Do I need to worry?

[Laffdragon]

Hello! I got my little boy a beardie (2-3 months old) for his birthday about 2 weeks ago and we are so excited about our new family member! Everything was great initially, he was eating well (crickets and greens), very active, tolerated us holding him... all was good. Then randomly there was a weird cricket shortage where I live so I got him some meal worms- he ate them fine. Finally got some crickets and he ate a few but then wouldn't take them anymore. He would only eat the meal worms. I had read that just meal worms wasn't a good thing so I went to a reptile store and got him some small Dubia roaches. At this time they also recommended a stronger heat lamp because I couldn't get the temp over 95 degrees. He ate maybe three of them over the course of 36 hours and now won't take them or the meal worms. He has also quit taking the collard greens as well. He hasn't eaten anything in about 24 hours. He has pooped everyday since we got him except for today. Temps at his basking spot were 110 today and he just lounged around. He awakens readily when we come near the cage and looks at us. I tried just leaving him alone thinking that we were stressing him out holding him. When should I be worried that I need to take him to a vet or is there anything else I can do?

 

[Sadie]

Hello! I got my little boy a beardie (2-3 months old) for his birthday about 2 weeks ago and we are so excited about our new family member! Everything was great initially, he was eating well (crickets and greens), very active, tolerated us holding him... all was good. Then randomly there was a weird cricket shortage where I live so I got him some meal worms- he ate them fine. Finally got some crickets and he ate a few but then wouldn't take them anymore. He would only eat the meal worms. I had read that just meal worms wasn't a good thing so I went to a reptile store and got him some small Dubia roaches. At this time they also recommended a stronger heat lamp because I couldn't get the temp over 95 degrees. He ate maybe three of them over the course of 36 hours and now won't take them or the meal worms. He has also quit taking the collard greens as well. He hasn't eaten anything in about 24 hours. He has pooped everyday since we got him except for today. Temps at his basking spot were 110 today and he just lounged around. He awakens readily when we come near the cage and looks at us. I tried just leaving him alone thinking that we were stressing him out holding him. When should I be worried that I need to take him to a vet or is there anything else I can do?View attachment 23301

He's going thru relocation stress- so he's eating will be slow and at least he's eating it's when they completely stop eating - please NO more mealworms they are too harsh on their stomachs - the exoskeleton- you mentioned nothing about a UVB- did you buy a "kit"? If you did is the UVB a coil? How are you getting the basking temps? No stick ons! They are are inaccurate--- you need a digital probe thermometer for actual basking temps- for a baby 105-110 -
Keep offering the crickets and salad - I will post some websites tomorrow for some other staple feeders

 

[Laffdragon]

He's going thru relocation stress- so he's eating will be slow and at least he's eating it's when they completely stop eating - please NO more mealworms they are too harsh on their stomachs - the exoskeleton- you mentioned nothing about a UVB- did you buy a "kit"? If you did is the UVB a coil? How are you getting the basking temps? No stick ons! They are are inaccurate--- you need a digital probe thermometer for actual basking temps- for a baby 105-110 -
Keep offering the crickets and salad - I will post some websites tomorrow for some other staple feeders

Hi Sadie- Thanks for getting back to me. I do have a UVB light (coil) that I got from a kit. I'm using an infared thermometer on the dragon and got temps of 104-108 consistently throughout the day. Dial thermometer that I have placed right next to basking spot reading 110-120. I'm going to pick up more crickets today and I'll keep pushing the greens.

 

[Dexter_Dragon]

Hello! I got my little boy a beardie (2-3 months old) for his birthday about 2 weeks ago and we are so excited about our new family member! Everything was great initially, he was eating well (crickets and greens), very active, tolerated us holding him... all was good. Then randomly there was a weird cricket shortage where I live so I got him some meal worms- he ate them fine. Finally got some crickets and he ate a few but then wouldn't take them anymore. He would only eat the meal worms. I had read that just meal worms wasn't a good thing so I went to a reptile store and got him some small Dubia roaches. At this time they also recommended a stronger heat lamp because I couldn't get the temp over 95 degrees. He ate maybe three of them over the course of 36 hours and now won't take them or the meal worms. He has also quit taking the collard greens as well. He hasn't eaten anything in about 24 hours. He has pooped everyday since we got him except for today. Temps at his basking spot were 110 today and he just lounged around. He awakens readily when we come near the cage and looks at us. I tried just leaving him alone thinking that we were stressing him out holding him. When should I be worried that I need to take him to a vet or is there anything else I can do?View attachment 23301

My baby does the same thing occasionally. He'll binge eat and then will go a few days wanting only minimal then back to binge eating. As long as he's pooing regularly and doesn't seem too stressed, I wouldn't be too concerned. Don't let it go for more than a few days though. And try to get some water into him. They usually get most of their water from their insects and veges, but where he's not eating well he may become dehydrated. As Sadie recommended you might want to switch from using the coil though.

 

[Sadie]

Hi Sadie- Thanks for getting back to me. I do have a UVB light (coil) that I got from a kit. I'm using an infared thermometer on the dragon and got temps of 104-108 consistently throughout the day. Dial thermometer that I have placed right next to basking spot reading 110-120. I'm going to pick up more crickets today and I'll keep pushing the greens.

That temp of 110 -120 w/ the dial thermometer is incorrect --- is your dragon basking? I am thinking the basking temp is a lot hotter --- please get a digital probe thermometer Here is what I recommend for a UVB and I would look at getting this replaced ASAP-
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html a 24" hood it comes w/ a 5.0 bulb hang on to it and use as a back up - its equivalent to a T 8 distance placement is different from the bulb I am going to recommend
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-12-uvb-t5-reptile-bulb.html this bulb is just as good as the Reptisun --
When you get this fixture it need certain placement and it has two options but I need to know what the screen is on your tank -- is it a wide holed screen like a dime or a fine screen like a screen door?
You need to get a digital probe thermometer ASAP so when your there getting more crickets get one of those too

 

[Laffdragon]

Yes he is basking. The screen on my tank is fine and it has two sections that slide out. Its not a very good one so I will be replacing it so if there is another one you can recommend or that works best with the light you mentioned I can get that as well. I am heading to get the crickets and new thermometer in about an hour when my kids are on a break from school. Thank you for your help!

 

[Sadie]

Yes he is basking. The screen on my tank is fine and it has two sections that slide out. Its not a very good one so I will be replacing it so if there is another one you can recommend or that works best with the light you mentioned I can get that as well. I am heading to get the crickets and new thermometer in about an hour when my kids are on a break from school. Thank you for your help! View attachment 23308

The screen that you have now works best --- if you got a different one you would need to get another one like that one - if you can take half off over the basking area that would be great that would leave the UVB unobstructed for the T 5 and basking decor piece directly under it w/ a distance of 12-15 inches -- I recommend you get the UVB replaced ASAP- your little one will eventually quit eating w/ the UVB your using now -- not to mention other health issues that go along w/ not having proper lighting

 

[Laffdragon]

New UVB light installed. Crickets purchased but no interest in them or veggies. He drank some water and is hanging in his basking spot. Temps are 105 per new thermometer. Will keep trying to get him to eat/drink and I am now tracking his weight. Thank you for all your help Sadie.

 

[Sadie]

New UVB light installed. Crickets purchased but no interest in them or veggies. He drank some water and is hanging in his basking spot. Temps are 105 per new thermometer. Will keep trying to get him to eat/drink and I am now tracking his weight. Thank you for all your help Sadie.

Ok keep me posted --- give him a day or two but you should see a difference in his behavior