Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well about 2 years ago i bought a baby bearded dragon hatchling...he's about 6 inches max...then a couple of weeks ago i went to a reptile show & a guy had a full grow bearded dragon & i asked him how long it should take for a bearded dragon to grow to full size & he said about 18 months, so i have a problem, then he continues to ask me if i used a light bulb w/ UVB rays & i said that i wasn't sure...well sure enough when i went home, i found out that the bulb that i had been using didn't emit UVB rays, only UVA rays...i also realized that his back legs are weak, so i was wondering what i could do at this point...i know that i need to buy a bulb w/ UVB rays, but i was wondering if he would recover atleast somewhat or is it going to make a difference...thanks

Sounds like an overall husbandry issue rather than just a UV issue. If kept in the right conditions, you can grow a healthy a adult beardie without UVB producing bulbs, so to me it sounds like something else in the husbandry requirements isn't being met, and I'm going to need more info on how you're keeping it.

I agree, we definately need more information before we can help you out. But I will give you a quick over view of how your beardie should be housed, and hopefully your set up will match up.

Beardies should be housed in a large tank, 40gallon breeder is the minimum, but i prefer 75gallons or larger.

They need to be kept very warm, their hot spot should be kept between 95-115degrees during that day.

They should have a basking spot that can allow them to get right up underneath their hot spot, but they should also have one on the cooler side of their enclosure.

They should eat a variety of insects, veggies and the occasional piece of fruit. Baby and juvinielle beardies need a higher content of animal protien, and should eat about 75-90% "meat" products (crickets, mealworms, wax worms, butterworms, silk worms, pinkie mice..etc) and 25-10% veggie matter (Collard, Mustard, Dandelion greens, carrots, escarole, kale etc)

Their food should be supplemented with a Calcium powder, every two feedings for babies, and once a week to once every two weeks for healthy adults.

UVB is extremely important, i would definately get a UVB bulb immediately, and i might think about getting the little guy checked out by a vet, especially if you think he has weak bones. The vet may give Calcium injections or just counsel you on proper BD care.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

even more important than UV lights...supplementation is a must. Calcium with d3 and also vitamin powder.

I honestly don't put much stock in UV lighting. I think it's more important that you get the supplements right.