Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
He's back to his "standing in the corner" thing again. He doesn't climb; he just sits there for hours at a time.
Beardies
- Thread starter AmandaS
- Start date
He's back to his "standing in the corner" thing again. He doesn't climb; he just sits there for hours at a time.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Aww…he figured out that there’s no ladies around and he’s sulking.He's back to his "standing in the corner" thing again. He doesn't climb; he just sits there for hours at a time.
View attachment 305969
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I wish, but IDTS. He still goes through several-times-a-day bobbing & stamping periods.
summerseeking
Avid Member
Can y’all help me with a beardie question please. I was watching a @Gingero video rating enclosures and she mentioned uvb can’t pass through aquarium glass. This is the enclosure I made for Luno. It’s a 75g aquarium. I turned it on it’s side, installed 5 inch vents across the the top and some other stuff. The enclosure is bioactive, using Biodudes arid substrate.
I’m worried he isn’t getting any or enough uvb. I used a uvb tester card and it said the uvb inside Luno’s house is good, but maybe those cards aren’t trust worthy. IDK, any thoughts and help would be appreciated. Luno seems healthy and happy, however he does spend a lot of time on the upper rim of his walls.
We’re outside sunning ourselves right now just in case lol
I’m worried he isn’t getting any or enough uvb. I used a uvb tester card and it said the uvb inside Luno’s house is good, but maybe those cards aren’t trust worthy. IDK, any thoughts and help would be appreciated. Luno seems healthy and happy, however he does spend a lot of time on the upper rim of his walls.
We’re outside sunning ourselves right now just in case lol
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MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Aww…he’s a cutie!
No, uvb can’t pass thru glass. It would be better to turn the tank so the screen is on top so he can get uvb. Another option would be to hang your uvb inside of the enclosure. I don’t think those uvb cards are of much use for reptile keeping. Only a solarmeter 6.5 would be able to determine uvb levels.
summerseeking
Avid Member
The vents do seem to allow UVB to pass through. Do you think adding more vents could help or it just wouldn’t be enough.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
75g is too small for a full-grown beardie; 120g (48 x 24 x 24) minimum, and as much larger as you can manage. I built mine 60 x 24 x 30, and I think it's too small—wish I'd gone 72" or even 96".
The others are correct; UVB canot pass through glass or most plastics. In fact, I used glass doors on my beardie enclosure to stop the stronger (10.0) UVB from bleeding out into the room and affecting our eyes. The small amount your little guy is getting through those vents is not sufficient (I have the same vents in the back of my enclosure).
What strength UVB is it, and how long vs. length of the enclosure. Unlike with chameleons, UVB should not run the entire width of a beardie enclosure; they need to be able to get out of it. I can't tell from the pics if he has any hides, but he should have at least one or two.
https://www.reptileadvisor.com/bearded-dragon-lighting/
I know keepers who go as low as 1/2 width.
Apart from basking, they also don't need a lot so providing gradients of both basking temp and UVB are important.
I don't put much stock in those cards either; I think a Solarmeter 6.5x or DIY equivalent is really the way to go, especially if you're going to be keeping more than one reptile.
Spending time in the upper regions could be seeking more heat, more UVB, or just because they're semi-arboreal and like being up high.
Outside time is great, but if/when he says he's had enough (tries to get out of the sun), I'd listen.
Until you get his enclosure rectified, I'd give him calcium w/ D3 once per day, 6 days a week, but please don't use this as a reason/excuse to not rectify the UVB sitch.
Aren't they all?
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MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
I don’t think it would be enough. How did you get the vents in the glass? If you’re able, maybe remove enough or all of the glass on top and make it screened.
summerseeking
Avid Member
75g is too small for a full-grown beardie; 120g (48 x 24 x 24) minimum, and as much larger as you can manage. I built mine 60 x 24 x 30, and I think it's too small—wish I'd gone 72" or even 96".
