Need help bearded dragons!

Hey I need some help my 2 beardies may have a stunted growth. (There housed separately btw) my bigger one is 10 months old and is 11 inches long and my 8 month old beardie is 8 inches long including the tails is this regular? Please I'm super worried!:(:confusd: Also if u have an Instagram I'm selling the smaller beardie so tell me in the thread if u want him/her (unsexxed) thanks. Sean.

What is their housing set up like? Are you provided them with UVB light? If so, when was the last time you changed the bulb? What and how often are you feeding them?

The smaller beardie and the big beardie both have a hide on the cool side something to climb on the substrate is reptile carpet u be was last change about 7 months ago not sure I just started giving them more veggies like collard greens carrots and celery and I just ran out of crickets this week and I usually feed my smaller one 3 large crickets so he doesn't throw up yes they small enough for him to eat and my bigger one 7 to 10 large crickets and I try to feed them crickets every other day and they are dusted what's wrong I'm so worried:(.

A young dragon can easily put away far more than 3-10 crickets. You're under feeding.

Crickets should be about the size of the distance between your dragons eyes. Feed as many as they'll eat in maybe 10 minutes, daily. I've seen dragons eat as many as 40+ in a meal.

Check out beardeddragon.org forums. They'll be able to help more.

Edit: usually those uvb bulbs say how long they're good for. I think most are 6 months- 1 year depending on type.

If I do what your saying should it grow to regular size after a few months

Or is it unfixable

I don't know for sure. I would expect it to grow, though.

What type of UVB are you using, how far away from the floor of the cage is it, how hot is your hot spot, what are your cage dimensions, are you dusting their insects with calcium powder?

I'm using a reptisun 10.0 just. It's 13 inches from the ground basking spot is about 95 degrees it's a 100 watt zoo med. and it's also 13 inches from the ground of the terrarium.

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Originally Posted by Seanorangebeard9

I'm using a reptisun 10.0 just. It's 13 inches from the ground basking spot is about 95 degrees it's a 100 watt zoo med. and it's also 13 inches from the ground of the terrarium.

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Is the 10.0 a CFL or the long tube covering the whole cage. I would bump up the feeding quite a bit, and if its a CFL I would recommend getting a tube that provides a larger area of UVB, I would also dust the insects before feeding. I provide a much warmer hot spot for our Beardie, about 110F. How big is the cage? On another note I would ditch the carpet and go with an actual substrate...

I disagree on the substrate. Get some slate tile if anything.

I use the coconut fiber substrate for both of ours. Basking spot at 108 feeding Dubia roaches mostly and greens (one tank I run a uvb bar the other reptisun light is a combo heat/uvb) my 8 month old hypo Trans is about 11" and I've seen him put down 25-30 good sized Dubias in 10 minutes. You're underfeeding currently.

Our male who's 10 will eat 40 large crickets or 15-25 Dubias every other day and a pinky once a month.


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Originally Posted by Trogdorpheus

I disagree on the substrate. Get some slate tile if anything.

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Ahh yes the slate tile that they come across all the time in the wild. Beardies can and will burrow given the ability too. By using slate or carpet you are eliminating their ability to burrow away from the heat a hide on the cool end will only do so much. I have all my lizards on a deep bioactive substrate and would never turn back.

As others have said, you are under feeding your dragons. They need animal proteins to grow, thus, your dragons slow growth. My dragons will eat 40 to 60 appropriate size crickets a feeding, every other day, occassionally will get fed daily. Along w their veggies.

Uv lights need to be changed out every 6 months, whether you want to or not, even if U dont think there is a reason. Use a black perm. marker, mark date on bulb on one end so U kno when it was last changed. Uv bulbs lose their efficiency quickly.

I have had dragons for over 10 years, and mine do well w fresh Uv lighting and plenty of crickets and veggies.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Ahh yes the slate tile that they come across all the time in the wild. Beardies can and will burrow given the ability too. By using slate or carpet you are eliminating their ability to burrow away from the heat a hide on the cool end will only do so much. I have all my lizards on a deep bioactive substrate and would never turn back.

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Actually, bearded dragons don't live on a loose sand type like most people think. It is mostly really hard packed dirt. Plus, this animal lives in captivity- not in the wild. Slate tile is MUCH better than a loose substrate- no impaction risks, and bacteria can be harbored a whole lot more in sand/dirt than it can in tile, which can be easily wiped down everyday.

Try switching to Dubia roaches. They're a little bit better for your beardies than crickets are. Also try adding Phoenix worms to their diets they're high in calcium so you don't have to dust them. Try the T5 High Output UVB bulb, its what the breeder I got my beardie from recommended and my little 6 month old beardie us exploding in size.

Just seconding some previous statements:

Definitely need to feed more. Rule of thumb is to give them as many as they'll take in a 15 minute time frame. They will grow steadily until they reach their intended size/age ratio but it can't be said how long that will take

Also slate tile is the way to go, just make sure you get ones that will fit evenly in your tank OR that you have a rotary blade that can cut the slate to size. It's a huge money and time saver of a substrate, and it mimics their home field (rocks)