Stumpy

[Orangephoner]

So I got a bearded dragon yesterday!!! I've never owned one. I have 2 ball pythons so I know reptile care. I'm pretty excited to have this guy. His name is stumpy cause somehow with the previous owner he lost 3 hands and half his tail. He seems healthy and happy. Eats and gets around like a champ. He does seem to have some stuck shed tho. Just wondering if there is anything specific I need to know. I saw that they can eat up to 60 crickets a day? Feed them what they can eat in a 5-10 min period?
Thanks !!

[kitedemon]

They can lose limbs when they are young they bite each other. The shed isn't a big deal it often comes off in chunks.

You have the uv in place? I would not suggest the clf types they can have too much uv and cause conjunctivitis. Given you can easily have too much uv and too little ( screens can block 25% of the uv output for example) I would suggest purchasing a uv meter. They can save money by actually able change bulbs when needed rather than an exact schedule.


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[MrLang]

The adults should only need crickets a few times a week. The diet shifts to more greens and veggies as adults. He looks like he could use a good long soak in luke warm / room temp water. Make sure the bottom of whatever you bathe him in has good traction for his.. stumps... and only as deep as his chest and keep a CLOSE eye on him especially because of his physical condition. I would keep his cage pretty simple and I would supervise feedings carefully since he might not be able to reach his face with his stumps to flick off any crickets that decide they want to munch on him.

GL and congrats!

[Orangephoner]

I found a place where I can buy crickets in bulk. How many (estimate) do you go thru in a week? How often should I feed him crickets? How many at a time ? He doesn't seem as interested in the greens as he does the bugs. Thank you for your input

[kitedemon]

http://www.solarmeter.com/model62.html

The price went up a bit from when I bought mine. I find I get 2-8 month longer on the uv bulbs I figure I am half way to paid for now rather than 6 month changes.

Uv should be a gradient one point around 200mu/m at the top end.


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[kameo37]

Please go to www.beardeddragon.org
It has everything you need to know. Bearded dragon's have a lot of specific husbandry requirements, much more than a bp, for example.
Fyi- if you're buying online in bulk anyway, get dubias, phoenix/reptiworms, butterworms, etc instead. Crickets are a pain and are less nutritious than the other options I listed.

[kameo37]

Also, he doesn't look super healthy to me. His mouth looks malformed, maybe from having mbd previously or having it currently. He looks like he needs a lot of warm baths. Get him out in the natural sun as much as you can. He will need a reptisun 10.0 TUBE light running 1/2 to 3/4 of his tank, which should be 4x2x2 (or 18 inches), 40g breeder MINIMUM...but that is really small.
Sorry, after I went back and looked at the pics I felt this was a more urgent situation than I thought at first. He's not in the worst shape I've seen, but he's going to need your help for sure! Glad you have taken on the challenge!

[Orangephoner]

What is mbd? He just got out of the bath. Ill get him back in shape he has an appetite for sure. Ill take him outside also that's a good idea. It's nice and warm in southern Utah. Does anyone know a good site to buy bugs in bulk? Thanks

[kameo37]

Www.reptiworms.com
Www.elliotsbutterworms.com
Www.buydubiaroaches.com

Check your local craigslist, too. I have found great deals on dubias there in the past. If you buy some adult breeders, you can start your own colony in a rubbermaid tub! Super easy and much cheaper in the long run.

MBD- Metabolic bone disease. Caused by poor/no calcium absorption. Maybe he had a poor diet, not given the proper supplements, no uvb...maybe all of those. It seems to show up in the face and limbs first. If you press on the tip of his mouth is there some smushiness? It should be rigid. And it may be that he HAD mbd, and the effect was a malformed mouth and that's it. It can be reversed, though the malformations will probably stay. He needs uvb (sun and tube light), calcium and vitamin supplements, a varied healthy diet. Adults eat more veggies than insects, but he looks like he needs some weight on him, so I wouldn't be too stingy with them. He should self regulate pretty well, unless he's been starved...then he might need to work up to a good amount of insects.
Seriously, www.beardeddragon.org ...lots of reading, but it'll help you! Many people on there have rescues and have success!

[Orangephoner]

With breeding roaches from what I understand I just need to get some large ones ( like off the site mentioned above ) keep them in a tank with moisture and food and egg cartons and they do the rest? Or do I need to buy specific breeders?