Stressed?!?!

[Turtle5698]

Hello Beardie Parents,
This is my baby moon, I just got him/her last friday. I am new to having beardies, and I was wondering if the dark lines under her head are her colorings or if she looks stressed.

 

[Claudiusx]

Hello there,

Yes that is what is typically referred to as stress marks. Much more common in babies. Sometimes can mean nothing, but it's a good reminder to make sure your husbandry is up to par. It's one of the few ways your dragon has of telling you that something might not be right

I noticed the stick on dial thermometers in the back. Those are extremely inaccurate and have no way of telling you the most important temperature, the basking SURFACE temperature. Temperature is one of the most important parts of a dragons health, so if you don't already, make sure you get a digital thermometer with probe end. This allows you to put the probe on the basking surface to measure the surface where your dragon is actually basking. Luckily, these thermometers are quite cheap, usually as cheap if not sometimes cheaper than the dial thermometers.

Secondly, making sure you have a proper UVB setup is crucial to their health. If you tell us what UVB bulb you have, we can let you know if it's a suitable bulb, and if it is positioned properly.

And lastly, making sure his diet is adequate. Once again though, if you don't have your temperatures right, the best diet in the world will do nothing.

Spending time here asking questions and reading through threads of people who have already asked these questions is a good use of time for a new beardie owner, and helps ensure that you and your new buddy have a long happy life together

-Brandon

 

[Turtle5698]

Hello there,

Yes that is what is typically referred to as stress marks. Much more common in babies. Sometimes can mean nothing, but it's a good reminder to make sure your husbandry is up to par. It's one of the few ways your dragon has of telling you that something might not be right

I noticed the stick on dial thermometers in the back. Those are extremely inaccurate and have no way of telling you the most important temperature, the basking SURFACE temperature. Temperature is one of the most important parts of a dragons health, so if you don't already, make sure you get a digital thermometer with probe end. This allows you to put the probe on the basking surface to measure the surface where your dragon is actually basking. Luckily, these thermometers are quite cheap, usually as cheap if not sometimes cheaper than the dial thermometers.

Secondly, making sure you have a proper UVB setup is crucial to their health. If you tell us what UVB bulb you have, we can let you know if it's a suitable bulb, and if it is positioned properly.

And lastly, making sure his diet is adequate. Once again though, if you don't have your temperatures right, the best diet in the world will do nothing.

Spending time here asking questions and reading through threads of people who have already asked these questions is a good use of time for a new beardie owner, and helps ensure that you and your new buddy have a long happy life together

-Brandon

Thank you so much for the advice. I do have a digital probe, but was told to also have these guages on each side of the tank as well. I have a t8 uvb light. I noticed my baby is also shedding, I saw that they can get stressed from that as well.

-Katie

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you so much for the advice. I do have a digital probe, but was told to also have these guages on each side of the tank as well. I have a t8 uvb light. I noticed my baby is also shedding, I saw that they can get stressed from that as well.

-Katie

Hi Katie yes shed can cause stress lack of appetite and crabbiness -- but more stress lines are from relocation ---- your T 8 needs to be in the tank -- what bulb are you using ? Is it a Reptisun or a Zilla brand? If its a Zilla please get the Reptisun its a way better bulb --- please put the T 8 in the tank or unobstructed directly above the basking decor piece 6-8 inches -- it will need to be changed out in appox 6 months I recommend 5-- w/ good surface basking temps of 105-110 and good UVB and diet he should thrive ---- if you need help w/ anything more about feeding or supplements etc please ask

 

[Turtle5698]

Yes it is reptisun, do you have a good recommendation on how I can mount it inside the tank? I tried using suction cups, but they would just fall.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes it is reptisun, do you have a good recommendation on how I can mount it inside the tank? I tried using suction cups, but they would just fall.

You can try these -- 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties or fishing line --

 

[Turtle5698]

Duh im sorry i feel so dumb. I forgot that the lid is mesh. So the past couple days I noticed moon was not eating much, I provide a salad and multiple crickets first thing in the morning but noticed not much is being eaten. I did notice thay her poop looks normal. So if the feces is normal, then is her lack of appetite okay? Im sorry I am just so worried something will happen to my new baby.

 

[KarrieRee]

Duh im sorry i feel so dumb. I forgot that the lid is mesh. So the past couple days I noticed moon was not eating much, I provide a salad and multiple crickets first thing in the morning but noticed not much is being eaten. I did notice thay her poop looks normal. So if the feces is normal, then is her lack of appetite okay? Im sorry I am just so worried something will happen to my new baby.

With the T 8 sitting on top of the mesh screen Moon is not getting enough UVB - the screen is blocking 30% of those rays --- hes not going to eat a lot as long as hes eating something thats good its when he quits eating all together there is concern --- as he acclimates to his tank and surroundings he will eat more - let him get used to you and his tank --- please dont leave any crickets in the tank --- they can bite him and cause infection - please order him some BSFL or nutri grubs and I would recommend getting him off the crickets -- they are a dirty feeder and a nuisance-- dubia roaches are a better feeder and easier to keep - you can get these from here www.dubiaroaches.com please make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes -- go by the chart on the website -- the nutri grubs go w/ medium for now they are a great staple feeder for babies do not dust them and add them to his salads in front of him - use them to hand feed and hand tame him -- please get a 10 gallon aquarium and get some dubia food and dubia dew for hydration you can also feed the roaches squash fruit sweet potato raw and shredded and lots of other stuff - just what ever you feed the roaches your dragon will get --- here is a website for you for nutrition please ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder Nutrition Content
the roaches I would order like 200 at a time -- depending on how many nutri grubs he eats will determine how many roaches he will eat - I supplemented Blaze w/ the nutri grubs and fed the roaches as a main staple - he ate around 25 of the grubs and anywhere between 10-15 roaches in the morning - you will need a bowl like this or similar to to keep the grubs in the bowl
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
if you have more questions please ask

 

[Turtle5698]

With the T 8 sitting on top of the mesh screen Moon is not getting enough UVB - the screen is blocking 30% of those rays --- hes not going to eat a lot as long as hes eating something thats good its when he quits eating all together there is concern --- as he acclimates to his tank and surroundings he will eat more - let him get used to you and his tank --- please dont leave any crickets in the tank --- they can bite him and cause infection - please order him some BSFL or nutri grubs and I would recommend getting him off the crickets -- they are a dirty feeder and a nuisance-- dubia roaches are a better feeder and easier to keep - you can get these from here www.dubiaroaches.com please make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes -- go by the chart on the website -- the nutri grubs go w/ medium for now they are a great staple feeder for babies do not dust them and add them to his salads in front of him - use them to hand feed and hand tame him -- please get a 10 gallon aquarium and get some dubia food and dubia dew for hydration you can also feed the roaches squash fruit sweet potato raw and shredded and lots of other stuff - just what ever you feed the roaches your dragon will get --- here is a website for you for nutrition please ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder Nutrition Content
the roaches I would order like 200 at a time -- depending on how many nutri grubs he eats will determine how many roaches he will eat - I supplemented Blaze w/ the nutri grubs and fed the roaches as a main staple - he ate around 25 of the grubs and anywhere between 10-15 roaches in the morning - you will need a bowl like this or similar to to keep the grubs in the bowl
https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Rept...uGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
if you have more questions please ask

What are the BSFL?

 

[KarrieRee]

What are the BSFL?

Nutri grubs samething

 

[Turtle5698]

Oh, okay. Thank you so much for all your help.