Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys, i have read a ton of posts about young beardies not eating. i bought a young beardie about 4 months ago and he has nt eaten alot since i got him. he is about 6 or 7 inches long. he is now living in a very simple 10 gallon tank with one baskingspot. it is about 105 degrees, and other side of the tank is 80 under hiding spot. all he has done since i got him is slept and lazed around. he drinks when i give him water every day but wont catch crickets or eat anything i give to him. he has protruding bones at base of tail starting, and im getting worried. i haev a 100 watt exoterra sun glo bulb and he does get outside with me for 3 or 4 hours on sunny days.does anyone have any ideas as to why hes not active or eating?

A 10 Gal tank is too small for any size dragon. You need to get at least a 20 Long (12 x 30 x 12 Tall) to get the proper temperature separation. I don't believe you are getting 105 and 80 out of a 10 gal. The basking area should be between 110 and 115 but don't do that in a 10 gal. because the cool side will be too hot. Ambient on the hot side should be about 90 - 95 and the cool side at 80ish. This is best accomplished with a spot bulb. What Zoo Med sells as a basking spot is the same as a phillips at Home Depot. If you are going to lay it on the screen this time of year you may only need a 50W for a 20L.

Are you using UVB? Are you supplementing with calcium and multivitamin? Have you considered having a fecal done?

i have a60 gal tank,, and also a 3ft by 3ft screen outdoor cage for when he is older, but i have been told that a 10 gal is alright for now as he is not eating or moving well. ill move him up i have the hot spot at about 105 degrees, and the ambient is around 95 for the whole tank. the cool spot is in a little cave (an upside down hollowed out log) i do not have a uvb light no, so maybe that will help? i will get one 2moro!! i am also vit.supplementing, with any food i CAN get him to take which is mostly veggie shredds when hes drinking (but not NEARLY anough!!). i have also considered getting a fecal done, i just thought id ask for some help first

im sorry. i just checked again. its 86 degrees in hideout

Your dragon is way to hot in that 10 gal tank. No wonder he doesn't want to come out of hiding.

Get him out of teh 10 gal tank and put him into something liek a 20-30 gal long tank. A rubbermade container would serve in a pinch, as long as it is big enough. However, be careful with the heat lamp, as if the bulb touches the plastic, it can melt it.

Having him outside certainly is good exposure to UVB light..but how are you putting him outside? Is he loose, in direct sunlight, still in that 10 gal tank? Direct sunlight can kill a bearded dragon if its hot enough. Even if the air temp is 75F, it can quickly get much hotter than that under direct sunlight with no or little breeze, especially if he is in a glass tank (think car in the parking lot)

I suggest soaking your dragon for 20 minutes in luke warm water (around 75-80F). THis will ensure he has plenty of time to hydrate himself. Just make sure the water isnt' too deep and there is a rock or rolled up clean facecloth for him to sit on, to rest.

What size insects are you trying to feed him? If crickets or whatever are too big, he may feel intimidated by them and they could pose an impaction or choking hazard if large enough.

Try soft bodied and active insects, such as phoenix worms, small wax worms (dont' give too may wax worms, as dragons can get addicted to them), small to medium silkworms and horn worms (if you can get them small. Adult size of these last two worms would be too big for him right now).

I also suggest reducing the time he is outside and how often. An hour a day for about 5 days a week, is enough for him to get all the UVB light exposure he will need. This is mostly to help reduce the stress of being outside for several hours. Outside to a baby bearded dragon can mean sitting duck for the first predator that comes along (which is basically anything big enough to eat him..birds such as crows, seagulls, birds of prey, etc. Also cats, dogs, and wild predators.
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PHLdyPayne