New to us bearded dragon

[amsnelson]

Ten years ago we had a wonderful bearded dragon, Gimili, he was almost 13 when he crossed the rainbow bridge. Now we have a new bearded in our life, he is almost two years old, he was rehomed to us from a friend and coworker who had three and it was becoming to much to keep up three beardeds with no help from her sons, who were the owners.
Thorin is amazing, easy to handle, and he was easy to harness train. My concern is that one of the items he loved to eat at his first home, squash, is no longer a favorite. He loves strawberries but we get those only once a month or every other month, he has been eating mango ( a new introduction) but not much. He hates bananas! And not a fan of papaya. What are some other fruits and veggies I can try with my newly picky eater?
He regularly gets dandelion greens, arugula, ( both are huge favorites!)a few mustard greens (not a big favorite), and some mixed spring greens( doesn’t wait for the bowl to get placed for these)
I want to keep him healthy and he does get super worms, wax worms on occasion, horned worms, and Dubai roaches. The worms he will eat out of my hand.
Our Gimlili loved dark cherries as a treat and pumpkin. Thorin won’t touch pumpkin and I haven’t tried cherries yet.

 

[Sadie]

Ten years ago we had a wonderful bearded dragon, Gimili, he was almost 13 when he crossed the rainbow bridge. Now we have a new bearded in our life, he is almost two years old, he was rehomed to us from a friend and coworker who had three and it was becoming to much to keep up three beardeds with no help from her sons, who were the owners.
Thorin is amazing, easy to handle, and he was easy to harness train. My concern is that one of the items he loved to eat at his first home, squash, is no longer a favorite. He loves strawberries but we get those only once a month or every other month, he has been eating mango ( a new introduction) but not much. He hates bananas! And not a fan of papaya. What are some other fruits and veggies I can try with my newly picky eater?
He regularly gets dandelion greens, arugula, ( both are huge favorites!)a few mustard greens (not a big favorite), and some mixed spring greens( doesn’t wait for the bowl to get placed for these)
I want to keep him healthy and he does get super worms, wax worms on occasion, horned worms, and Dubai roaches. The worms he will eat out of my hand.
Our Gimlili loved dark cherries as a treat and pumpkin. Thorin won’t touch pumpkin and I haven’t tried cherries yet.
View attachment 27521

Glad he found a new home --- fruits should not be fed regularly they are high in sugar I am posting a nutrition website for you http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder-- he needs insects 2-3 times per week - dusted w/ calcium powder --- I haft to ask what kind of UVB are you using this will determine what calcium to feed -- please NO coils for a UVB --- you need a long tube fixture once you tell me what your using I can better help -- a salad should be fed everyday which it sounds like hes getting --- please go sparingly on those wax worms -- they are very fatty and too many and too often can cause liver damage -- the other worms are a good variety to feed -- silk worms are a good staple feeder -- besides the dubias of which I recommend

 

[amsnelson]

Glad he found a new home --- fruits should not be fed regularly they are high in sugar I am posting a nutrition website for you http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder-- he needs insects 2-3 times per week - dusted w/ calcium powder --- I haft to ask what kind of UVB are you using this will determine what calcium to feed -- please NO coils for a UVB --- you need a long tube fixture once you tell me what your using I can better help -- a salad should be fed everyday which it sounds like hes getting --- please go sparingly on those wax worms -- they are very fatty and too many and too often can cause liver damage -- the other worms are a good variety to feed -- silk worms are a good staple feeder -- besides the dubias of which I recommend

Thank you, he only got the few wax worms that came with him and I haven’t fed him any since. He does get super worms or roaches, or horned worms at least twice a week ( probably 5 when my granddaughter visits and wants to feed him). Salad every day, squash every day, strawberries twice in the four months since we have had him, Mango 3 times, papaya once and banana once. He stopped eating the squash about a week ago.
Thorin has a night time light on the cool end of the cage when we turn his lights off at 8:30. He has a daylight light and a basking light in a large light fixture similar to the one pictured below. HIs warm side runs from 82 to 90 during the day (not sure what temp is under the basking ) and during the day the cool side runs between 75 and 80 on average. His cage is 18inches deep, about two feet tall, with sliding doors on the side that lock and is 5 feet in length. He is pooping regularly and his water intake is good (nice bright white in the poop)
I will have to try some of the veggies mentioned on that site thank you!

 

[amsnelson]

Thank you, he only got the few wax worms that came with him and I haven’t fed him any since. He does get super worms or roaches, or horned worms at least twice a week ( probably 5 when my granddaughter visits and wants to feed him). Salad every day, squash every day, strawberries twice in the four months since we have had him, Mango 3 times, papaya once and banana once. He stopped eating the squash about a week ago.
Thorin has a night time light on the cool end of the cage when we turn his lights off at 8:30. He has a daylight light and a basking light in a large light fixture similar to the one pictured below. HIs warm side runs from 82 to 90 during the day (not sure what temp is under the basking ) and during the day the cool side runs between 75 and 80 on average. His cage is 18inches deep, about two feet tall, with sliding doors on the side that lock and is 5 feet in length. He is pooping regularly and his water intake is good (nice bright white in the poop)
I will have to try some of the veggies mentioned on that site thank you!

Also I use probe thermometers on each end of the tank not directly under and lights at any time.

 

[Sadie]

Also I use probe thermometers on each end of the tank not directly under and lights at any time.