The others are correct; UVB canot pass through glass or most plastics. In fact, I used glass doors on my beardie enclosure to stop the stronger (10.0) UVB from bleeding out into the room and affecting our eyes. The small amount your little guy is getting through those vents is not sufficient (I have the same vents in the back of my enclosure).
What strength UVB is it, and how long vs. length of the enclosure. Unlike with chameleons, UVB should not run the entire width of a beardie enclosure; they need to be able to get out of it. I can't tell from the pics if he has any hides, but he should have at least one or two.
View attachment 305987
https://www.reptileadvisor.com/bearded-dragon-lighting/
I know keepers who go as low as 1/2 width.
Apart from basking, they also don't need a lot so providing gradients of both basking temp and UVB are important.
I don't put much stock in those cards either; I think a Solarmeter 6.5x or DIY equivalent is really the way to go, especially if you're going to be keeping more than one reptile.
Spending time in the upper regions could be seeking more heat, more UVB, or just because they're semi-arboreal and like being up high.
Outside time is great, but if/when he says he's had enough (tries to get out of the sun), I'd listen.
Until you get his enclosure rectified, I'd give him calcium w/ D3 once per day, 6 days a week, but please don't use this as a reason/excuse to not rectify the UVB sitch.
Aren't they all?
Thank you for the feedback! I’m using the Arcadia 12% it’s 4ft, which is the length of his enclosure. He has a hide overhang built into his “rock wall”, but he barely uses it and now I know why.
I read that beardies can’t process eating D3 they need to absorb it through their skin. Sound like I need to build him a new enclosure today. I already have wood to work with because I just finished building a second Cham enclosure. I really appreciate the help. I couldn’t sleep last night worrying about the dreaded MBD.
summerseeking
Avid Member
I used hole cutting drill bits specifically for cutting glass. I thought about cutting a large rectangle from the top and covering it with screen.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
IDK where you read that, but there's plenty of scientific evidence & studies that say they can, not to mention thousands of keepers.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,33&q=bearded+dragon+d3&btnG=
See also the life's work of Dr Frances M. Baines, M.A. Vet.M.B. M.R.C.V.S.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frances-Baines
and
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm
To be clear, UVB is still the best way for beardies to synthesize D3 to process calcium & phosphorous, and avoid MBD, but in the absence of sufficient UVB, supplementation can help.
You can also ask on https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/index.php
summerseeking
Avid Member
Thank you for the reference material! There are so many “experts” with conflicting information it gets confusing. I’m new to keeping reptiles. I trust this space and the info from it so I appreciate your knowledge.
Also, I ordered a UVB meter, with all my Chams and Luno it makes sense. I stress about UVB, just want to make sure they have what they need.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
That's great. IDK if you saw it, but here's a tip ...
I have my plant lights set for 12 hrs. on/12 hrs. off. At sunup & sundown, the sun has to penetrate a much thicker atmosphere, which filters out both heat and UVB, so I have basking & UVBs set to turn on an hour later, and turn off an hour earlier. This has an added effect of extending the life of a UVB bulb by approx. 2 months.
summerseeking
Avid Member
Oh whoa! Thank you for sharing. Do you do this for your Chams and Beardies?That's great. IDK if you saw it, but here's a tip ...
I have my plant lights set for 12 hrs. on/12 hrs. off. At sunup & sundown, the sun has to penetrate a much thicker atmosphere, which filters out both heat and UVB, so I have basking & UVBs set to turn on an hour later, and turn off an hour earlier. This has an added effect of extending the life of a UVB bulb by approx. 2 months.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
One of each is all I've got!
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I get the distinct feeling he's trying to tell me something...
Ah, well... at least he hit the paper towel!
Ah, well... at least he hit the paper towel!
summerseeking
Avid Member
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
It looks like that tank is large enough to house him. Are you going to keep him in that?
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
That's the 75 gal. It'll do for now if that's a recent pic., but eventually, he'll need a 120g (48 x 24 x 24) or larger.
summerseeking
Avid Member
No, that tank is for a Hypo Wero girl we are getting soon. I still have to build it out. His tank is this same size tho
