Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got 4 bearded dragon babies and I keep them in a 20 gallon high tank. Each are about 5 or 6 inches long from head to tip of tail. I have a mercury vapor 100 watt flood lamp over their basking log and it's about 12" away. I also have rocks with shade to go into. The tank stays at around 90 or more in the light and 80 or less out of it. I put in 8 crickets per meal and have 3 meals per day. Is this right? I also keep veggies in. I read a bearded dragon manual. One still wont eat yet and none will eat veggies. I'll try to get a lot of pics in soon.

first of all the basking temp should be around 110-115 for baby dragons, 110 for adults. the cool side should be around 75-80. turns off all lights at night but do not let temps drop below 70. if they do keep a night time light, like a ceramic heat emmitter, that will provide heat but no light.

this is probably why your dragons are not eating properly. that and with temps too low it can cause many other problems as well, not to mention the dragons turning to eachother for food. yes they can and will nip eachother.

good luck
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Beach Beardies

3.4.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)

I am leary about the mercury vapour bulb being 12" above the basking area, these lights tend to cause problems in dragons if too low. They should be 18" or so above the basking light. Also, your basking temp is way too low. IT should be within 95-115F, the higher range for baby dragons (110-115F). Also, 5 babies in a 20 gal tank is a little crowded. Best to have them individually in 10-20 gal tanks than all together.

Competition for food and good basking spots will eventually cause some to thrive while others do not. The bigger more aggressive babies will take the best basking area, eat most of the food if not all of it, leaving the timid submissive dragons without proper nutrition and basking temps.

Even if all thrive and grow at the same time and have access to serveral basking areas and food dishes, they will have to be separated by 6 months of age to prevent unwanted breedings, competition between males etc.
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PHLdyPayne

I also use a mercury vapor bulb for my dragon, But she is an adult. I bought a 150 watt spot and have it about 18-20 inches away, through my research I have read that 150 watt spot should be at least 18 inches away and a 100 12 inches. The flood doesnt have the concentration of spot and maybe this is why youre temp is a little low. With my spot I also use a 150 watt watt ceramic heat emmiter depending on youre size enclosure you might need either a 100 watt or a 150 to keep the temps up also for babies the temp should be higher like the previous reply said up around 110 to 115. Baby beardies also will eat more insects than vegitation. Try varying the veggies (carrots,kale,collard greens, , mustard greens)dont feed lettuce it has no nutritional value also no spinach it isnt good for beardies I have read. In time they will eat more veggies and less insects.