On behalf of Spike. Beardie issues..

[whoaxmary]

So, this post is not on my behave. I had a friend come to me and specifically ask me to post on this website because I talked about it to her, and mentioned it had a section for beardies, and I guess she's having issues with her Beardie Spike.

Quotes from the fb message:

Hey, I think I remember you saying that your reptile forum has a section for Bearded Dragons?... if so, would you mind making a post for me? Just asking how often peoples' dragons that arent like yearlings shed. That'd be sweeeet if you could. Lemme know.

Another message:

He hasn't shed since like October (~5 months) and right now his humidity sticker is unreadable so I don't know the exact %, but the temperature is usually around 25 degrees Celcius and I mist his tank every day. And he is 4 years old.
Haha thanks, you're awesome. :D I tried Googling it but I cant find a definitive answer.

And I'm starting to worry 'cause he hasnt in a loooooong time. :s

Thoughts?

[mld]

Sounds like her temps are way off, 25 Celcius is only 77 degrees F, which is good for the cool side but the basking spot should be 100-110 F , the ambient temp should be 85-95 F, and the cool side should be 75-85 F.
She should be measuring her temps with a digital thermometer with a probe, the probe can be moved around to different areas of the enclosure to get an accurate measurement. The probe should be touching the actual spot, like the basking spot, not hanging in the air.

Zoo med makes a digital with a probe and exo terra also makes one.

My girl just started shedding after a few months as well, when they are bigger they don't shed as often.
My girl sheds in sections, right now she is shedding her legs and tail, next it will be her head, with is really funny to see, and then next it will be the body.

[Lankyrob]

Dont have beardies but out four legged reptiles shed in smaller bits over a week or two, both are adults and shed maybe three times a year??

[whoaxmary]

Thanks - passing everything along.
We may see Spikes picture around the site soon. ;o
Her boyfriend has always wanted a snake - and she's always been scared of them. But she's met mine, along with another mutual friends 6ft rat snake and actually just told me she was finding them cute! Soo who knows~ <3

[whoaxmary]

Hmm, yeah I knew Spike's temps were off but I dont really know how to make it any hotterr, I have a ZooMed red heat lamp and its only like a foot above his tank level so unless my temp reader is ****ed I dunno... I also have a ZooMed "Repti-Basking Spot Lamp" so I dunno which is better but maybe I'll try switching heat lamps and see if that helps. Or maybe the bulb I have just needs to be replaced, no idea... its hot enough to melt plastic I know that much lol
-Spikes mom


I know she doesn't use a heat matt - and is pretty much against them because of the burn risks. I use heat matts with my snakes just fine - but again - I don't want to go giving her advice as I know nothing about beardies at this point. I do know she has him on sand, if that matters.

[mld]

Hmm, yeah I knew Spike's temps were off but I dont really know how to make it any hotterr, I have a ZooMed red heat lamp and its only like a foot above his tank level so unless my temp reader is ****ed I dunno... I also have a ZooMed "Repti-Basking Spot Lamp" so I dunno which is better but maybe I'll try switching heat lamps and see if that helps. Or maybe the bulb I have just needs to be replaced, no idea... its hot enough to melt plastic I know that much lol
-Spikes mom


I know she doesn't use a heat matt - and is pretty much against them because of the burn risks. I use heat matts with my snakes just fine - but again - I don't want to go giving her advice as I know nothing about beardies at this point. I do know she has him on sand, if that matters.

Depending on the size of her enclosure make a big difference.
The bearded dragons need a basking bulb and a UVB light, or she can get one that has both it called a mercury vapour bulb, but it depends on the sizes of the enclosure. An adult should have a enclosure that is roughly 4'x2'x2'
it should also have different levels for it to bask at, on one side. It doesn't need night time lights, but may require heat if the temps drop below 75 F. Can she post some pictures! that would help. What kind of top does she have for the enclosure? She may be losing a lot of heat out of the top, she can cover the top portion with baking foil as a temporary fix.
To help with shedding she can give him a warm bath, not hot.
Does she offer him a water bowl?
They don't need a humid hide like leo's or snakes do.

[whoaxmary]

I'll get some details about her enclosure, or see if she can send me a picture to post.

[whoaxmary]

Copying and pasting links she sent me; I haven't even looked yet.






http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/Joltiful/spike.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/Joltiful/spike.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/Joltiful/spike-water.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/Joltiful/spike-water.jpg)

"And the lid is just like open-bar 'cage' style. "
-Spikes mom

[whoaxmary]

Oh- and she said she isn't sure the exact measurements but thinks it is a 40g tank.

Thanks. <33

[Lankyrob]

We use Mercury Vapour bulbs for the lizards - we can easily get a 145F basking spot with a 150W bulb in a 2foot high viv (we dont, just in case you are worried but we could!!)

[whoaxmary]

Thanks. :)
I'm glad she asked me do post this for her - I'm learning too. :)
I've actually started joting things down I've been absorbing down in a little note book by my laptop - even if it's about reptiles I don't really plan on keeping. ;o -lame.o-

[Lankyrob]

I write everything down too - my medication seriously messes with my memory so i need a crib book so i can remember things.

[whoaxmary]

Yea, my dislexia makes it hard to rememeber random facts, like temps, and %'s and stuff, so it's nice to keep it all organized somewhere - who know's when I'll need to look something up & I'll have my own little reptile textbook. ;0

[mld]

I've been try to reply but keep losing everything!
She needs to change a lot.
Heat lamp is way to far away for the enclosure, it should be placed on top.
Enclosure is too small 4'x2'x2'
She needs to invest in a digital thermometer with a probe, exo-terra makes one.
What is the wire in the water bowl?
How old is the UVB light?
She should ditch the sand, very dangerous.
Better for her to bath him in the bath tub or laundry sink not too deep or too hot.

[whoaxmary]

Thank you mld. I c&p'd that to them.
I have no idea what the wire in the water bowl is. :S I didn't look at the pictures before posting them yesterday - when I find out I'll tell you.
I know the uvb isn't past it's due - she's tried telling me I need to go out and buy a uvb for my snakes and change it every six months. ;/
When she replies to me I'll post it here.
Thanks again Mld- D: Thats frusterating 'bout losing everything.

[Lankyrob]

Some uvb bulbs are only rated for six months, it worth checking the box it came in.

[mld]

Some uvb bulbs are only rated for six months, it worth checking the box it came in.

So true I just keep them for 6 months, then buy new.
The Mercury vapor bulbs then to last a bit longer.

[TeaNinja]

that tank does look pretty small for a big beardy.
my friend has a bearded dragon that uses his entire room as a viv. he was in "brumation" for almost a whole year and didn't eat anything, then one day i decided to try feeding him, and his body basically clicked back on lol.
now he eats and poops regularly. it's kind of funny to just be playing video games or soemthing and look down, and there's johnson, just staring at you from the ground lol. he's had his tail missing since some guy gave him to my friend YEARS ago. awesome beardy

[mld]

Just checking in to see how Spike is doing?