Please get rid of the colored bulbs ASAP--- dragons need cool and dark to sleep no temps under 65 and not over 75--- colored bulbs keep them up all nite and will cause long term eye damage--- you want cool side of tank day 80's middle of tank 90's and basking 95-100-- basking spot taken w/ the digital probe on the place where he sits-- 10 minutes-- you don't need to leave it there but spot check--- what are you using for a UVB? This is extremely important! I cannot stress this enough--- if he's not able to absorb/ synthesize his calcium he will quit eating and all kinds of health issues are going to arise

 

[amsnelson]

Please get rid of the colored bulbs ASAP--- dragons need cool and dark to sleep no temps under 65 and not over 75--- colored bulbs keep them up all nite and will cause long term eye damage--- you want cool side of tank day 80's middle of tank 90's and basking 95-100-- basking spot taken w/ the digital probe on the place where he sits-- 10 minutes-- you don't need to leave it there but spot check--- what are you using for a UVB? This is extremely important! I cannot stress this enough--- if he's not able to absorb/ synthesize his calcium he will quit eating and all kinds of health issues are going to arise

Oh no my bulbs are not colored like the ones pictured the fixture is similar not the bulbs. I would never use those type of bulbs for a bearded! The night bulb barely gives off light and is used to keep heat in the cage at night. The daylight bulb is a UVB bulb.

 

[amsnelson]

Oh no my bulbs are not colored like the ones pictured the fixture is similar not the bulbs. I would never use those type of bulbs for a bearded! The night bulb barely gives off light and is used to keep heat in the cage at night. The daylight bulb is a UVB bulb.

Specifically it is a uvb 150 bulb along with daylight basking spot bulb.

 

[Sadie]

Oh no my bulbs are not colored like the ones pictured the fixture is similar not the bulbs. I would never use those type of bulbs for a bearded! The night bulb barely gives off light and is used to keep heat in the cage at night. The daylight bulb is a UVB bulb.

What kind of uvb? If it's a coil get rid of it ASAP-- they are inadequate and your dragon will quit eating- no lights on at nite please- you do not need any heat at nite unless his tank is dropping below 65--- they need complete darkness- they have a 3rd eye on top of their heads so that light will keep him awake- they see better than you and i--

 

[amsnelson]

I don’t know if it is a coil. I will check in the morning. It is the one that came with him. They had just replaced all the bulbs the week before we picked him up. I will switch it tomorrow if it is.

 

[amsnelson]

I don’t know if it is a coil. I will check in the morning. It is the one that came with him. They had just replaced all the bulbs the week before we picked him up. I will switch it tomorrow if it is.

I have never used before but with getting Thorin I have seen these large ceramic heat lamps . How are they for a bearded?

 

[Sadie]

Specifically it is a uvb 150 bulb along with daylight basking spot bulb.

It's a coil - please get rid of it--- you need a 24" fixture for a 40+ gallon tank--- please get a Zoo Med or a Arcadia or a sunblaster- a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb -- at this point your dragon is not getting any uvb

 

[amsnelson]

This one?

 

[Sadie]

This one?

Yep please get rid of it - they are NO GOOD-- cannot stress this enough--- you want one of these https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html w/ the 12% bulb excellent bulb or this
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html 24" comes w/ a 5.0 bulb hang onto it keep it as a backup but distance and placement is different from the bulb you need a 22" https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvbt5.html
Please get this replaced ASAP-- these fixtures sell out quickly- when you get it please post back on here I will help you set it up-- make sure you get the Arcadia 12% if you order that fixture --

 

[amsnelson]

I am now confused the picture is a zoo med one and is not a coil shape like the one I just found I have.
this is the exact set up , light fixture and bulbs, he came with but the uvb went out on us and we got the 150 one. I don’t remember that but I have been super busy with work and my husband took care of it for me. I can buy those exact bulbs to replace them .

 

[amsnelson]

Thorin has had that light set up since he was small and now he is almost 2 and is 18.03 inches long from nose to tip of tail. It must have worked fairly well for him to be such a happy healthy large bearded.

 

[amsnelson]

I just want to know what to get that is the best for Thorin. This one below is the one I have and is coiled around and a fluorescent bulb. The one from zoo med is two small tube bulbs side by side and also fluorescent. The one’s you sent me the link for are long tube shaped fluorescent bulbs. I am so confused now.

 

[Sadie]

I am now confused the picture is a zoo med one and is not a coil shape like the one I just found I have.
this is the exact set up , light fixture and bulbs, he came with but the uvb went out on us and we got the 150 one. I don’t remember that but I have been super busy with work and my husband took care of it for me. I can buy those exact bulbs to replace them .

It's a coil and same bulb please get rid of it --- I cannot stress this enough--- the ceramic heat emitter or che is very good for extra heat at nite but you won't need it till your tank is falling below 65- - you don't want overnite temps of 75- you will need a deep dome w/ a ceramic socket - for a 40 + gallon tank I would start w/ a 100 but that may get too warm it's going to be trial and error

 

[amsnelson]

So I can get this one again?

 

[Sadie]

I just want to know what to get that is the best for Thorin. This one below is the one I have and is coiled around and a fluorescent bulb. The one from zoo med is two small tube bulbs side by side and also fluorescent. The one’s you sent me the link for are long tube shaped fluorescent bulbs. I am so confused now.

Those bulbs are one of the worst on the market for eye issues-- and him stopping the eating of the squash is concerning- yes you want what I posted-- please get one of those posted -- ASAP--

 

[Sadie]

So I can get this one again?

No!!! Those bulbs have caused so many deaths!