New Bearded Dragon Friend, Would Like to know if I’m worrying too much?

[LysionS]

Hello all! I got my bearded dragon about a week ago now, Sunday last week from PetSmart, he’s a juvenile dragon going by Thorfinn and he’s been doing some strange things recently and I’m getting conflicting opinions and would like some help…

For reference he’s in a 40GAL thrive tank which I’ve already changed the lid on to let more UVB light through, I have a ReptiSun T5 10.0 24” tube uvb and am using a 150W intense basking spot light. His basking spot temp is about 109degrees and 27% humidity according to my ReptiZoo digital thermometer/humidistat.

He ate about 8 meal worms on day three of his arrival which I used tongs with and hasn’t eaten anything since, though he does have some bites of salad/butternut squash shavings I leave but no worms even if I leave them in his bowl and don’t try to feed him with tongs… he’s currently shedding and it seems to be coming off good but still has some shed hanging on his back he can’t get off yet… though currently he has his head aimed up high and does do a weird mouth opening thing which is slightly concerning I have a video of it but I don’t know how to post that here. He’s pooping frequently… am I overthinking things and he’s just still dealing with relocation stress or should I be concerned?

Thank you for any help in this matter, I just want to make sure the little guy has his best life and I’m not hurting him!

 

[Sadie]

Hello all! I got my bearded dragon about a week ago now, Sunday last week from PetSmart, he’s a juvenile dragon going by Thorfinn and he’s been doing some strange things recently and I’m getting conflicting opinions and would like some help…

For reference he’s in a 40GAL thrive tank which I’ve already changed the lid on to let more UVB light through, I have a ReptiSun T5 10.0 24” tube uvb and am using a 150W intense basking spot light. His basking spot temp is about 109degrees and 27% humidity according to my ReptiZoo digital thermometer/humidistat.

He ate about 8 meal worms on day three of his arrival which I used tongs with and hasn’t eaten anything since, though he does have some bites of salad/butternut squash shavings I leave but no worms even if I leave them in his bowl and don’t try to feed him with tongs… he’s currently shedding and it seems to be coming off good but still has some shed hanging on his back he can’t get off yet… though currently he has his head aimed up high and does do a weird mouth opening thing which is slightly concerning I have a video of it but I don’t know how to post that here. He’s pooping frequently… am I overthinking things and he’s just still dealing with relocation stress or should I be concerned?

Thank you for any help in this matter, I just want to make sure the little guy has his best life and I’m not hurting him!

Meal worms are too harsh for a little dragon- please get him some dubia roaches they can be ordered on line dubiaroaches.com- they should be no bigger than the space between his eyes- go by the chart on the website - he is going thru relocation stress so his appetite is going to be off- he looks to be around 3 months old give him time to adjust and acclimate to his tank and surroundings - please get a piece of basking decor directly under the uvb 8-10 inches- w/ correct basking temps 105-110 and good uvb he will thrive - you want him eating something not meal worms - crickets dubias and bsfl are all good staple feeders- also offer salads - his diet should be 80% protein and 20% veggies - watch his behavior you may haft to take your screen off or put the uvb in his tank - this is critical for as young as he is- are you dusting the insects?

 

[LysionS]

Meal worms are too harsh for a little dragon- please get him some dubia roaches they can be ordered on line dubiaroaches.com- they should be no bigger than the space between his eyes- go by the chart on the website - he is going thru relocation stress so his appetite is going to be off- he looks to be around 3 months old give him time to adjust and acclimate to his tank and surroundings - please get a piece of basking decor directly under the uvb 8-10 inches- w/ correct basking temps 105-110 and good uvb he will thrive - you want him eating something not meal worms - crickets dubias and bsfl are all good staple feeders- also offer salads - his diet should be 80% protein and 20% veggies - watch his behavior you may haft to take your screen off or put the uvb in his tank - this is critical for as young as he is- are you dusting the insects?

Thank you for your reply I’ve already gotten some BSFL to replace his worms once he’s regained his appetite unfortunately dubiaroaches don’t ship to Canada, but I believe I saw some at a reptile store near me so I’ll grab those. I do have a basking spot that is directly covered by the basking lamp and uvb, I should’ve shown that better in a photo! I’ve also been offering him salads daily some spring mix and leaving them in his terrarium while I’m at work What sort of behaviour am I looking for to know if I need to move the UVB? I am dusting the insects with calcium powder yes.

 

[Sadie]

Thank you for your reply I’ve already gotten some BSFL to replace his worms once he’s regained his appetite unfortunately dubiaroaches don’t ship to Canada, but I believe I saw some at a reptile store near me so I’ll grab those. I do have a basking spot that is directly covered by the basking lamp and uvb, I should’ve shown that better in a photo! I’ve also been offering him salads daily some spring mix and leaving them in his terrarium while I’m at work What sort of behaviour am I looking for to know if I need to move the UVB? I am dusting the insects with calcium powder yes.

Ok your BSFL dont need to be dusted -they are calcium enriched but the roaches would need to be- but only dust the bugs ONCE per day lightly coated 5 x per week - vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week lightly coated---offer him feedings of roaches 3 times per day and you can use your BSFL as salad toppers - you can find discoid roaches in Canada -- google them they are going to be cheaper than a pet store- and are similar to dubias- how long is he sitting under his basking lamps? Signs of not enough UVB would be shaking tremors wobbly walking funny growing patterns like deformation- the minute you see any type of shaking or tremors get your UVB into the tank -- wide hole screens are ok but some times the screen is really thick - I am just leery of them being on top -- how is he getting water? Rinse your salad before serving and you can offer water on top of his nose once a week or try training him to sit w/ his front feet on a salad place and spray his nose so the water drips on to the place and see if he will lick or drink off the plate -