Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought 2 german giant x inland about a year ago i feed them as many cricket they will eat every day a mixture of collard green kale and carrots every other day the day temp is about 82 at the cool side and 90on the basking spot they have only groun about 2 inches my friend got one 3 months ago and it has groun 6 inches why have mine not been growing? any advise is appreciated
thanks jdm
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Josh
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2.4 Leopard Geckos
1.1 German Giant Bearded Dragons
2.3 Green Iguanas
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
2 Mole Salamanders
0.1 Corn Snake
1 Eastern Milk Snake
3.0 English Setters
2.1 Muts
1.0 Cat

The surface temperature of your basking site should be between 105 and 115 degrees F. If it's not, your dragons aren't getting warm enough to digest their food properly.
If they aren't digesting properly, then they aren't getting all of the nutritional value out of their food, and will be undersized.
In other words, even though you are giving them enough food, because of the temps, you are in fact starving them to some degree.

Also, are you supplementing them with calcium and D3? Vitamins?
How's their lighting? Do they have UVB? All of these things affect size and health.

Hope this helps.
D.A.

ihave been sumplamenting w/ calcium and multi vitamins they have an exo terra 2.0 uvb bulbon top. i did have the temp of there basking spot 105 but i observed mouth gaping so i lowered it. thanks for the advise i will highten the temp to 105 again.
jdm
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Josh
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2.4 Leopard Geckos
1.1 German Giant Bearded Dragons
2.3 Green Iguanas
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
2 Mole Salamanders
0.1 Corn Snake
1 Eastern Milk Snake
3.0 English Setters
2.1 Muts
1.0 Cat

It's perfectly normal for them to gape their mouths while they bask. The theory I've heard is it's a way for them to keep their head/brain from over heating while letting the rest of their body get warm enough.

If the temp is a bit too high, the dragon will lay at the edge of the basking area. If the temp is too far over what the dragon is comfortable with, it will avoid the area altogether and stay on the cooler side.

Any temp lower than 95 degrees and their food will almost surely rot in their stomachs instead of being digested. You're lucky you haven't had some major problems before now.

D.A.

thanks alot for your help
jdm
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Josh
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2.4 Leopard Geckos
1.1 German Giant Bearded Dragons
2.1 Green Iguanas
0.1 Mali Uromastyx
2 Mole Salamanders
0.1 Corn Snake
1 Eastern Milk Snake
3.0 English Setters
2.1 Muts
1.0 Cat