Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend bought a little bitty baby (3" at the Charlotte show and it doesn't seem to be doing well. It hasn't grown any and it doesn't eat much. I'm building it a new cage. right now its in a little aquarium with a heat pad a hide and it's bowls. Do you think it needs heat from above?

Absolutely! Reptiles have specific requirements that must be met for them tio survive.

Here is a good care sheet for babies.

http://www.dachiu.com/beardeddragoncare/hatchlingcaresheet.html

I would use paper towels or non stick shelf liner for substrate and make sure that you feed the smallest crickets you can get.

Ok i don't think he was warm enough and he wasn't being misted. I'm thinking he might be dehydrated because he's constipated. I've been soaking him in warm water but i don't know what else to do. I've never kept a lizard i'm a snake guy

Try dripping water on his nose twice a day with an eyedropper and see it he'll drink it. I think bathing a very small dragon can cause stress that can be detrimental. I never bath dragons that small. Otherwise get his basking spot temp. spot in the right range and he should be able to digest his food properly.

is it normal that he dosent seem to eat his veggies?

Oh and i wasn't soaking him to get him hydrated. He has dried fecal matter around his vent.

Yes, babies primarily eat bugs. I would still offer a small salad daily. They may nibble at it. I would just offer greens not vegs. Here's a good nutrition site.

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Unfortinatly we lost him. I put a drop of water on his nose and took a shower. When i got out he was dead. I think it was inevitable, he didn't have the energy to move hardly. I will not buy her anouther pet. I bought her 2 snakes(3 &1.5 yrs ago) that are doing great. I care for them when i care for all mine. I hate the number of herps that die because of irresponsible people. It's worse when it happens at my home. To say the least i am not happy

So sorry to hear it Steve...people are selling babies way too small and not giving you the proper info...I see it happen at the shows quite often.If you ever get one in the future[even though it's not in your thoughts right now and the sorrow is fresh]make sure to get one that is over 6"and you will have a much better experience.Take care..sorry about your little lizard.

I'm sorry for your terrible experience. It sounds like your breeder did not take care to 1) make sure the animals he sold were large enough to endure the stress of a show and a new home 2) provide you with necessary information or a caresheet to care for your new pet. You have every right to be angry and disappointed.

Beardies are great pets. I hope in time you can get some good information, proper lighting, and buy a healthy dragon to try again. They take a little more work than snakes, but they are worth it in my opinion!

Hi Steve...I hope that you can get your little dragon going.It is absolutely mandatory to have a basking light and a source of uvb.Is the baby alert or eating at all?If not,and if it's really that small,then it's in big trouble.[Please measure it...no normal baby dragon is 3" even at hatch size,they are about 4"and no reputable breeder sells them right out of the egg]The baby should be set up as was suggested[refer to Dachiu website]If it's eating tiny crickets,it will soon eat tiny shredded pieces of turnip,mustard dandelion greens.Kale collard are a bit tough so wait til it's bigger.To get it to eat greens[mine eat within 2 weeks of age...all of them]you should shred small pieces and drop them in the cage.The babies are attracted to movement and will pounce right on the greens.It works,so try it!!