• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Dragon Questions

doggroomer

doggroomer

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2005
Messages
126
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
PA
I just got 2 BDs. They are in a nice set up for now, it's a little big, so I am wondering if I should downgrade.

They are a pair of 4 inch long babies, in a 30 gallon aquarium. They are on paper towels, have a water dish, hide box, basking area and food dish. Should I get a 10 gallon??

Also, the first day I had them, they were eating greens/veggies, and now they won't eat them! What should I do???? Should I be very worried?

Let me know...anyone!

Thanks
Nicole
 
Definately put them in a smaller tank. I would say perhaps a 10 gallon for now. Their enclosure is too big for them to effectively hunt down food. You should probably cover the sides of the tank with construction paper or something to that effect so they do not get stressed out. How long have you had them for and can you give any other information about them as to whether or not they are stressed(you can tell by looking at their bellies. should be white but will develop black lines when stressed) and if they are hydrated.
 
In my opinion it is too hard to regulate the temps in a 10 gallon tank and provide a proper gradient. I would reccomend a 20 gallon. Also remember that as they get bigger, you will need to seperate them at least until they are adults. Once they are adults, a tank with the dimensions 4'X2'X2' will do for a pair.
 
I agree with drew, you should keep them in the 20 gallon. But if they arent eating very much, you should remove all decorations except for the basking rock/branch and food dish. This should help them to locate everything easily.
 
Hi All and Thanks! They don't seem stressed. I got them on Friday, and I have been keeping them very hydrated. Their bellies are nice and white. They are hunting crickets fine, no trouble at all, they just won't eat the greens. I put paper around the tank on Friday, as soon as I got them, and I have been keeping a VERY close eye on them. They pound the Crickets as soon as they are dropped in the tank.....they just don't seem to want the greens now.....ARGH!

Anyway, I will switch them over to a 20 gal tomorrow, for now, all the stores are closed!
 
you shouldn't expect the babies to eat greens for a while yet. They are probably only like a month old and should be eating as much protien as possible. So for now, dont really worry about the greens.
 
ALWAYS offer greens to babies. They may not eat a lot of them but they aid in digestion. Babies should be on a 80% insect 20% ratio. A 10 gallon tank will work well as long as it does not get to hot. If you find it gets too hot a 20 gallon will work well too as long as there is not a ton of places for crickets to hide.
 
I have been offering dark greens, Dandelion Greens, Turnip greens, and collard greens....I also add yellow and green squash and carrots. I just don't see them eating the "salad"....just crickets! I will keep offering greens twice daily, which is what I have been doing, and I will switch to a smaller tank. What temps are considered too hot?
 
The basking spot should be 95-100, and you want the cool side of the tank to be low to mid 80s when the light is on, this is why it is hard to use a 10 gallon. With a 10 gallon, if you get the hot side around 100, the cool side will be very warm also.
Often when people bring their new beardie home they offer them lots of food items crix and greens both, you need to remember they were probably housed with as many as 20 siblings so they are used to "scrambling" for their food. When they have no competition, they often over eat at first, then they get a tummy ache and may not eat for a while. They also prefer crix over greens usually, so feed the greens first thing in the am then offer crix. I feel that a hungry beardie is usually a sign of a healthy beardie, so keep an eye on there appetite.

Casey and Darla Hulse
Natures Spirit Reptiles/
www.nsreptiles.com
 
Actually, babies prefer slightly higher temps in their basking spots, generally around 105*F-115*F. Adults generally only need around 95*F-105*F in the basking spot.
 
Babies actually thrive at the temps. I stated, and you will not have to worry as much about overheating them if your bulb is a little too close or if your basking area is too high. I never advise anyone new with Beardies to supply a basking area at the Max. recommended temp. but they will do well at 115 MAX also.
 
I agree that one shouldn't *try* to get the max temperature, I generally shoot for the middle (100*F for adults, 110*F for babies). That was why I gave a range though, to say what was acceptable.
 
So far, I seem to be doing ok as a newbie! My temps are about 101-110, at the hottest point on the basking area, and my cool side is 81.5. Night temps are around 70. I watched them take some greens this morning....not much though, just one or two leaves. SO, they are hungry! They do seem to be doing quite well
 
Sounds like you are doin great :) Babies usually only sample their greens if they eat any at all at that age, so definately give em lots of crickets and dont worry if they are not eating as many greens yet. Just keep offering them greens every day along with their crickets. They'll eat more of them as they get older, and like what was said, at this age they need a majority of their diet to be protein anyways.
 
Thanks all! I gave 'em Crickets tonight, and I also got some Rep-Cal Bearded Dragon dry food. I noticed that they go real strong on the crickets, and take about 10 each....I hope they are eating enough! They just seem to take 10 each, and then go back and bask, even though I offer more the 10 each.

I noticed something weird about the snow.....at some temps and after I mist, his tummy gets very dark and spotted...WHAT IS THAT? As soon as he warms up again (around 102+) his tummy is all white again
 
It is normal for a dragon's color (including the rings and spots on the belly) to change with the temperature and mood of the dragon and in response to other factors such as the presence of the opposite sex. Mine always get very bright with white bellies when I feed them or take them out, as well as when they bask. But early in the morning when they are just heating up they tend to be dull (sometimes my yellow male's pattern is flecked with black) Basically what I'm trying to say is that what you are experiencing is completely normal.
 
That is probably thermo-regulation in action. In the morning, and when the dragon is exposed to lower temps they tend to change to a darker color to absorb heat easier. As their body temperature reaches its optimum range they will loose the dark and color up.

Bob
 
Back
Top