New beardie help?

[Classabear]

Hey I got a beardie about 4 days ago. I am new to keeping them. I have snakes so somewhat have knowledge on reptiles.

Anyway I bought all his stuff including a UVB light bulb and a basking globe but I only have one heat fitting. I thought it would be okay to just swap the globes around half way through the day but then I read they need at least 12 hours of heat and UV. I plan to buy a new heat fitting next week but what can I do until then?

Also is it normal for baby's to be sleeping all the time? He is still active and moves around but he is always sleepy and shutting his eyes. He only ate 2 crickets today also but he ate like normal yesterday. I'm a bit worried it's because of the UV or heat problem but again it's only been 4 days.

Sorry for being so noob. Also he's 2 months old and it's winter in Australia.

 

[Draco_is_awesome]

When I got mine he did not eat normally for like 2 days but then after he did and he does need the uv and heat lamp to have energy so he's tired all the tile because if that and that he's a baby still so he Weill be using a lot of energy

 

[Draco_is_awesome]

Sorry about the errors

 

[MisterD83]

Classabear, I believe beardies dont start hibernating (brumating) till they are about a year old. Also it can take up to a week for bearded dragons to get used to new surroundings and start eating normal. Also a stressed bearded dragon eats less fequently than a happy dragon.

basking temperatures (105 - 115 deg F for a baby) help dragons digest their food.

If you have the ability to get your beardie outside in the sunlight for at least half an hour a day, I would switch out the UV light for the basking light.


Be cautious with compact and coil type UVb bulbs, I have heard that the UVb is too intense and can harm the eyes on a dragon.

 

[diegothediggy]

Yeh he wnt b his usual self for a couple of weeks just try keep ur feeding times regular a baby beardie should b offered live prey 3 times a day as much as he wants in around 15-20 mins. It may take him a while to settle but he will dnt worry. As for the uv u really need them both on togetha they need heat to take in th uv tbh it would do much harm for a few days but i wud get this sorted asap. Make sure ye has sumwhere to hind in his viv some where he can feel safe. Does he bask? Gape his mouth? Does he eat salad? What flooring to u have in the viv sand a no go for baby beardies. Hows pooping ? Regular? Sorry just tryin to help u just sounds like moving sickness as i call it but need all info to b sure coz theres a lot of things that can make a lazy beardie

 

[Canicke]

"Moving sickness" - good term. I like that

 

[Classabear]

Yeh he wnt b his usual self for a couple of weeks just try keep ur feeding times regular a baby beardie should b offered live prey 3 times a day as much as he wants in around 15-20 mins. It may take him a while to settle but he will dnt worry. As for the uv u really need them both on togetha they need heat to take in th uv tbh it would do much harm for a few days but i wud get this sorted asap. Make sure ye has sumwhere to hind in his viv some where he can feel safe. Does he bask? Gape his mouth? Does he eat salad? What flooring to u have in the viv sand a no go for baby beardies. Hows pooping ? Regular? Sorry just tryin to help u just sounds like moving sickness as i call it but need all info to b sure coz theres a lot of things that can make a lazy beardie

Thanks everyone for the help!! He does bask on his driftwood when the basking lamp is on. He doesn't gape his mouth.

I've been trying to get him onto salad. He ate some carrot on the day I got him but besides that, I haven't noticed him eating any other salad. I fed him 2 crickets in the Morning yesterday and he had 3 more in the afternoon, so at least he's eating something. I'm using newspaper for him at the moment. He seems to be pooping fine as well.

 

[Classabear]

Classabear, I believe beardies dont start hibernating (brumating) till they are about a year old. Also it can take up to a week for bearded dragons to get used to new surroundings and start eating normal. Also a stressed bearded dragon eats less fequently than a happy dragon.

basking temperatures (105 - 115 deg F for a baby) help dragons digest their food.

If you have the ability to get your beardie outside in the sunlight for at least half an hour a day, I would switch out the UV light for the basking light.


Be cautious with compact and coil type UVb bulbs, I have heard that the UVb is too intense and can harm the eyes on a dragon.

Thanks! I'll get him outside today. Currently asking some friends to loan me some money so I can get his stuff. Not something I like doing. Do you recommend a UV lamp? I am using The Exo Terra UVB 150 for desert reptiles, 25w

 

[diegothediggy]

Well if his temps ok them i wouldnt worry wot do u measure ur temps with? Not all beardies gape they do it when their body temp is at a nice temp. So beardies move to a cooler place some stay where they r n.gape. If he pooping then his temps must b ok. The slow eating must just b a bit of moving sickness it will pass sortly so newt to worry bout he will gain ur trust an relise u dnt wanna eat him shortly just keep offering the food n if he eats it then offer more. Try banana mango blueberries as a treat mine seem to really enjoy it. And id get that fitting sorted as soob as u xan

 

[Classabear]

Well if his temps ok them i wouldnt worry wot do u measure ur temps with? Not all beardies gape they do it when their body temp is at a nice temp. So beardies move to a cooler place some stay where they r n.gape. If he pooping then his temps must b ok. The slow eating must just b a bit of moving sickness it will pass sortly so newt to worry bout he will gain ur trust an relise u dnt wanna eat him shortly just keep offering the food n if he eats it then offer more. Try banana mango blueberries as a treat mine seem to really enjoy it. And id get that fitting sorted as soob as u xan

I am measuring his temps with a tc100 thermostat by ecotech and they seem to be fine. I bought another fitting yesterday and it doesn't work -.- so have to take it back. So today I'm just using a heat mat and I have put the UV globe in the current fitting until I get the other fitting sorted out later today. Thanks so much guys