need help please

[cody]

I recently got a young bearded dragon. The only light I have on is a solar glo murcury 125w bulb. I herd coil and compact uvb bulbs were bad so I turned them off. The basking spot can be 115°. I can only get him to eat a few crickets and he doesn't notice veggies in his bowl or when I hold them up to him. He has one eye closed often. Eyes usually look half closed and he's not very alert. I dont know if I'm over reacting I'm just worried he's not very active, won't eat veggies and eyes don't look alert all the time. Iv only had him a few days. I'm thinking about getting small dubais to replace crickets. If anyone thinks theres something wrong or anything I can do to make it better please let me know. Thanks

 

[Monkeys563]

I'm not sure about the eye thing. But he does need a uvb light source. When they are little they usually don't show any interest in veggies that is normal. I see you have sand which can cause an impaction especially in a smaller dragon like him. Maybe soak him for a bit and make sure he doesn't have anything in his eye.

 

[cody]

I'm not sure about the eye thing. But he does need a uvb light source. When they are little they usually don't show any interest in veggies that is normal. I see you have sand which can cause an impaction especially in a smaller dragon like him. Maybe soak him for a bit and make sure he doesn't have anything in his eye.

I actually have paper towels not sand. It does look like sand in the picture tho. The exoterra solar glo give uv and heat. I was told that that bulb would be enough uvb and wouldn't need another bulb as that would make it too much uv

 

[Monkeys563]

Haha it is paper towels sorry it looks just like sand. I've never used the combination type bulbs. I've always just had a heat lamp and a tube bulb for uvb. You did mention that you have only had him a few days, it takes them awhile to settle into their new home. I'd say as long as he's eating some wait a couple more days and see what happens when he's more settled in. Hopefully someone on here will have an idea about his eye it doesn't look bad to me just a bit strange that he closes it but I've never dealt with eye issues in dragons.

 

[PatsyB]

It's possible that the Solar Glo bulb is not giving off enough of or any UVB. All the reviews I've read about them have been bad. They seem to be pretty inconsistent with the UVB output. Unfortunately the only way to monitor the UVB output is to buy a UVB meter.

It's always a better idea to have one bulb for UVB and one for basking. It would be easier to get your basking temps correct if you had a bulb that was just a basking light.

 

[cody]

I have a regular basking bulb, and a reptisun 10 compact bulb. I'm just not using them not because the solar glo is in. I guess I'll just return the solar glo and put the compact uv in if those are safe

 

[cody]

I'm just not sure if he'll get enough uvb with the reptisun 10 compact bulb when it's in the exoterra compact hood and it is a 40gallon tank

 

[jarich]

Hey Cody, welcome to the wonderful world of lizards and the forum!

Unfortunately the Exoterra mercury vapour bulbs are not great quality, no. They do not produce a lot of UVB, do so in quite a small spot, and degrade very quickly. I would suggest taking it back and getting a refund, then using that money to get a tube fluorescent light and fixture instead. Mercury vapour bulbs are very inconsistent in general and not recommended for new keepers. As youve found out, it can be difficult with just one bulb to get the right amount of heat AND the right amount of UV exposure. Once you have a bit of a handle on it, then look into MegaRay or Arcadia MVBs as they are much higher quality bulbs. For now, itll be easiest to have one bulb for heat and one for UVB, so that you can set each at the appropriate height/distance for exposure.

The eye thing is likely caused by stress. Its a good idea to not hold them for the first week or so after you get them. They see you as a big scary predator in a new and unknown environment for now. In a couple weeks they will figure out you arent trying to eat them and that their new home is theirs, but until then try not to hold them or pick them up. Youll find in a few days that he will likely start to eat more and get more active.

 

[cody]

Ok. And as I type this he is eating and being active I'm much more relived. But I'll return the solar glo and get a reptisun tube. But for now, is a reptisun 10 compact bulb ok? There will aslo be a regular basking light

 

[SM Johnson]

I'm interested in the above question, as well. I'm going to have to order a tube UVB from Amazon, I think, because I just can't find a bulb and something to put the bulb into here. I have a reptisun 10.0 UVB spotlight, but Elliot has been looking pretty dark.

I draped a white washcloth over some of his climbing things to urge him to find the "warm spot" (under tank heater), and the cloth reflected tons of light back at him (in a hammock toward the top of the tank) and his color brightened within an hour!

So I'm thinking... that spotlight is not offering enough UVB for the tank size, and it's maybe not reaching the place where he likes to bask from.

On the plus side - he ADORES eating, lol.

So, yeah, info about UVB lights would be much appreciated by me.

 

[jarich]

Cody, in answer to your question, it's needsto be within 6 inches of your dragon and over where he usually basks. They do not last long, so I would suggest getting the fluorescent tube as soon as you can.

SM Johnson, when you say UVB spotlight, do you mean a compact fluorescent as well? The curly kind that screws into a normal socket? Or do you mean something else? Also, is your dragons only heat source the heat mat, or do you have a light source that helps with heat?

