I bought a baby last Thursday, around 12 weeks old.
Thursday he eats immediately on arrival, don't think he even realises he'd relocated.
Friday he ate nothing.
Saturday managed to get some locusts in him.
Sunday another few locusts and a mealworm (I know this shouldn't be a regular thing, he'd refused both locusts and crickets and I wanted to see if he'd eat anything)
Monday a couple locusts and roaches
Now Tuesday and he's had 2 medium roaches
Amongst all these days he's generally had a little bit of leafs - alittle rocket, or some other leaf (from florette crispy salad, not sure what it is). I've also managed to get him to take the odd drop of water, and managed to get several ml of water in one sitting one day.
Now he's went through what you'd expect from a relocation stress perspective. But today he looked like he was laying flat a lot more, almost as if moving his rear was a struggle, but then he'll happily climb and jump so I definitely don't think anything is wrong there.
Long story short - am I being paranoid? I just want to ensure there's not anything wrong that I catch too late. These are some recent pics I took.
They will go thru relocation stress but you did not mention lighting - UVB brand and bulb coil or tube and does the tube have a reflector on it? Basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? NO stick ons they are inaccurate- this is very important
Karrie
They will go thru relocation stress but you did not mention lighting - UVB brand and bulb coil or tube and does the tube have a reflector on it? Basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? NO stick ons they are inaccurate- this is very important
Karrie
The UVB is a tube, Arcadia ProT5 and has a reflector. The basking bulb is also Arcadia, the basking temp is 39-40 celcius. I set using Habistat thermostat, and then have a digital thermometer to tell me/validate the thermostat. Also have another dig thermometer at the cool end which runs around 27-28 celcius.
Ok so good lighting and basking temps--- I would start him on salads-- get some BSFL they are a good staple feeder add as many as you want use them to lure him to the salad bowl-- feed the salads first w/ your bsfl as lures- then add your locust or roaches to the salad -- his eating may be off for awhile but as long as he's eating pooping and basking your good-- make sure he stays hydrated- you can do that by rinsing your greens before serving
Karrie
Ok so good lighting and basking temps--- I would start him on salads-- get some BSFL they are a good staple feeder add as many as you want use them to lure him to the salad bowl-- feed the salads first w/ your bsfl as lures- then add your locust or roaches to the salad -- his eating may be off for awhile but as long as he's eating pooping and basking your good-- make sure he stays hydrated- you can do that by rinsing your greens before serving
Karrie
Thanks, because he's eating so little I have been offering him water via a dripper separately too. He does still seem very, very lethargic - is this something to worry about (we're on day 6 of him being rehomed)? Does he look healthy enough?
In the pic he looks alert - is he not moving around? Can you post another pic of him please- lethargic is not good - where is the ProT5? Is it on top of the tank or inside the tank - please post pics of the tank and lighting
Karrie
In the pic he looks alert - is he not moving around? Can you post another pic of him please- lethargic is not good - where is the ProT5? Is it on top of the tank or inside the tank - please post pics of the tank and lighting
Karrie
This is lighting (it's inside tank - I'm out house at moment, so his viv has more decor now but light positioning is still the same - t5 goes around 75% of length of tank)
He does not look lethargic-- please get a piece of decor another piece place it directly under the UVB approx 12-15 inches -- from the pic it looks more than 15 inches -- I dont see any stress marks on your guy-- Keep offering him food - his eating will eventually pick up but get a piece of decor directly under that UVB - distance is key here - as long as hes eating something basking and pooping and active hes good
Karrie
He does not look lethargic-- please get a piece of decor another piece place it directly under the UVB approx 12-15 inches -- from the pic it looks more than 15 inches -- I dont see any stress marks on your guy-- Keep offering him food - his eating will eventually pick up but get a piece of decor directly under that UVB - distance is key here - as long as hes eating something basking and pooping and active hes good
Karrie
Thanks,I'm home now so this is a view of his current setup. Are you saying he also needs something higher to take him closer to the UVB tube? The Viv is 2ft high for context.
17 inches. Is this sub optimal (fix it soon), or dangerous (stop what I'm doing and find a way to fix it now.. current plan is to put a shoe box in there till I find a branch)
Yeah it's to far-- do it as soon as you can-- PetSmart has great decor for dragons--- I would look for something that offers different heat gradient- different spots for him to sit - but you definitely want something that's gonna get him in the 12-15 inches range
Karrie
Yeah it's to far-- do it as soon as you can-- PetSmart has great decor for dragons--- I would look for something that offers different heat gradient- different spots for him to sit - but you definitely want something that's gonna get him in the 12-15 inches range
Karrie
Sorry, we don't have petsmart (Scotland), can you send me an example and I'll try to find our version? I have ordered him a large log which I hope will allow him to climb where required.
Hi there, Karrie's got you all straightened out with the lighting distance situation. One thing I'd like to add is be sure that the insects are smaller than the width between his eyes, they can suffer from impaction if the insects are too large. Other than that it sounds like your little friend will be fine.