using?

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

So I'm using a reptisun uvb 10.0. 75 watt ceramic basking. Temps stay around 100ish. Cool side 80. She won't eat more than a couple worms and maybe 1-2 crix a day. I've had her for 2 weeks and 2 days now. She was actually in the cool side on her vines when I took that pic. I have her in her basking spot I will post below. I also have a pic of the lights I will post as well. I'm thinking she's not gonna make it bc she just won't eat.

 

[diamc]

What type of thermometer are you using, round gauge (dial), digital strip, temperature gun or digital with long wire & probe end? Where exactly are you getting the 100 degree reading?

She still may be going through some relocation stress and that can affect their appetites. Have you been dusting her feeders with calcium 5 days a wk and with vitamins the other 2 days a wk?

You could pick up some chicken or turkey baby food as well as squash or sweet potatoes. Mix a little of one of the meats with the veggie and put drops on her nose for her to lick off. It will help give her a boost & you could add a small pinch of calcium to the mixture.

Good that you're using a Repti-Sun 10.0 fluorescent, is there any way you can mount it in the tank?

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

I'm using a temp gun. I'm not exactly sure how to mount the uvb on the inside. I heard use commando hooks but still unclear how to mount the set up on the inside? I will get some baby food tomorrow. That's my last resort. I have worried myself sick. Unfortunately I didn't know any better as I have never had any kind of reptile EVER so I bought her from Petsmart. I just don't know what else to do

 

[diamc]

That's good that you're using a temp gun. Make sure you hold it 2" from the area you're checking to get the readings.

Yes, you can use command hooks or even chains on both sides of the hood. There are a lot of different ways to attach it. I can post some pics for you tomorrow night.

If you used a bigger dome for the heat light it would heat up a bigger area.

Let me know how the baby food works out. May take a little while for him to get the idea but he should like it. Try not to worry, we are here to help in every step of the way. I have had beardies for 15 yrs and there isn't much I haven't experienced. So, try to relax, ok?

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

Thank you so much for all ur help. And I would greatly appreciate the pics.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Best way to make sure you have silkworms "on tap" is to buy them as eggs along with some powdered form silkworm chow. Wont help you right now with your fussy eater issue, but after a month or so you'll have plenty of silkworms getting to about the right size to use.
If you buy the eggs try to get about 1000. This way some the worms will live long enough (not be used as food) and will become moths, each female moth can lay up 500 eggs , and from then on you'll be self sufficient and will only need to source fresh mulberry leafs or regularly buy chow.

BTW - it's OK to force hand-feed fussy eaters and relatively easy to do (just a wee bit dangerous - risk is accident finger tip nips until the beardie susses out this handfeeding lark - is also a marvellous way to bond with a young beardie too).

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

Thanks for replying. I have been thinking about buying eggs since every reputable website I checked is out of stock on the silks. If I purchase eggs how do I house them? I'm not exactly sure on the set up.

 

[diamc]

I tried finding clear pictures to show different ways to mount the UVB but they were hard to see. I did find these brackets: http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=211 Another option would be to cut a whole in the screen big enough for the UVB rays to go through unblocked but yet not too big to make the hood not secure. Some have used 3M tape, others wire ties. So many options.

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

Ok thank u. I actually bought a bigger basking fixture and 150 watt bulb today and she perked right up after eating some baby food. I didn't have the heat right evidently

 

[diamc]

That's good that you got a bigger dome and a higher wattage basking bulb. When you hold the temp gun 2" from the basking rock, what reading are you getting now? Great to hear that she perked up.

What size is the tank?

 

[TiffanyLeigh]

It reads 101.1