Akabillybob
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 7
Hello, I'm Bill, dragondad to Spazz. She is 8 months old, has been molting and eating like normal for her whole life until the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, she has had a LOT of changes during that period. I moved her from a 20 gallon tank to a custom built ~63 gallon tank. Previously, we fed her greens and crickets with mealworms as treats but we also started adding dubias. She loves them, so we just started a colony which came in yesterday. Also ordered black soldier fly larvae and superworms, but she hasn't eaten them yet as they came in today but she won't eat anything.
When she first went into her tank ~2 weeks ago, she was happy for the space. It has a second level she can go up to bask, and she previously would go up there and spend her time basking. Now, she stays in the cool part either in her cave (built her a cave fit for a queen) or in the far corner away from the basking site. She stays there all day at times. She pooped yesterday after taking a warm bath, so I'm sure she isn't impacted.
Facts:
Basking spot is 75W Halogen about 8 inches from rocks, put in 5 days ago. The hottest spot is just under 120F (a very small area, less than a dime) and it cools quickly from there, about 105F an inch away from hottest spot. Previously had a 100W Flukers basking bulb but those are crap and die all the time (plus inefficient). I just put the 100W bulb back in to get temperatures, and after 20 minutes it is ~96F in the hottest spot. Not hot enough for a juvie from what I've read. The cold corner is 79F, and her cave is probably in the mid 70s (can't get thermal gun into it). The basking "upper level" averages 90F on the back wall. I have 2 constant digital thermometers in place, one on back wall by basking spot and one in bottom corner in cool spot. I use a thermal gun to get spot temperatures as needed.
Her UVB light was previously 5% (thanks petsmart...). I replaced it yesterday with a 10% bulb, but didn't realize the bulb was too small for her enclosure. It may have worked for her 20 gallon tank, but with the new tank I will get her the T5 24" lamp with 10% fluorescent bulb I saw recommended here. I am now aware the lights need to overlap as well, so I'll make sure the new light is co-located. I plan to center position the light on the rear part so it will cover the majority of her living space (from basking site on left to feeding spot on right).
So I guess my question is this: Would her behavior degrade over a week or two once she went into the larger tank and was not getting sufficient UVB? This seems logical to me but I'm not a herpetologist (is that the word?). Furthermore, once I get the T5 fixture in place how quickly will she turn back around?
Does anyone have any other questions/pointers that could be causing her sudden behavior change? She is too young for brumation from what I understand.
Thanks for your help! There is so much information out there it is overwhelming on which advice to follow.
Bill
First picture is from 1st week of new home. Thermostat has since been updated.
View attachment 20990
Next image is current. Note she is barely visible, just her face is sticking out behind the skull/dragon decoration.
View attachment 20991
When she first went into her tank ~2 weeks ago, she was happy for the space. It has a second level she can go up to bask, and she previously would go up there and spend her time basking. Now, she stays in the cool part either in her cave (built her a cave fit for a queen) or in the far corner away from the basking site. She stays there all day at times. She pooped yesterday after taking a warm bath, so I'm sure she isn't impacted.
Facts:
Basking spot is 75W Halogen about 8 inches from rocks, put in 5 days ago. The hottest spot is just under 120F (a very small area, less than a dime) and it cools quickly from there, about 105F an inch away from hottest spot. Previously had a 100W Flukers basking bulb but those are crap and die all the time (plus inefficient). I just put the 100W bulb back in to get temperatures, and after 20 minutes it is ~96F in the hottest spot. Not hot enough for a juvie from what I've read. The cold corner is 79F, and her cave is probably in the mid 70s (can't get thermal gun into it). The basking "upper level" averages 90F on the back wall. I have 2 constant digital thermometers in place, one on back wall by basking spot and one in bottom corner in cool spot. I use a thermal gun to get spot temperatures as needed.
Her UVB light was previously 5% (thanks petsmart...). I replaced it yesterday with a 10% bulb, but didn't realize the bulb was too small for her enclosure. It may have worked for her 20 gallon tank, but with the new tank I will get her the T5 24" lamp with 10% fluorescent bulb I saw recommended here. I am now aware the lights need to overlap as well, so I'll make sure the new light is co-located. I plan to center position the light on the rear part so it will cover the majority of her living space (from basking site on left to feeding spot on right).
So I guess my question is this: Would her behavior degrade over a week or two once she went into the larger tank and was not getting sufficient UVB? This seems logical to me but I'm not a herpetologist (is that the word?). Furthermore, once I get the T5 fixture in place how quickly will she turn back around?
Does anyone have any other questions/pointers that could be causing her sudden behavior change? She is too young for brumation from what I understand.
Thanks for your help! There is so much information out there it is overwhelming on which advice to follow.
Bill
First picture is from 1st week of new home. Thermostat has since been updated.
View attachment 20990
Next image is current. Note she is barely visible, just her face is sticking out behind the skull/dragon decoration.
View attachment 20991
