Hello from Beemo, and human!!

[beyourownspotlight]

Hello!!

I am totally new to owning reptiles, and I currently have an 11 week old bearded dragon named Beemo.

She's a sweet little thing, very alert. A little grubber/fatty when it comes to food time. She loves hoppers, and is starting to love her salad now too, which is nice.

But as a new lizard mama, there's obviously a lot I still have to learn, despite having done my research. I had Beemo at the vet on Tuesday for a wellness check, and got a clean bill of health. Vet said everything looked fantastic in my little girl, that she was well socialised, very alert, and a good length and weight. Clear eyes, ears, nose, mouth. I was a happy mama, that was until today (Thursday). I've noticed the past two days, Beemo hasn't eaten much. She will normally happily eat between 20-30 hoppers a day, yesterday she ate 18 which was fine, just a little bit less than normal, no big deal. Today, she's only eaten 6. And it's near enough 8pm now. I'm thinking she might just be a little stressed out from her trip to the vet, because nothing has changed in her viv (and I explained it to the vet, and she was pleased with Beemo's set up), temps are good in there, she has salad, and water, is getting regular supplements, is pooping regularly still. I really can't think of anything else, but I just wanted to write a quick post to see if anyone can back up my theory, I'd just hate it to be something I can fix/help her with, and not know about it.

She's currently in her basking spot, watching me while I'm sitting on my laptop. I'll usually bring her out for her night time cuddles while I'm on my laptop, but I'm a little afraid to incase something is sore in her tummy, or if something is upsetting her, I don't want to stress her out more. Any insight is more than welcome.

Thanks,
Beemo, and her human.

 

[Canicke]

Welcome - Beemo's a cutie. THe vet trip could have upset her. So many things can. Some times they just don't feel like eating. I've not had a juvie - mine are adults - so cant give you a lot of advice there, but ---- both of my kids are slowing down for the winter (called brumation) Not something you want your baby to go through - too young. But - he may be slowing down a bit. I wouldn't panic after a day or two - watch him and his overall activity and poop level. What kind of temps do you have for her? In the basking area? Do you leave lights on 24/7 ? The more info you can provide, the better we may be able to help you. I don't want to dis your vet - but not all are created equal. and - don't rely AT ALL on a pet stores advice!

There's some info the in the posts below my signature that a couple of the folks on the forum have put together - GOOD STUFF !!
Please - take a look at this.

Keep us posted - we care

 

[beyourownspotlight]

Thanks for answering, like I said, literally anything is appreciated

I've read up about brumation and the fact she's too young for that, and obviously she's never been around another male dragon (I know the females can lay unfertilised eggs too though) and the general fact she's too little for that too. I'm thinking she's just having one of those days.

During the day I have a 60w basking bulb (as well as the UVB lamp on in the other end of the viv) turned on, and the temp reaches between 37-41 degrees. At night I have a night bulb I put on for her, it's a 35w bulb, with a very faint glow so it just emits heat and the 'hot' end of the viv reaches about 25 degrees at night. Give or take a degree.

 

[Canicke]

basking temp seems to be pretty good. I'd like you to consider a ceramic heat emitter bulb for night. ANY light can bother these little guys. the CHE puts out NO light. What about conditions around / outside the viv? Kids running around? Dog? Cat? Loud music? Something else to consider - try putting paper on 3 sides of the viv (leave the front uncovered) to provide more of a feeling of protection (ala cave) Have you tried giving her a bath? some beardies love it. some - not so much. I would try her in a shallow sink with water warm to the touch. not hot. keep her in your hand. she might be a bit scared the first time. she also might poop - be ready for that. don't keep her in for long - just getting her toes wet (so to speak) DONT LEAVE HER ALONE IN THE WATER !!!!!!

 

[beyourownspotlight]

basking temp seems to be pretty good. I'd like you to consider a ceramic heat emitter bulb for night. ANY light can bother these little guys. the CHE puts out NO light. What about conditions around / outside the viv? Kids running around? Dog? Cat? Loud music? Something else to consider - try putting paper on 3 sides of the viv (leave the front uncovered) to provide more of a feeling of protection (ala cave) Have you tried giving her a bath? some beardies love it. some - not so much. I would try her in a shallow sink with water warm to the touch. not hot. keep her in your hand. she might be a bit scared the first time. she also might poop - be ready for that. don't keep her in for long - just getting her toes wet (so to speak) DONT LEAVE HER ALONE IN THE WATER !!!!!!

I can always try the CHE, but she's been fine with the bulb until now, so I'm not sure why the sudden reaction to it, if that's what it is. There are two dogs in the same house, but we keep Beemo up stairs in the office away from the dogs, baby gate in place in the hall so they can't get access to the room/open the door. There are also three chinchillas kept in the same room, but at the other side of the room. Again, Beemo and the chinchillas have been fine about each other, we never let them out at the same time, or let the chinchillas climb on Beemos viv.

Her viv has three sides that are solid wood, only the front doors are glass, and she has two hides in there, and fake plants she can hide under/behind. My partner or I will often be in the office, sitting on our laptops (me on online forums or trying to do some elearning for work, him playing video games) in sight of Beemos viv, to let her see us more often, and get used to our voices. Mind you, she's been home for three weeks so I'm guessing she knows our voices by now haha. There is noise, when we are in the room. But nothing I'd class as 'loud'. I know they are very sensitive to noise, but our music/games never go louder than our own voices when we speak.

Ahh, bath time. Some times she loves it, others ... not so much. Funnily enough, when she was having her shed I thought she'd like her wee bath more, not so much. When she's at the stage in her shed where her back/chest are starting she's a little grump. Which is understandable. She doesn't mind being handled so much during a shed, but she'd rather just lie on mamas chest and sleep, than be petted/interact with us/have a bath (I still make sure she has her baths regularly though, and keep them warm, and shallow, and never leave her alone. I always have my hand in the water with her, usually under her belly when I lower her in so she has the option to explore the water herself, or climb up onto my hand for safety).

