Small Appetite

[Isabellalivin]

Hi everyone,

I’m new here and I’m looking for some advice. I have a 2 and a half year old male beardie and ever since he was little he has had a small appetite. I have tried every vegetable, every fruit, every bug, spent money on the right lighting and UVB and thermostats and nothing seems to work. He is a a healthy weight and he maintains it well. He used to eat bugs whenever I have them to him but lately he’s been off that as well. If I leave worms or veggies in the tank he will occasionally come over and nibble but never large amounts. Is it normal for some to have smaller appetites?

 

[Sadie]

Hi everyone,

I’m new here and I’m looking for some advice. I have a 2 and a half year old male beardie and ever since he was little he has had a small appetite. I have tried every vegetable, every fruit, every bug, spent money on the right lighting and UVB and thermostats and nothing seems to work. He is a a healthy weight and he maintains it well. He used to eat bugs whenever I have them to him but lately he’s been off that as well. If I leave worms or veggies in the tank he will occasionally come over and nibble but never large amounts. Is it normal for some to have smaller appetites?

They do go off their food - is he basking ? To be safe let's go over the lighting in the tank--- what are you using for a UVB? Is it a coil or a tube fixture? Where in the tank is it? How old is the UVB? We can start there

 

[Isabellalivin]

They do go off their food - is he basking ? To be safe let's go over the lighting in the tank--- what are you using for a UVB? Is it a coil or a tube fixture? Where in the tank is it? How old is the UVB? We can start there

He is basking! He basks most of the day up in his rock. I attached the picture of the UVB. I believe it was a 10.0 and it’s not quite a coil but not a long tube fixture

 

[Skybug]

My beardie has slowed down on her intake aswell, shes a year an a half, she use to eat a huge horn worm , two roaches, and maybe 5 super worms , now im lucky if she’ll take a second 1” roach, some days she rejects food entirely, lizards get food vary rarely in the wild, as long as his weight isn’t dropping, i think its okay, do keep a log of his weight if your worried.

 

[Sadie]

He is basking! He basks most of the day up in his rock. I attached the picture of the UVB. I believe it was a 10.0 and it’s not quite a coil but not a long tube fixture

Ok so the long 10.0 is what bulb? The T 8 or T 5? Is it in the tank or top of screen? The two bulbs have different distance and placement--

 

[Isabellalivin]

Ok so the long 10.0 is what bulb? The T 8 or T 5? Is it in the tank or top of screen? The two bulbs have different distance and placement--

It’s on top of the cage and I believe it’s the T 5

 

[Sadie]

It’s on top of the cage and I believe it’s the T 5

Ok please check the bulb for sure --- is your screen a fine mesh like a screen door or a WIDE hole type - this makes a difference in the effect of the UVB rays --- a screen will block 30% of the rays this is why I am asking along w/ the distance it needs to be --

 

[lonzo2020]

Ok please check the bulb for sure --- is your screen a fine mesh like a screen door or a WIDE hole type - this makes a difference in the effect of the UVB rays --- a screen will block 30% of the rays this is why I am asking along w/ the distance it needs to be --

Hi Sadie. So I have the Reptisun box in front of me. It’s the T8 hood, 30” with a 24” 10.0 T8 17W bulb, the one that is recommended for desert species. This one: https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-t8-reptisun-100-uvb/dp/126590 The mesh that it sits on is not super fine but not exactly wide holed. He’s up on his hammock a lot basking. I know the tank is too tall for him. Right now there is a 75 watt ZooMed basking spot light there. I also have a 100 watt spot lamp that I’m not using. Should I put in the 100W bulb and lower the hammock? The tank I want to put him into is 30” long, 12” high and 12” deep. He’s in a 24” long, 12” deep, 20” high tank right now. I want him to be on the ground of the tank more so he can be more active. Today he only ate 2 worms that he took from us. I’m not sure if he ate more out of his bowl or not.

 

[lonzo2020]

Ok please check the bulb for sure --- is your screen a fine mesh like a screen door or a WIDE hole type - this makes a difference in the effect of the UVB rays --- a screen will block 30% of the rays this is why I am asking along w/ the distance it needs to be --

 

[lonzo2020]

Ok please check the bulb for sure --- is your screen a fine mesh like a screen door or a WIDE hole type - this makes a difference in the effect of the UVB rays --- a screen will block 30% of the rays this is why I am asking along w/ the distance it needs to be --

This is the bulb. It’s actually 18W.

 

[Sadie]

This is the bulb. It’s actually 18W. View attachment 27126

That needs to be in the tank no cover over the bulb - take the cover off the fixture if it's on distance needs to be 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor-- if you need help hanging the hood I can post some in the morning

 

[lonzo2020]

Why do they recommend this bulb for desert species then? Is there a stronger bulb that I don’t have to hang in the tank?

 

[Sadie]

Why do they recommend this bulb for desert species then? Is there a stronger bulb that I don’t have to hang in the tank?

The T 5 is stronger but it would depend on the screen- and you would need a different fixture-- the screen needs to be a wide holed screen for it to sit on top- your screen blocks approx 30% of the rays-- they do make a Arcadia 14% bulb but that is recommended for tanks that have a 24" height- those are real strong bulbs---