New to Beardies

[slicric]

Hello all, I am Rick.

Me and my teenage son just purchased a 9 to 12 week old female bearded dragon, we named her Priscilla!
we have had her for two weeks, and because of all the information out there, are slightly confused. So I will ask a few questions here before looking at other threads to find accurate answers.

Priscilla, has been a good eater, about two days ago she ate 30 small crickets, since then she seems totally uninterested in eating anything; she is having bowel movements, just not eating since the big meal. Should this worry us?
Also we keep getting information that the Reptisun 5.0 florescent coil light bulb is extremely dangerous for her? Is that true the breeder recommended it to us?????
We need help, what do we need to do to ensure a health dragon?

Rick & Jackson

 

[DanielE]

The coil lights are not as dangerous as they use to be. But they are still not the best. To get a good amount of uvb she needs to be very close to the light. What is recommend on here is the florescent bar stile lights either T5 or T8 in the 10.0 uvb.
What is the size of the enclosure?

 

[slicric]

probably 30 gallon tank with no top, 1 foot wide 1 foot deep and 2 and 1/2 foot long. the reptisun light is suspended abot 14 inches from the floor of the tank.
Priscilla seems active she is just not interested in eating for two days now.?

Thanks for the quick response

Rick

 

[DanielE]

She needs to get within a min of 6" form that light 4" would be better. With a tank that size I think it would be hard to get the right temps. Do you know the ambient hot side, cool side and basking tems? She may be not eating if the temperature is off.

 

[slicric]

No I do not have a thermometer yet, I will try to get one tomorrow. Any suggestions on the best type to get?

 

[DanielE]

Get one with probes that you can place exactly where you want to know the temps. Those stick on the wall ones are about useless.
You want the basking area around 105-110 and a gradient into the 80s on the cool side. Also you want the uvb and basking lights close together so that she can get uvb while she basks.

 

[Elemental Dragon Lord]

Welcome to your new addiction. As far as eating try different foods like superworms

 

[krystal&otto]

My little guy is probably around the same age and did the same thing. He won't eat a single cricket now. I got him phoenix worms (repti-worms, calci-worms) and he loves them. That's all he eats now. I'm going to order him some silkworms super worms and dubia roaches for a variety ☺

 

[diegothediggy]

U can get a thermomiter from ebay for around £10 with two pribs one for basking spot and one for cooler end they perfect. Temp is really important for ur beadie to feel heapthy n digest food. Id get 1 asap

 

[Josh]

Welcome to BDF Rick!

 

[slicric]

U can get a thermomiter from ebay for around £10 with two pribs one for basking spot and one for cooler end they perfect. Temp is really important for ur beadie to feel heapthy n digest food. Id get 1 asap

Got the thermometer, and my temps were low. Now I have the temps 103-110 and 81-84, we can already see the difference. Priscilla is much more alert and active, and eating well again. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[diegothediggy]

Well thats gud. Beardies need the heat to digest their food properly glad to hear she feelin betta