HiMikeN":474a6 said:Hi Vicky,
I am currently using an Exo-Terra Repti Glo 10.0 (coil type, appr. 4 months old) plus a Desert Sun (I think it was the name) 48" 3.0 (About 4 months old as well) and two plain 40-watt bulbs. Up until about two weeks ago, one of these was also another Repti Glo 10.0, but it is now more than 6 months old, so I put a regular bulb in place of it for additional heat, as I felt it may have been lacking. There is also a small Zoo-Med stick-on heating pad on one side of the tank that is always on. I am including a photo of the setup, which hasn't really changed much since Leo was active. The temps are 97 on top of the log, which is Leo's favorite spot, 106.3 on top of the tree, where he never goes anymore, 88.8 at the base of the tree (where it sort of makes a flat rock) where he likes to hide these days, and 82.2 on the cool end, with the ambients around the tank being mostly in the 85-90 range.
Thanks!
Ok well the only MVB you can get from places like petsmart/petco would be the T-Rex Active Heat(very good bulb) or the Powersun(not to bad but not as good) or you can get the Megaray online form reptileuv.com.Now I will say the Megaray is the best hands down but the T-rex is very good also and still better then any flourescent.I am not sure how familiar you are with MVB bulbs but they are not tubes.They look like a flood bulb and emit both heat and UVB at the same time.There is a minimum distance requirement of 12 inches between beardie and bulb however so you need to be sure you are capable of arranging his tank to accomodate this and that is for the 100 watt(the one I suggest you get),the 160 watt has a minimum of 18 inches.When using MVB you do not use D3 however because the light is strong enough that it creates D3 on its own.I am a little concerned that your beardie isnt getting enough calcium however because w/o calcium his bone growh is going to beak weak and imbalanced so you do need to find a way to get him to intake calcium.I have a feeling though that once you get the uvb issue corrected he will start to eat better and in the meantime it may not be a bad idea to start giving him a babyfood slurry with calcium mixed in to supplement his diet.I also recommend switching to repcal calcium instead of the jurassical.The jurassical is kind of uneven and doesnt guarentee stable and consistent calcium dosages.MikeN":2de3b said:Vicky,
Well, he's had a 3.0 UVB linear bulb all along, but I was planning to go get something new today regardless. Where can I get the megaray? There is a Petco and a Petsmart nearby, but I do not think I've seen something like that at either. As for his vitamins, I dust his crickets with Jurassi-Cal calcium (about every other meal now, used to be more when he was younger), Repti-Cal Herptivite multivitamin (a couple times a week) and Exo-Terra electrolyte & vitamin D3 (a couple of drops in his water, which he drinks through a straw, so I know he's getting it). Too bad he's not really eating much, so I imagine he's not getting as much calcium or herptivite as he used to.
Mike
Your welcome.I understand you feeling the need to get something for him and the Trex or the reptisun would be good choices.Just stay away from esu,reptiglo 10.0(any kind) and of course compact/coils.Yes you will have to get a deep dome for the MVB.Also stick with the 100 watt and if need be add an additional regular household white bulb next to it to bumo temps.The MVB at the hardware stores are not safe for beardies.They are meant for plants and can do harm as the uvb isnt correct.As for babyfood I would get 1 chicken and 1 veggie or fruit and mix them together,add a pich of calcium and thin it out a little with some water.Start by seeing if he will lick it off the spoon,if that doesnt work put a little ontop of his snout and see if he licks it off.If all else fails you can use a plastic needless syringe,you will need to slide it into his mouth(some force will be needed)and feed this way.You can sometimes get them to open up by rubbing a qtip on the side of their mouths and its always easiest to insert the syringe from the side anyway.One other thing I forgot to as,where is your heatpad located?They can be dangerpus for beardies especially if they are under the tank because beardies measure theor temps form their parietal eye which is located on top of their head so they can overheat,dehydrate or burn without even knowing it.MikeN":15806 said:Thank you very much lilStewie and Vicky!
I feel I need to get Leo something right now, so I may as well get the Active Heat or at least the Repti-Sun linear tonight. The distance will not be a problem as the tank is rather tall and I was always concerned that Leo was too far from the lights unless sitting on top of the tree. As I understand, I am going to have to buy a dome for it as well. I have a question though - I've seen MVB's at stores like Home Depot and Lowe's before. Are those in any way different and not recommended for BD's? Also - what kind of babyfood should I buy and how do I force-feed him it?
Mike
MikeMikeN":3891c said:Update:
I am a bit concerned, as even though Leo has been under the PowerSun for two days now, he just seems.. sleepy. He just lies there and even shuts his eyes every once in a while. He ate his usual 5 canned crickets last night and a bit of babyfood with calcium, but he hasn't pooped in 4 days now (it's been once in three days lately). He doesn't appear sick or anything, but he squints his eyes too often and is just SLOW. He recently walked up to his dish, and is now sitting next to it with his eyes closed, and hasn't made any attempts to actually eat. Is this something any of you encountered?
On the other hand, his color has definitely improved, with dark pigmentation showing a lot more prominently now.
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