Questions about my dragon ( 1st time dragon owner )

[Ninturtle]

So I got my first dragon last week and have a few questions
1.Do they require a gridded lid when they're juveniles? I have mine in a 10 gallon because I can't find a lid for the 55 gallon I intend to put my dragon in, I feel bad because I feel it deserves more.
2. Are bearded dragons reluctant to be handled at first?Whenever I try to handle mine it trys to run to it's tank.
3. How long should it have it's light on a day?
4. What food besides crickets are good for juveniles besides Krickets? I've fed it lettuce and apples ( with out the skin of course ).
5. How often should I change the floor on it's tank?
All answers are appreciated.

 

[CrazyLeopardGeckoLady]

Yes they should have a lid on he tank just in case they try to escape
And yes he will be very skittish because it's a new place so it's best to give him a week or two to settle in
I keep my lights on from when I wake up to about 8 or 9 (someone else might be able to give you an exact time)
You can feed them crickets, superworms, Phoenix worms, hornworms (all must be appropriate sizes no larger then the width between their eyes)
And if you go onto the nutrition on beautifuldragons.com you can see what veggies they can or can't eat
Lettuce is all water so it has no nutrition and apples arnt a staple diet
And you should change the floor when he poops, if you post a picture of the enclosure we can help more
If you have sand in the enclosure its advised to switch it with tile, carpet, or paper towel so they don't eat the sand it can cause problems with poop


-Maisie

 

[Ninturtle]

Here's it's tank

 

[CrazyLeopardGeckoLady]

That looks great! I'm sure another member can give you better information about heat as that is not my specialty


-Maisie

 

[Bobbi]

I recommend feeding dubia roaches. They're more nutritious and they get fuller quicker. They're easier to care for as well. They don't bite, can't climb most enclosures, don't stink, don't jump...

 

[Bobbi]

Also for veggies collard, mustard, dandelion and turnip greens can be fed daily. Butternut, acorn and yellow squash can be daily as well. Fruits like guava, mango, grapes, melons, papayas can be fed occasionally. I also feed my little guy waxworms occasionally as well but not very many and not very often because they're very fatty!

 

[Bobbi]

Lights should be on 12-14 hours a day and off for the rest of the time but don't let the enclosure drop below 65°F. If needed use a ceramic heat emitter. Dragons have a third eye at the top of their heads that sense light, CHE put off heat but no light. Red lights shouldn't be used. Basking temp for a baby-Juvie should be 100-110°F.

 

[Ninturtle]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look into dubia roaches and a CHE and I'll stop using a red light to transition into night time.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Nicely done Bobbi
Welcome Ninturtle! most of your questions have been answered so that's good.. I have mine in a 55 gal and what I did is I got 2 mesh lids that meet in the middle of the tank and on those ends I flattened the edge out so they lie flat on eachother. works great..
A few of us have put together an extensive post for general care for new comers you will find the links under several of our signature lines (below our comments) if you scroll onto those they will take you to the link... 1 is for the general care and the other is Diseases. You will find a bunch of info there and in the food section you will find 2 links to the guides that most of us use and refer to.
Having your lights on a timer will be your best friend.. Mine go on at 7am and go off at 9pm but Izzy is out and on my chest under a fleece by 6pm so a 12/12 is good. And yes no lights of any color at nighttime.
I use tile for my substrate and under her hides I have repti carpet and fleece.. easy clean up.
Ask whatever you need and we love pictures

 

[Bobbi]

Nicely done Bobbi
Welcome Ninturtle! most of your questions have been answered so that's good.. I have mine in a 55 gal and what I did is I got 2 mesh lids that meet in the middle of the tank and on those ends I flattened the edge out so they lie flat on eachother. works great..
A few of us have put together an extensive post for general care for new comers you will find the links under several of our signature lines (below our comments) if you scroll onto those they will take you to the link... 1 is for the general care and the other is Diseases. You will find a bunch of info there and in the food section you will find 2 links to the guides that most of us use and refer to.
Having your lights on a timer will be your best friend.. Mine go on at 7am and go off at 9pm but Izzy is out and on my chest under a fleece by 6pm so a 12/12 is good. And yes no lights of any color at nighttime.
I use tile for my substrate and under her hides I have repti carpet and fleece.. easy clean up.
Ask whatever you need and we love pictures

My question is, at what age or length do you consider the beardie to go from baby to juvenile and juvenile to adult?

 

[Ninturtle]

My bearded dragon is shedding and won't eat, is this normal?

 

[Hdrydr31]

My bearded dragon is shedding and won't eat, is this normal?

Every dragon is different but yes they can tend to get alittle cranky and not have an appetite while shedding. You can increase how often you bathe him during this time, for hard stuck on shed's you can use a kids toothbrush that is soft and go in the direction of the scales gently brush, you can use a tiny bit of pure aloe (you can buy it in gal sizes) just make sure you rinse them well before going back under the basking lights.
****Resist the urge to pull off any shed.... this is important as you can damage the scales underneath..
It is normal and fine for them to eat the shed scales.

 

[Ninturtle]

Every dragon is different but yes they can tend to get alittle cranky and not have an appetite while shedding. You can increase how often you bathe him during this time, for hard stuck on shed's you can use a kids toothbrush that is soft and go in the direction of the scales gently brush, you can use a tiny bit of pure aloe (you can buy it in gal sizes) just make sure you rinse them well before going back under the basking lights.
****Resist the urge to pull off any shed.... this is important as you can damage the scales underneath..
It is normal and fine for them to eat the shed scales.

Every dragon is different but yes they can tend to get alittle cranky and not have an appetite while shedding. You can increase how often you bathe him during this time, for hard stuck on shed's you can use a kids toothbrush that is soft and go in the direction of the scales gently brush, you can use a tiny bit of pure aloe (you can buy it in gal sizes) just make sure you rinse them well before going back under the basking lights.
****Resist the urge to pull off any shed.... this is important as you can damage the scales underneath..
It is normal and fine for them to eat the shed scales.

I wasn't aware that I had to bathe my dragon, how would I go about doing this?

 

[Hdrydr31]

Yea you should give them a bath 1-2 times a week in warm (like what you would bathe a baby in) up to their elbows...You can do this in the tub or bathroom sink if he's little or the kitchen sink... If this is their first bath he may try and get out some like them some don't.. Never leave them un attended as sometimes they will submerge they can close their nostrils, you just don't want them going under for long so they don't inhale water.
Mine will only poop while in her bath...So I bathe her every other day she soaks for 10-15 min then usually she likes having the water flowing over her back then she'll poop... Easy clean up just let it drain rinse them off well and your good to go.
Dry him off good and put him under his basking light to warm up.
then make sure you disinfect the sink afterwards with a diluted bleach solution

 

[PatsyB]

Everyone has given great advise! @Bobbi a juvi is around 6-7 months and an adult is at 18months.