NOOb in need

[efrainz28]

Hi my name is Efrain. I'm 23 years old male and currently live in Carson, California. I originally went to the pet store for a leopard gecko but fell in love with a bearded dragon. I will get a leopard but in Jan 9-10 at the Reptile Super Show here in Los Angeles. (I wanted to see the different morphs that are available.) I bought a male bearded dragon last Sunday. I’m concerned that he is not eating and he not that active. I’m hurried about his well being. He is currently in a 40 gallon with a Zoo Med Power sun UV 100 watt with a Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture. I added a female on Monday night to see if it would help him. She little bit larger than him. I was hoping she would be an example on how to eat or encourage him to eat. I’m feeding it crickets covered with calcium/vitamin powder and mealworms. I called the pet shop Tuesday afternoon where I purchased him and they said it might be stressed because of its new environment. He only stays on one side of the tank. (Hot side day and night) he said it was eating when it was there. They said leave him alone with the female a couple of day to see if he improves but they gave me to option to exchange him but I’m attach to the little guy. I picked him for his colors and he pass the physical inspection. He was alert and active at the pet shop. The female is doing fine in the tank. She eats and sleeps on the cold side. I’m open to any suggestion to help him? Or am I over reacting? I have until Friday to exchange him. I been reading The Bearded Dragon Manual by Philippe de Vosjoli and Robert Mailloux
Some pictures from my phone. I don't have names for them yet.

 

[ladyknite]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww such cute babies.

Welcome!!!

first things first. Pick up an additional enclosure. They can't reside together. Both are territorial, and will eventually exhibit dominance.

It appears that you don't have the correct bulb.
You can check out the store connected with this site for the repti sun 10.0. Keep the dome fixture and use a regular house bulb for heat. Depending on your ambient, your wattage will vary.

Second is the sand. You'll want to clean it out and put down some shelf liner, paper towel or tile. He'll be healthier for it.

Cover his tank with paper so he can't see out. Leave for no less than 2 weeks. Give him soaks every couple of days in water that's pee warm and about as deep as his shoulders.

Put the book on the desk and use it to keep the coffee cup rings off the furniture.

Nice to have you around..........and i love the pics.

 

[efrainz28]

my baby need help

I bought a male bearded dragon last Sunday. I’m concerned that he is not eating and he not that active. I’m hurried about his well being. He is currently in a 40 gallon with a Zoo Med Power sun UV 100 watt with a Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture. I added a female on Monday night to see if it would help him. She little bit larger than him. I was hoping she would be an example on how to eat or encourage him to eat. I’m feeding it crickets covered with calcium/vitamin powder and mealworms. I called the pet shop Tuesday afternoon where I purchased him and they said it might be stressed because of its new environment. He only stays on one side of the tank. (Hot side day and night) he said it was eating when it was there. They said leave him alone with the female a couple of day to see if he improves but they gave me to option to exchange him but I’m attach to the little guy. I picked him for his colors and he pass the physical inspection. He was alert and active at the pet shop. The female is doing fine in the tank. She eats and sleeps on the cold side. I’m open to any suggestion to help him? Or am I over reacting? I have until Friday to exchange him. I been reading The Bearded Dragon Manual by Philippe de Vosjoli and Robert Mailloux
Some pictures from my phone. I don't have names for them yet.

i post this info in the introduction

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Re: my baby need help

Welcome aboard,
Your pooper is more than likely going thru relocation stress. Introducing another pooper is probably not going to help. As they get older and Im only talking weeks to a month or 2 you are going to need to separate the 2 dragons. reptiles in general are solitary creatures and the presence of another will just cause undo stress.

 

[renich]

Hello and welcome to our forum. First, don't get too overwhelmed. At first, it will seem like a lot of info regarding caring for these guys, but once you get the basics down, it is pretty easy.

Second, I'm with you. We went to buy a tree frog when we fell in love with Bernard.

Third, here are some links for you. First is our basic caresheet. Give it a read and let us know if you have any questions. Basically, you need to worry about temps, lighting, food, and pooping. ;D
Bearded Dragon Care

Here is an article contributed by one of our forum members on housing multiple beardies together:
Housing Multiple Bearded Dragon Together

Here is the link to the light (ReptiSun 10.0 tube) Ladyknite suggests
ReptiSun

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[corrine]

Re: my baby need help

most likely relocation stress. what are your temps and how do u record them? oh and ditch the mealworms. they're hard for beardies to digest and not very nutrious. also what are you using for uva/uvb? And like Tom said you should seperate them. They love their humans but not other dragons

 

[renich]

Forum posts merged by Administrator. Seeking the same advice in two separate posts.

 

[efrainz28]

Re: my baby need help

most likely relocation stress. what are your temps and how do u record them? oh and ditch the mealworms. they're hard for beardies to digest and not very nutrious. also what are you using for uva/uvb? And like Tom said you should seperate them. They love their humans but not other dragons

I’m using a Zoo Med Power sun UV 100 watt with a Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture. I’m not recording the temp. I have the temp meter that stick to the glass but I recently learned that there not accurate by up to 20 degrees. The reading on them is 80F on the cold side and 95F on the hot side. Ill buy a temp gun tomorrow. I will cover the side to night to make him fill safer. I made a rookie mistake on bringing a female home. The meal worms are off the menu. She shows sign of dominance. How long to I have to separate them? I’m going to build an enclosure. I design it today and it will be made of either white birch or maple. Can I use maple or white birch? (I heard pine can be deadly)
Here’s my sketch:
From the front

The left side

Back

Right side

False doors

Finished look with out trim work

The design is simple: the front door will have piano hinges with glass. The left side will be the cold side and the right will be to hot side. I have glass on the cold side for extra viewing and to help keep the temp down. The false doors are where the dome heat lamp will go and keep it hidden. In the back is where it ventilation for the bottom enclosure and the top enclosure will ventilate from the of the enclosure top.

Please comment in my design or suggestions. I want to start building this weekend. thanks for the help. ;D

 

[renich]

Your design looks great. If your female is showing signs of dominance, I would separate them ASAP. You can put a piece of cardboard to divide your viv and secure it with duct tape.

I believe you are fine with maple both hard and soft and birch. I cannot find anything against those woods.

It is a good call to get the temp gun. As you point out the stick on thermometers can be way off. You need to up your temps a bit too. Cool side should be about 85F and hot side 105-110 for a young beardie.