Dragon help

[DragonLizard]

So I've recently welcomed two juvinile central beardies to my home but one seems a very thin in comparison to the other and doesn't appear to be eating, I've seen it take a bite of some bok choi but it doesn't seem to be eating much at all and stays rather still against the the glass of the tank. I tried offering it a meal worm to intice it to eat but that didn't seem to work, It also appears to be in mid shed so I am at a loss at what to do any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[mad_at_arms]

You will need to provide more information such as:

• enclosure size
• basking temp
• do you have UVB?
• are they housed together?
• diet/supplements?

before any one can start to give a decent assessment.

 

[Grogshla]

mate don't feed it mealworms. Get the heat on basking spot to 40-45 c and a good 10.0 uvb tube.
please provide us with more information

 

[DragonLizard]

Currently an 18 inch tank
I'm not sure what the tempreture is but they have a 60 UV lamp. I also have a heat pad but it isn't on at the moment.
Yes they are housed together
I coat the dragon pellets with calcium powder, they also get diced bok choi and carrot.

I was trying mealworms as that is what the sellers were feeding them at the expo.

 

[Grogshla]

u need a basking lamp and a uvb tube. These are seperate.

 

[DragonLizard]

UVB tube? what is that?

 

[Grogshla]

the best uvb lights come in a fluro tube like form. You should be able to get a 2 foot fixture for the tube from pet shop. Make sure it has a rating of 10.0 and allow the dragon to sit under it roughly 10-20cm away from the tube. It has to be directly above the dragon as uvb rays don't travel through glass. Your basking lamp should provide a basking spot of 40-45 degreees. A 60w bulb should be sufficient for your enclosure. UVB rays help the dragon develop process the calcium and build strong bones. It also helps with general well being and appetite.

 

[DragonLizard]

No one has ever mentioned that i needed a uvb tube before... not for any of the other reptiles i have either... that would mean i have to buy new tanks ....

 

[Grogshla]

for nocturnal animals such as geckos or snakes you don't need uvb but for lizards it is a must.
Not sure if you will require new enclosures ( I would personally get 2x 3 foot enclosures and seperate them anyway) but as long as they can both share a good basking spot and a good source of uvb then they should be ok.
Is there any bullying between the lizards?
How often are you feeding them. You should be feeding them small-medium crickets. Also get rid of the heatmat. They are not needed for dragons as they get their heat and sense heat from above.
Here is a picture of how I have set up my dragon enclosure

 

[DragonLizard]

Well i have the 60 w basking lamp (URS) over a spot and the heatmat is just there not on. You would think that should of been mentioned when i was given the first batch of animals and the tanks... but all others are thriving. they are still a little small for the crickets that the pet shops sell around here. I'm feeding them every two days.

 

[Grogshla]

Cool sounds like you are on the right track mate. Some pet shops sell the pin head crickets which would be great to feed them. Be sure to dust the crickets with calcium powder and vitamin powder. Keep the vegies up even if they don't eat them yet and give them a bit of a light spray once a day if they aren't drinking water out of a bowl. But yeah next thing to do would be to get some uvb for the little critters

 

[iHerp]

mate don't feed it mealworms. Get the heat on basking spot to 40-45 c and a good 10.0 uvb tube.
please provide us with more information

40-45 is way to much i was told it needs to be 32 hot end and 34 on basking spot. (by loads of people

 

[DragonLizard]

Well they are going for swims in the water bowl and i've seen them drink, so i've been changing the water often. I'm using converted fish tanks, Would having two rocks instead of one allow the pair to bask more evenly ? The little one was just in the water too haha. Yep dust the crickets with the gutload and with the calcium powder the gutload before and the calcium just as i'm feeding the dragons/skinks. Though the skinks have been far more receptive of vegies then insects.

Should i spray them lightly even if they are swimming?

 

[Grogshla]

40-45 is way to much i was told it needs to be 32 hot end and 34 on basking spot. (by loads of people

Hi mate. Nope 32-34 is way too cool. Many people on the forums that breed and house dragons will all say high 30's for adult dragons minimum and roughly 40-45 for baby dragons. If you have a good temp gradient then it wont matter anyway as the dragon can choose to be exactly where it feels.

 

[Chris1]

40-45 is right, digestion is compromised under 38.

its most likely stressed and needs to be seperated,..

ofcourse you will also need the UVB light as mentioned, but its more likely stressed since the other one is doing ok,...

beardies need insects like crickets and roaches, pellets maake good insect food, but not good beardy food.
a guide for insect size it they should be as long as the distance between ur dragons eyes.

 

[Grogshla]

Well they are going for swims in the water bowl and i've seen them drink, so i've been changing the water often. I'm using converted fish tanks, Would having two rocks instead of one allow the pair to bask more evenly ? The little one was just in the water too haha. Yep dust the crickets with the gutload and with the calcium powder the gutload before and the calcium just as i'm feeding the dragons/skinks. Though the skinks have been far more receptive of vegies then insects.

Should i spray them lightly even if they are swimming?

thats cool. If they are drinking and swimming then all is good and I wouldnt spray them. Spraying is only good if they arent drinking out of a bowl so they can get some hydration.

 

[DragonLizard]

What could be causing stress to the beardie? they are out of sight of the other reptiles, is having two in a tank a bad idea? I was given the impression they did better being together from a young age. I know my adult eastern acts 'lonely' since his companion died.

 

[iHerp]

Hi mate. Nope 32-34 is way too cool. Many people on the forums that breed and house dragons will all say high 30's for adult dragons minimum and roughly 40-45 for baby dragons. If you have a good temp gradient then it wont matter anyway as the dragon can choose to be exactly where it feels.

as soon as it hits around 35 degrees they begin to open their mouth to release heat. anything beyond that would be extremely way to hot

 

[Chris1]

What could be causing stress to the beardie? they are out of sight of the other reptiles, is having two in a tank a bad idea? I was given the impression they did better being together from a young age. I know my adult eastern acts 'lonely' since his companion died.

the other beardy its housed with.

IHerp, do with ur beardies what you like, 35 is too low, if they dont bask with their mouths open, then temps are too low!!!

 

[DragonLizard]

the other beardy its housed with.

So in theory If i seperate them It might improve? is there an ideal way to seperate them?