First Time Beardie Owner

[cthompson7]

I currently have a young bearded dragon I got from petsmart. I’ve only had him for about three weeks now. However, a few days ago he started shedding and his behaviour really changed. For background (incase I’m doing something wrong that’s causing this) I have a 40 gallon tank with a uvb light, basking light and ceramic heater. I give home fresh water everyday and I always leave a bowl of pellets out (I don’t think he’s ever eaten them). I’ve tried giving him salad but he hasn’t ever really eaten any of it. I give him crickets everyday but he only eats maybe 5 (how many should I be giving him?). He has starting his first shedding with me a few days ago. Since he started he has barely moved maybe three times a day and hasn’t been eating. It also looks like his eyes are closed and I haven’t seen them open since before he started shedding. This is very different than his normal self but is this normal for shedding? Am I doing something to cause this?

 

[Sadie]

I currently have a young bearded dragon I got from petsmart. I’ve only had him for about three weeks now. However, a few days ago he started shedding and his behaviour really changed. For background (incase I’m doing something wrong that’s causing this) I have a 40 gallon tank with a uvb light, basking light and ceramic heater. I give home fresh water everyday and I always leave a bowl of pellets out (I don’t think he’s ever eaten them). I’ve tried giving him salad but he hasn’t ever really eaten any of it. I give him crickets everyday but he only eats maybe 5 (how many should I be giving him?). He has starting his first shedding with me a few days ago. Since he started he has barely moved maybe three times a day and hasn’t been eating. It also looks like his eyes are closed and I haven’t seen them open since before he started shedding. This is very different than his normal self but is this normal for shedding? Am I doing something to cause this?

Welcome--- are you using a coil uvb? What are the basking temps and how are you taking them? No sticking please! They are inaccurate you need a digital probe thermometer- temps should be 105-110-- these things I am asking about are the MOST IMPORTANT things in the tank- he's not going to eat w/ out the being correct-- please quit feeding the pellets - fresh salads everyday w/ some bsfl on top the movement will get him to the bowl but those basking temps and the uvb need to be correct and properly placed in the tank-- he will go thru relocation stress and eating can be off along w/ the shedding but he needs to be eating more than he is-- the bsfl can be ordered from here www.symtonbsf.com order the size no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise-- DO NOT dust them use as many as you want they are a great staple feeder- a good compliment to your main staple feeder- but we need to get correct uvb and basking temps first

 

[cthompson7]

Welcome--- are you using a coil uvb? What are the basking temps and how are you taking them? No sticking please! They are inaccurate you need a digital probe thermometer- temps should be 105-110-- these things I am asking about are the MOST IMPORTANT things in the tank- he's not going to eat w/ out the being correct-- please quit feeding the pellets - fresh salads everyday w/ some bsfl on top the movement will get him to the bowl but those basking temps and the uvb need to be correct and properly placed in the tank-- he will go thru relocation stress and eating can be off along w/ the shedding but he needs to be eating more than he is-- the bsfl can be ordered from here www.symtonbsf.com order the size no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise-- DO NOT dust them use as many as you want they are a great staple feeder- a good compliment to your main staple feeder- but we need to get correct uvb and basking temps first

Thank you for your reply! I am not sure If the usb I am using is a coil usb. I attached a picture of the bulb. The basking temp for a while was a bit low but after I got a ceramic heater in addition to the basking bulb it sits typically at 102. How can I help him eat. during this? He isn't responsive to anything except the occasional warm bath. The thermometer I'm using is a probe one.

 

[Sadie]

Thank you for your reply! I am not sure If the usb I am using is a coil usb. I attached a picture of the bulb. The basking temp for a while was a bit low but after I got a ceramic heater in addition to the basking bulb it sits typically at 102. How can I help him eat. during this? He isn't responsive to anything except the occasional warm bath. The thermometer I'm using is a probe one.

There is no pic of the uvb - please try again- he's not going to eat or very little w/ out correct lighting-- the ceramic heat emitter is good for nite time heat- only if your tank is falling below 65 -- if you need to get the basking temp up go to a higher wattage but you need the bright white bulb for temp and uva- please post a pic of your tank

 

[Dino4242]

I currently have a young bearded dragon I got from petsmart. I’ve only had him for about three weeks now. However, a few days ago he started shedding and his behaviour really changed. For background (incase I’m doing something wrong that’s causing this) I have a 40 gallon tank with a uvb light, basking light and ceramic heater. I give home fresh water everyday and I always leave a bowl of pellets out (I don’t think he’s ever eaten them). I’ve tried giving him salad but he hasn’t ever really eaten any of it. I give him crickets everyday but he only eats maybe 5 (how many should I be giving him?). He has starting his first shedding with me a few days ago. Since he started he has barely moved maybe three times a day and hasn’t been eating. It also looks like his eyes are closed and I haven’t seen them open since before he started shedding. This is very different than his normal self but is this normal for shedding? Am I doing something to cause this?

Hello, kthompson7 young beardie should eat 20- 30 crickets twice per day. Pellets are horrible for them .They need fresh veggies everyday. How many hrs or light a day is he getting and what method of lights are you using?They do get grouchy during shedding and simetime not eat during the shedding process. But the eyes closed all day is a bad sign of sickness hunny. Can you take him to a Exotic Vet near you? How often is he pooping and what does it look like?

 

[Sadie]

Please go over the basking temps and how your taking them-- temps should be 105-110 for a baby taken w/ a digital probe thermometer NO stick ons they are inaccurate-------------- UVB NO coils please --- NO colored bulbs NO sand NO heat rocks or mats ---- Ceramic heat emitters are fine but you only need them if your temp is below 65 at night -- the basking temps and UVB are the TWO MOST important things in that tank ---- once we get the lighting and temps figured out we can go from there --- he will go thru relocation but he should be eating way more than he is and the closing of the eyes tells me your using a coil bulb or a colored bulb --- he should be active moving around the tank eating and pooping every day --- please NO more pellets they are not nutritional -- babies need protein mostly but you want him eating some salads -- I am going to help you do this but first we need to get those basking temps correct and UVB ----------- He WILL NOT EAT w/ out them being correct --