 

[PatsyB]

Has she pooped recently? Loose substrate is bad for them because they lick everything. If by chance she ate any of the substrate, she could be impacted and hence not want to eat.

 

[beyourownspotlight]

Has she pooped recently? Loose substrate is bad for them because they lick everything. If by chance she ate any of the substrate, she could be impacted and hence not want to eat.

Yup, she's a poop machine. Still getting one, if not two poops from her a day (normal for her). We usually feed her outside of her viv to limit the risk of her swallowing her substrate.

 

[Hdrydr31]

She's a cutie! It is not uncommon for them (lol) to be picky eaters (seasoned owners know this all too well) They can go thru phases of preference of foods..So changing up the bug protein that you have available to you over there (by the Celsius temps) Although you feed outside the viv just know that they lick everything as that's how they learn where they are by using their Jacobson's organ on the roof of their mouths. and with the texture of their tongue it's possible she will take in some of the substrate, just keep that in mind and keep her nice and hydrated so things pass.
The red or any color at night might be contributing as it disrupts their sleep as they have a 3rd eye or their parietial eye ontop of their head that senses shadow's and light, it also affects their pupil and can keep it from dilating and constricting causing damage. So keep that in mind and I would lean towards getting a CHE.
It is likely because your little one is shedding that her appetite has decreased as that can happen in some.. I would continue with baths as they really do speed up the process and the added bene is both of mine do their business in theirs so I have no clean up in their tanks.

 

[beyourownspotlight]

She's a cutie! It is not uncommon for them (lol) to be picky eaters (seasoned owners know this all too well) They can go thru phases of preference of foods..So changing up the bug protein that you have available to you over there (by the Celsius temps) Although you feed outside the viv just know that they lick everything as that's how they learn where they are by using their Jacobson's organ on the roof of their mouths. and with the texture of their tongue it's possible she will take in some of the substrate, just keep that in mind and keep her nice and hydrated so things pass.
The red or any color at night might be contributing as it disrupts their sleep as they have a 3rd eye or their parietial eye ontop of their head that senses shadow's and light, it also affects their pupil and can keep it from dilating and constricting causing damage. So keep that in mind and I would lean towards getting a CHE.
It is likely because your little one is shedding that her appetite has decreased as that can happen in some.. I would continue with baths as they really do speed up the process and the added bene is both of mine do their business in theirs so I have no clean up in their tanks.

I was doing a total clean out of her viv today, so I've kept the sand mix out, and just put in newspaper for the time being. First chance I get, I'll get a CHE, I want to compare some. I'm going to have a wee look online tonight at a couple. I just bought her a couple of new hides online too, because the ones that I have right now are wooden, and while she loves climbing on them, she's started pooping on them, and I don't think wood is the best to clean/keep clean.
I'm hoping it's just a shed in the works, she's eaten about 10 hoppers today in total. And that was with a lot of coaxing, she did however eat some of her salad when she thought I wasn't looking. I'm just so worried she'll end up stunting herself by not getting any protein/too little calcium in her little bod by going off her food.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I was doing a total clean out of her viv today, so I've kept the sand mix out, and just put in newspaper for the time being. First chance I get, I'll get a CHE, I want to compare some. I'm going to have a wee look online tonight at a couple. I just bought her a couple of new hides online too, because the ones that I have right now are wooden, and while she loves climbing on them, she's started pooping on them, and I don't think wood is the best to clean/keep clean.
I'm hoping it's just a shed in the works, she's eaten about 10 hoppers today in total. And that was with a lot of coaxing, she did however eat some of her salad when she thought I wasn't looking. I'm just so worried she'll end up stunting herself by not getting any protein/too little calcium in her little bod by going off her food.

That's good to hear! Yea if she's pooping on them it does make hard to remain clean..stinker lol Just keep this in mind they will not starve themselves, they will eat what their bodies are needing so as long as you offer bugs and good greens and good supplements and good lighting she will be just fine.

 

[beyourownspotlight]

That's good to hear! Yea if she's pooping on them it does make hard to remain clean..stinker lol Just keep this in mind they will not starve themselves, they will eat what their bodies are needing so as long as you offer bugs and good greens and good supplements and good lighting she will be just fine.

Thankyou, I appreciate the reassurance. I keep having this awful feeling, that it's something I'm not doing/something I'm doing wrong. When I'm sitting wracking my brain over ways to help her. I'm sure it's just first time mama nerves getting to me.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Thankyou, I appreciate the reassurance. I keep having this awful feeling, that it's something I'm not doing/something I'm doing wrong. When I'm sitting wracking my brain over ways to help her. I'm sure it's just first time mama nerves getting to me.

they will get us on our toes often... Both of mine have decided to brumate.. my female is 1 1/2 and has been in her hide for 10 days I had her out yesterday for a bath and she ate some, so tomorrow I'll bathe her again see if she'll poop then back to hide. My male is only 10 months and he stopped eating a few days ago and now today has not come out of hide..
All I can suggest is keep a journal I have a spiral notebook for each. I write down if they come out to bask, if they are in hide awake or asleep, food given, bath or no bath and a weight.
This way I can keep track of how they are doing so I have an idea of when they should need to poop, if they are loosing or gaining alot of weight...Izzy may fully brumate, Simon this will be his first so we'll see.

 

[beyourownspotlight]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who pitched in, Beemo is eating a little better the past two days. She's eating about 18 rather than 8 a day, so I think we're pretty happy with that. And she's been actively hunting when she's hungry, so. So far, so good!