New Member! help!!!

[Briana]

Hello,

Our daughter received a baby bearded dragon for her birthday. His name is Spike (or we assume its a him)
We've read up on care for Spike, and taken care of him to what we thought was great care. He has a variety of protein and veggies offered. Always fresh water. Tank temps are great. Recently he's started acting very odd. Sluggish, and show no care about eating. Today his color seems odd. If anyone gas any tips please help me save my baby's baby!

posting pictures before his odd behavior, and pictures of now. He's starving himself!

 

[Paul Anthony Smith]

Hi, I had a similar experience with my baby bearded dragon. He went off food for a couple of days and went darker in colour. He soon afterwards shed his skin got his appetite back and is now back to his lighter sandy colour.

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[Eavlynn]

In the photos, there seems to be a discolored area on the back and stomach. I'd try and get him into a vet to make sure there aren't any serious issues.

As for the feeding, many babies go off feed after being brought home. Relocation stress causes appetite loss. If he is healthy, his appetite will begin to pick up over the next few days.

Also, what is your UVB source?

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[Briana]

we've had him for four months. this is just a new behavior. The uvb source is in the lighting domes. The pet store told us the cage was set perfectly.

 

[Briana]

Hi, I had a similar experience with my baby bearded dragon. He went off food for a couple of days and went darker in colour. He soon afterwards shed his skin got his appetite back and is now back to his lighter sandy colour.

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I'm hoping that's what's going on!

 

[Eavlynn]

we've had him for four months. this is just a new behavior. The uvb source is in the lighting domes. The pet store told us the cage was set perfectly.

At four months, he should be much bigger. Unfortunately pet stores usually give you false information. The dome UVB bulbs are coil bulbs which give out a concentrated light that can cause eye damage long term. They also only give UVB in a small area. Fluorescent tube style bulbs are what the vast majority of us use. They're fantastic UVB sources.

The most pressing concern I would have with your little baby is the discoloration of the back and stomach. A vet should run a culture to rule out a fungal infection, which is what it appears to be. It's possible that the infection is what's hurting your little dudes appetite.

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[Briana]

At four months, he should be much bigger. Unfortunately pet stores usually give you false information. The dome UVB bulbs are coil bulbs which give out a concentrated light that can cause eye damage long term. They also only give UVB in a small area. Fluorescent tube style bulbs are what the vast majority of us use. They're fantastic UVB sources.

The most pressing concern I would have with your little baby is the discoloration of the back and stomach. A vet should run a culture to rule out a fungal infection, which is what it appears to be. It's possible that the infection is what's hurting your little dudes appetite.

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thank you, so much! Where's the best place to get these type of bulbs/lighting?!

 

[Eavlynn]

thank you, so much! Where's the best place to get these type of bulbs/lighting?!

Best bang for your buck is amazon. The pet stores have crazy mark ups, so buying them online is more affordable. If you place the light on top of a screen top, keep your eyes out for a reptusun 10.0 T5 HO bulb. It filters through screen tops better than the other bulbs.

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[PatsyB]

Eavlynn gave some good advise.

Make sure that you are keeping the tank as clean as possible. That means picking up poop as soon as you see it and not leaving food laying around, especially crickets that can bite your beardie in it's sleep. You need to get him to a vet because it looks like there is some sort of bacterial/fungal infection going on. It concerns me that it is around the vent area, that's typically where yellow fungus starts.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I agree with the above comments.. You can find additional info on care and general equipment and also a link to diseases/info in the links below several of our comments..
For sure get your little one checked, look thru the links on care as what we've put together is some of the best tried and true info, compare your little ones environment to the info. In the links you'll also find info on the best lighting, and means to measure the zones that they need for digestion and vit/mineral absorption as right now is the most critical time of growth.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have and keep us posted.