Reptile & Amphibian Forums

let me know if i should get any more lights so that my dragons can have real good color? any recommendations would help. Thanks

You have plenty of lighting. As for color, some dragons have it, some don't. When you bought him was he showing color? That's the best indicator as to if they will grow up to be colorful. That and if the parents were colorful. Lots of breeders may tell you they will color up, or they have colorful linage, and they may, but buying like that is a gamble. Pretty outstanding parents can have normal looking dragons, and plain dragons can hatch out that one stunner. For dragons with the best color your best bet is buying straight from the breeders who are known for selling high colored dragons. You might have bought from a breeder who added a name like sandfire, or blood to make a sale, or told you it will color up when older. You really don't know what you get when you don't know your dragons breeder, or have some idea of past linage, and what they are known to produce.
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Mystical Dragons

Yea my sandfire always has awsome color no matter what. But i just bought a pastel dragon at a show and it also had great color but for the past 2 days the color wasnt as good as i bought it.. Could it be cause it has to get use to the new cage?

Sure, stress can play a huge role in a beardies color. A healthy diet is needed as well for the dragon to show it's best possible colors. Healthy, happy dragons will show their brightest colors. You have the uvb which is important, and helps. Are your temps high enough? I know if a dragon is cold and is in light they will darken their colors to heat the body to the proper temps. the basking SURFACE temp like on a rock or wood should be from 105-115 for young dragons. A proper diet is a plus too. Greens, and veggies are important for them Feed mixed dark leafy greens like collard, chicory, escarole, and add some veggies on top like sweet potato, or squash, and carrots. All these orange/yellow veggies contain beta carotene when fed will help color, or help the dragon hold it's natural coloring. Don't feed to much just add to the diet it's eating now. Not healthy if over done. This alone will not turn your dragon orange. Main things are temps, uvb, goood health/ no stress, and proper diet
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Mystical Dragons

Probably just needs time to get used to its new surroundings. My dragon took 2 weeks to adjust to his new home and then his real colors came out

The reverse can be true also. I purchase 3 babies that all showed great colors from a reputable breeder with high quality lines. When I opened the box they were all nice and colorful. It has been several months and none of the 3 have vibrant colors anymore. I am hoping that maybe they will return as they mature.

I got 3 month old babies from a breeder that looked kinda plain. at 8 months they were screamers. It can go both ways.

sorry cant find the pic of all 3 but here's a single

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

currently I do not use any artificial UV light nor do I plan to.

Back when those pics were taken, I used ESU lights in a 3' vision cage (thats 1 foot off the ground with a basking area could get as close as 6" but took everyone outside for direct sun once a week for a good 3-4 hours.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

you'd probably have airplanes trying to land in it.
( Yeah, I think you have enough light. )

D.A.