 

[cody]

Thank you for your help. I have one more question... I have returned so many lights it's getting rediculas. EVERY time I go to petsmart I get a diffrent answer, buy it and go home and do research and find out it could be better. So I this is why I'm asking you guys.. I'm going to get a reptisun 10.0 tube light and a ceramic heater to be on the hot side 24/7. I already have a 100w basking bulb. My question is, is that a ok setup as my tank is 18inches tall. The only time my beardie is closer to the light is at the basking spot. Will that provide him with sufficant uvb? Should the tube light be mounted inside the tank?

 

[SM Johnson]

Hi Jarich,

My UVB is a reptisun mini compact fluorescent, the bulb is not be twisty one, but 2 U-shaped tubes.

The under tank heater is on the bottom of the tank, and covered by reptile rug, and is basically offering a night time warm spot. Basking light is a 100w flood also from reptisun

 

[SM Johnson]

Oh, did order the 18" reptisun UVB and a fixture, and I'm brainstorming the next tank, now that I know so much more. This forum is helpful.

 

[jarich]

Cody, if you want to buy a light you wont ever have to return, then I would suggest the T5 high output fluorescent tube from either Zoomed or Arcadia. For your enclosure they are the best UVB light you can buy. You probably wont find it in your pet store though. The fixture is a little more expensive (around $50) but it will last you for a decade or so. These fixtures also have built in reflectors that increase the output by about 2-3 times as much. The bulbs last for a year at least, compared to the compacts that last four months, or the normal T8 fluorescent tubes that only last about six months. You can find them online here, and that comes with a free bulb: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6016+6028+19109+25698&pcatid=25698 or the Arcadia brand are here:
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/t5highoutput.html Just remember the bulb should be about 2/3 the length of the enclosure.

As for getting the best information on lighting, it wont come from your pet store or anywhere else that has a financial interest in selling you lights unfortunately. There is a doctor who studies nothing but lighting for reptiles/amphibians who also has a website. Its here: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/ She is largely seen as the foremost authority on all things lighting for reptiles. Her name is Dr. Frances Baines. There are maybe three people in the world who could possibly disagree with this woman in a meaningful way and I guarantee you none of them work in your Petsmart. She swears by the T5 lights for your size enclosure, as do the other 3 people who might ever be able to disagree with her. (Thats more doctors agreeing than with Trident gum! ) If you want to ask her directly you can join a yahoo group called UVBmeterowners where she (and the other 3) are frequent contributors.

 

[PatsyB]

I agree with Jarich. If you are going to buy a light the T5 is the way to go. I made the switch just a few months ago from the T8 bulbs to the T5 and there is a noticeable difference in my beardies behaviors. They are a bit expensive at first but you don't have to buy as many replacement bulbs as you would the T5's so it's well worth the money.

 

[rob.kolm]

I made the mistake of starting with a T8 as well and had re-buy to move to the T5. My dragon is a lot more active and eating more as well with the T5

 

[cody]

Ok well today I got a reptisun T8 10.0 24 inch. Today my bear die was much more active and ate some greens. But I noticed his eyes are usually closed when he's standing still in tha tank. There was also a pinkish film over one eye when he would blink. this makes me nervous. Is it possible he got too much uvb,uva? Considering I had two exoterra 200uvb spiral bulbs. Then one compact. Now the t8 tube. And the basking light I have says it has uva light along with heat. I don't know if regular basking bulbs are just heat and mine has uva added. Anyway could he of gotten too much exposure ? I turned off the ubv light for now until I find out more information about his eye. I'll chck that uvguied out to thank you

 

[PatsyB]

This pinkish film are you sure it's pink? Does it cover his eye when it's open or slide under the lid? Reptiles and herps have a membrane that covers their eye, it's called a nicicitating membrane also referred to as a third eyelid. In bearded dragons it's a whitish color it's used to moisten and protect the eye from debri. Frogs and crocs also use theirs so they can keep their eyes open when they are underwater. In bearded dragons it's normal to sometimes get a glimpse of it when they are opening or closing their eyes.

When I give Dexter a bath and get water in her eyes I can see hers. It's very creepy looking.

If what you are seeing is a pink film that is always over the eye or if the eye is swollen or oozing, then you should have a vet check it out.

 

[jarich]

The only light youve had so far that couldve been dangerous at those distances is the MVB. Those can be very powerful lights, and require a bigger minimum safe distance. So while it is possible that the eye thing is a reaction to UVB, I would still think its got more to do with stress than light. (Often new keepers say their dragons always have their eyes closed, but you being in the room can cause the very stress that makes them close their eyes) Leave the UVB light off for a few days and see if it stops. A few days without it isnt a big deal. Whether its stress or that old light being too close, either way it should clear up in the next few days or so.

As for the UVA, its kind of how they suck people in to buying reptile basking lights. All halogen lights produce UVA, theres nothing special about reptile basking bulbs. Buy a halogen light from the hardware store and itll have UVA also.