I need a basic beardie run down

[livichi7]

Hi! I have raised guinea pigs my whole life, but I just adopted a beardie that needed a home. I’ve been researching a ton, but I still have questions. I’m not sure how old my beardie is, maybe almost one? I use the Exo Terra mercury bulb, because it produces UV too. My gun thermometer and Probe are being shipped to my house. The old owner just gave him vegetables everyday (I know you are not supposed to do this) so that’s another concern. He eats all of his vegetables. He is in a 55 gallon tank. His back legs almost don’t work? It’s like he can’t push up on to them, so it looks like he is swimming when he runs. Also, he likes basking on the ground? Sorry for the long message, but here are my questions:

1. How warm should his tank be at night, and if it gets too cold how do i keep it warm?

2. He HATES baths. He freaks out and tries to climb away from him getting bathed. Any tips on trying to help calm him?

3. For the crickets, how many should I be giving him per day or per week? (if not daily.)

4. Does anyone know the cause of his back legs or a way I could help?

5. He has trouble getting on his log to bask, so I guess he prefers the ground. Is this a bad thing? Does he need to be closer?

6. I’m very confused on clipping his nails. His old owner did not do it, so his nails are very long, so I really need some tips on that!



Thank you so much!!!

 

[PatsyB]

Back legs not working could be a few things. You should take him in for a vet check to be sure. MBD could cause the back legs not to work but so can impaction. At night the tank should be between 65-70 degrees. They need the temps to cool down at night to rest their brain and reset. Baths don't really do much except help the shedding process or clean a dragon that ran through it's poop. Some dragons do drink water in their bath, which is helpful, but try to get him to drink water out of a bath and you won't have to stress him with giving him a bath. He should be getting as many appropriate sized crickets he wants in a 10 min period. Make sure to take out all uneaten crickets or they can bite him. A healthy salad every day is a good thing. So feed that along with the crickets. He probably has trouble getting on his basking log because of his back legs. I really think a vet check will help you figure out what is wrong and how to go about fixing it. As far as the nails go, there are pictures on Google on how to cut them but basically you cut just the very tip off and avoid the quick. I clip mine when I do have to give them a bath because they are a little bit calmer then. Some do it at night when they are sleeping.

 

[PatsyB]

Oh, at the bottom of my comments are links to some good general information.

 

[livichi7]

Oh, at the bottom of my comments are links to some good general information.

Thank you so much! So, I feed him crickets everyday for 10 minutes? Or if not how many times a week?

 

[livichi7]

Thank you so much! So, I feed him crickets everyday for 10 minutes? Or if not how many times a week?

Also another a question I just checked on him today, and he looks a lot darker and more yellow/orange. Is this a bad thing? I tried taking pictures, but his cage is making him look green

 

[PatsyB]

Feed him every day for 10 minutes. He should have bugs every day. His coloring looks good. They turn dark when they are absorbing the UVB and when they are about to shed they will look darker or lighter depending on the dragon.

 

[LoveLola]

Hi! I have raised guinea pigs my whole life, but I just adopted a beardie that needed a home. I’ve been researching a ton, but I still have questions. I’m not sure how old my beardie is, maybe almost one? I use the Exo Terra mercury bulb, because it produces UV too. My gun thermometer and Probe are being shipped to my house. The old owner just gave him vegetables everyday (I know you are not supposed to do this) so that’s another concern. He eats all of his vegetables. He is in a 55 gallon tank. His back legs almost don’t work? It’s like he can’t push up on to them, so it looks like he is swimming when he runs. Also, he likes basking on the ground? Sorry for the long message, but here are my questions:

1. How warm should his tank be at night, and if it gets too cold how do i keep it warm?

2. He HATES baths. He freaks out and tries to climb away from him getting bathed. Any tips on trying to help calm him?

3. For the crickets, how many should I be giving him per day or per week? (if not daily.)

4. Does anyone know the cause of his back legs or a way I could help?

5. He has trouble getting on his log to bask, so I guess he prefers the ground. Is this a bad thing? Does he need to be closer?

6. I’m very confused on clipping his nails. His old owner did not do it, so his nails are very long, so I really need some tips on that!



Thank you so much!!!

Hi. Contrary to what PatsyB said, my understanding from our reptile vet is that baths are crucial because Beardies don't recognise standing water as a drinking source. They get their hydration from their food and in the bath. Beardies actually absorb water through their rear end! My girl was spade recently due to chronic egg laying which resulted in stitches running down her abdomen - we had to rear end dip bath her to keep her hydrated.

 

[Miss Olivia]

A beardies tank can go down to 68 or 69 degrees at night, but no lower. If he hates baths, try a small shallow rubbermaid tub and only put a half inch of water to start; as he adjusts, you can add a little more water over a period of time. Stay with him, keep your hand in the tub so he feels you there. I feed Olivia 15 large or 25 medium crickets & greens every other day. and just greens on the other days. Also the crickets should be lightly sprinkled with Rep-Cal Phosphorus Free Calcium With Vit. D3. This may or may not help his back legs, but my advice would be to see a vet who knows about these things.
Also once every week, I lightly sprinkle her crickets with Reptivite with D3. Just a very light dusting. If he's not eating right now, don't be too alarmed, he needs to adjust just like you. Olivia has her moods and gets very picky with greens. She likes romaine and radicchio. Sometimes she eats spring mix but watch the spinach, I try to pick it out.

 

[Hdrydr31]

They do not absorb any water through their vent this is a false statement. There is a sad but helpful study of a dying dragon placed in a blue dye bath and soaked.....when the dragon passed a very short while later an autopsy was performed and absolutely zero blue dye was absorbed through his vent....

We can post this study if you would like.

The only way a dragon gets fluid is through their mouth. Via nice juicy bugs or their greens and veggies. And if they drink by mouth water in the bath. Both of my dragons will drink while bathing.

Hi. Contrary to what PatsyB said, my understanding from our reptile vet is that baths are crucial because Beardies don't recognise standing water as a drinking source. They get their hydration from their food and in the bath. Beardies actually absorb water through their rear end! My girl was spade recently due to chronic egg laying which resulted in stitches running down her abdomen - we had to rear end dip bath her to keep her hydrated.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[PatsyB]

They do not absorb any water through their vent this is a false statement. There is a sad but helpful study of a dying dragon placed in a blue dye bath and soaked.....when the dragon passed a very short while later an autopsy was performed and absolutely zero blue dye was absorbed through his vent....

We can post this study if you would like.

The only way a dragon gets fluid is through their mouth. Via nice juicy bugs or their greens and veggies. And if they drink by mouth water in the bath. Both of my dragons will drink while bathing.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

The dragon in the study was kept in the blue dye for something like 18 hours. It was very heartbreaking to see the pictures but interesting to see the results.