Stress marks?

[theqtdiva]

I am a first time beardie owner, so maybe this question is not the best. I was reading a site that is talking about how the belly of a beardie should not have any marks on it, and if some appear they are because of stress. When I purchased my beardie, she had a pattern on her stomach, and it has always been there, it does not vary in shade or anything, but it has even remained the same throughout her first shedding of skin. She eats very well, is active, affectionate, I don't think there is anything that she has to be stressed about. Am I worrying about nothing or was the site correct? It seems like there is so much conflicting info on every different site you go to, hoping someone on here has the answer.

Thank you for your help and information!
-Jennifer and Harley (the beardie!)

 

[Elora]

Yes those are stress marks which indicate that your beardie is..well.. stressed! Perhaps you can answer these questions for us so that we can better understand your situation (cited from the sticky at the top of this topic board) Remember that bearded dragons do not use the language that we do! They have different ways of communicating their emotions that when we are new to our beardies we might not yet understand.

How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What is the sex of 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?

 

[theqtdiva]

I will answer all your questions as best as I can.

I purchased the dragon about a month ago at Petsmart. Based off what they told me, I believe she is around 7-8 weeks old, but there is not a good way to tell that I can find. It is a female, she is about 7 inches long from tip to tip. She is in a 10 gallon tank with a reptile carpet with a basking log that has a place for her to hide in if she gets too hot. I have a UVB light, 26W Repti Glo, which is a coil shape, it said on the box it was the kind meant for desert animals with a 10.0 UVB output, and a UVA light 75W Sun Glo, which is over her basking spot. Originally when I bought her I was told that the bulb we have over the basking spot was enough, but after reading all the info on dragons I figured out they were dumb and just recently bought the UVB fixture 3 days ago. But anyway, the basking spot usually runs around 100 degrees, the cool side is around 70. I use a red bulb for night time, when the temperature in the enclosure runs around 70. The humidity in the cage is around 35%. I have a disk thermometer on each side of the cage and a hygrometer in the center. I do not use any sort of bottom heat, I was told the lizard could burn itself because it does not have a way to sense heat on its belly.

The lizard eats crickets, about 10 per day which is broken up into 5 in the morning (which is usually around 6am) and 5 at night (usually around 6pm). I toss the crickets in ReptiCal every other day, and they eat orange cubes when they are waiting to be eaten themselves. She will not drink water out of her dish but I do keep one in there and full at all times, but will drink when she gets a bath, which is also every other day in warm water. Every night she comes out and snuggles with me (yes, she really snuggles in, it's adorable!) for about an hour or two. She eats few veggies, she likes to eat baby food organic squash, turnip greens, and parsley, I give her a little something every day, she usually only eats about three bites of whatever it is. She goes to the bathroom at least once a day, it is formed, not runny. She is by herself in the cage. They tell me at Petsmart that she was checked by a vet and given a thumbs up before she was put up for sale.

I really appreciate your time and the help tht you can give me, and I know Harley does too. Thank you so much!

 

[Elora]

Thanks for answering the questions!!

The reptiglow coil bulb is VERY bad for beardies. Can cuase damage to their eyes over time! I dont understand how a company could make a product that is bad for its consumers but hey, it happends.

You should turn it off and get a reptiSUN 10 UV. These bulbs are long and tube-like. You can get a fixture for it at home depot or Lowes. The bulb is a bit expensive but if you go to home depot to get the fixture it wont be too bad. I got mine for 9 dollars. When you get the fixture it will come with a covering over the bulb that can be taken off. Just leave that off so that the rays can get through. and place it on top of the screen close to your basking bulb. Your tank is a bit small so this may be difficult but it will really help your baby! When your beardie gets older please consider getting a bigger tank. 40g at minimum.

 

[nesta's mommy]

the repti-glo coils are very bad...i believe that may be the one you are using. i recommend taking that out and getting a megaray mvb (but you will need a bigger tank) or you could get a reptisun 10

woops!!! didn't see your post !