MountainWulf
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 6
Hello everyone, I just got a new bearded dragon, my first reptile, and I was wondering a few things I can't quite figure out online and was hoping I could get some help with.
I suppose first though I should introduce my beardie, I've named 'him' Iroh. I got him from petsmart (There were no local breeders sadly) and so have no clue the age, gender or really anything about him. Any educated guess on any of that would be appreciated.
Today is the third day I've had him and he still hasn't eaten any veggies. So far I've tried celery, mustard greens and green beans. When he first wakes up, I can get him to eat a couple crickets, but no more than that. I've heard they can be voracious eaters, but also that they won't eat much when you first get them. Except to try and get him to eat, I've left him alone. At what point should I start to worry that he's not eating enough? He does look a tiny bit skinnier than when I got him. Also, any tips to get him to eat now, and how to force him to if it becomes necessary?
Another big concern is the lighting, I have a three foot reptisun T5 HO 10.0 UVB that runs along the whole tank. I also have a UV sensor. It's a little plastic card you hold under the light and it tells you if it is giving off enough light for your dragon. If I hold it under the light, but above the mesh top of the tank, it shows as very strong, but if I hold it anywhere under the mesh top, it shows none at all. Can the mesh top be blocking 100% of the UVB/UVA? I really hope not, as I have no idea what to do to fix that. The tank is the national geographic brand from petsmart.
I have a basking bulb in the right dome for day, and a ceramic heater in the left dome for the nights until it warms up. I've been using a laser temp gun to check the temps; temp under the basking bulb is about 109 and it's about 81 on the left side of the tank and under the log (which he never goes under).
Also, he runs back and forth against the left most wall quite a lot, I don't know if he's scared, or just playing. Is that normal behavior?
Sorry for how long this all is. Just trying to include everything I can think of in one thread. If there is any more info you want, please ask and I'm certainly willing to hear any advice on any changes or additions I can make to the tank overall to make it the very best place for my dragon. I want him/her to live as long, happy and healthy a life as possible.
I suppose first though I should introduce my beardie, I've named 'him' Iroh. I got him from petsmart (There were no local breeders sadly) and so have no clue the age, gender or really anything about him. Any educated guess on any of that would be appreciated.
Today is the third day I've had him and he still hasn't eaten any veggies. So far I've tried celery, mustard greens and green beans. When he first wakes up, I can get him to eat a couple crickets, but no more than that. I've heard they can be voracious eaters, but also that they won't eat much when you first get them. Except to try and get him to eat, I've left him alone. At what point should I start to worry that he's not eating enough? He does look a tiny bit skinnier than when I got him. Also, any tips to get him to eat now, and how to force him to if it becomes necessary?
Another big concern is the lighting, I have a three foot reptisun T5 HO 10.0 UVB that runs along the whole tank. I also have a UV sensor. It's a little plastic card you hold under the light and it tells you if it is giving off enough light for your dragon. If I hold it under the light, but above the mesh top of the tank, it shows as very strong, but if I hold it anywhere under the mesh top, it shows none at all. Can the mesh top be blocking 100% of the UVB/UVA? I really hope not, as I have no idea what to do to fix that. The tank is the national geographic brand from petsmart.
I have a basking bulb in the right dome for day, and a ceramic heater in the left dome for the nights until it warms up. I've been using a laser temp gun to check the temps; temp under the basking bulb is about 109 and it's about 81 on the left side of the tank and under the log (which he never goes under).
Also, he runs back and forth against the left most wall quite a lot, I don't know if he's scared, or just playing. Is that normal behavior?
Sorry for how long this all is. Just trying to include everything I can think of in one thread. If there is any more info you want, please ask and I'm certainly willing to hear any advice on any changes or additions I can make to the tank overall to make it the very best place for my dragon. I want him/her to live as long, happy and healthy a life as possible.