[modchik]

Hi -- I'm here trying to learn more about our bearded dragon. We bought him in June 07 so that makes him an adult now? yes?? Recently he has taken to hiding beneath the paper towels and eating maybe every other day. Hardly poops (due to lack of eating) the only thing that seems to perk him up is a trip outside (but I have to hold him, he bolts if I loosen my grip)... So here is his set up maybe someone has some advice.

55 GAL cage/Paper towel substrate/elevated water dish/Mercury Vapor Bulb on from 7a-7p /2 incandescent bulbs (second one for winter time to maintain heat) both OFF during the summer -- ok I know this sounds strange but he has NEVER liked the heat. he will run and get to the coolest part of the cage if the basking area is over 90. He comes out from hiding if I only have the UVA/UVB light (which I may add has been acting strange, the shadow it casts moves..... normal? like something is moving inside the bulb) --- we bath him once a week. Feed him Romaine (he is SUPER picky have tried all the appropriate BD veggies/fruits on the list... prefers silkworms, just doesn't want anything to do with crickets but will eat if I hold back the treats (butter worms) have tried Phoenix worms and mealwor(rare occassion) Oh likes the horned worms too if not too large. Ate a praying mantis the other day when he was out, my bad. I dust his food with a multi. and the calcium. Tried prepack BD treats (no go).

I was thinking I need to build him and outdoor enclosure. Do you think his cage now is too small for a BD that is 15-18 mos.old? He's about 2 feet. I will try to upload some pics.

thank you for any suggestions, he just seems terribly depressed.
Lindsey "chompers mom"

[Ashuresque]

55 gal sounds good to me... Is it a tall fish tank or a long one? Do you mean that you turn your UVA/UVB light off during the summer? If so, he needs it year round.

He'll eat the romaine? have you tried mixing together healthy veggies with the lettuce?

[Jenn]

55 gallon should be ok. I would cut out the romaine asap and keep offering proper veggies. They need a basking area of around 110 and be able to get within 6-10" of the UVB. Keep them on all year long you can put them on a timer to simulate day and night hours. try giving him a warm bath with temps around 100 that could help in digestion and pooping. there temps are very important so get something to measure the basking suface itself not just the air temp around it. If that falls I would recommened a vet visit very soon.

[schlegelbagel]

That UVB needs to be on all year round, otherwise they can't digest properly. I doubt he doesn't like the heat, you just don't see him in it. He really needs a warm and a cool side.

He probably perks up outside because he is in the sun getting the UVB he needs. You can take him out, he just needs a hip leash so he doesn't get away.

Check out our care sheet to see if he needs more tweeking in his enclosure and care. Maybe build him a few hiding spots out of rocks or even just tupperware.

Reptile Forums - The HC Network - Bearded Dragon Caresheet (Pogona vitticeps)

[fire2225ems]

First off, WELCOME LINDSEY! We are glad you and Chomper found us!

Is your MVB the same one you bought last June? If so, it's time for a replacement. They are only guaranteed to give the UVB for 1 year.

I would also cut out the romaine. If you need to start just feeding proper veggies (and nothing else) until he starts eating them.

You could also try a hip leash for when he is outside. I would actually strongly suggest this if he is flighty. That way even if he were to wriggle out of your grasp, you still have some control over where he goes.

Be VERY careful letting him get outside bugs. Fireflies especially. They are lethal to BDs.

[Merlin]

LOL I believe that she is saying the 2 incandescent heat bulbs are off in the summer!

Welcome Lindsey.
Sounds to me like he is trying to brumate (the lizard version of hibernation). Our male does this from time to time.
Ditch the romaine and go with the recommended greens. It may take some "tough love" time but he will adjust.
Bearded Dragons like heat. The fact the you are running a Mercury vapor lamp and two other bulbs makes me question the accuracy of your thermometer! What are you using to measure the temperature?
The 55 gallon tank is fine! And having an outside enclosure is fine as well as long as it is secure and nothing can get in. As stated fireflies are toxic and even one can kill a dragon that eats it.

[DarkMagician207]

Welcome to HC! Good luck with your dragon.

[modchik]

THANK YOU ALL for chiming in, so helpful. Sorry I forget sometimes leaving out key info in a post, leads to confusion.

About the Lamps - Yes, Merlin it's the 2 incand. I have turned off because it gets to be 100-105 on his basking and that seems too turn him off, he'll go hide. His 55 GAL Tank (not a fish tank) is a few inches from the window which lets in some light and heat. I promise you since we got him he has never basked for more than 30 min. The UVA/UVB (Mercury Lamp) was measured it and its not as close as it should be, about 12".

Monitoring Temps - I use a probe taped to the basking spot (101 with UVA/UVB light add an incandescent and it jumps to 110) and an instant read for ambient temps. It's usually around 80-85/ maybe 75 in the opposite corner where he hides in his tank during the summer.

Food - I used to give him greens (mustard/Collard/dandelion) I will get back on them, he just seemed to not like them. I mix in micro greens too, but sparingly because I'm not sure how potent the sprouts are. I mix in squash, and fruit all kinds from the "list" and he avoids them all. I will tough love it out!

Bugs - I won't let him eat anything outside, we don't have fireflies (in SO CA) but we do have nice temps to give him lots of outdoor time.

I think I am going to move him into another room where we can interact with him more, I took him outside yesterday and he kept puffing up every time I walked by and he could see my shadow above, poor guy... but after that when I put him back in his cage he was active for about 30 min and then crawled in the coolest/darkest spot curled up and slept and now he's still in the same spot, almost 18 hrs later.

I am going to order another bulb and a leash -- but I guess if he's brumating (sp?) I'm forcing him to be active..

thanks again for the support!
Linz

[Merlin]

You need to bring the basking temperature back up. By dropping the temperature you are simulating winter, or as close to winter as a Bearded Dragon would naturally get. This is tricking him into attempting to brumate.
A basking area is just that, a place to go get a warm up, then move away. It isn't expected that they would spend all their time there.
If by "micro greens" you mean alfalfa sprouts and the like, they are nutritionally worthless. Its only after the plant begins growing and photosynthesizing that the nutrients develop.
Try feeding the greens in the morning and crickets in the evening. You can also drop a couple of mealworms in his greens to move and attract his attention.

[Jenn]

A basking area of 110 is fine, Leave it there.