sound i get a heat rock for my bearded dragon?

Question

hes not eating and i v only had him 5 days any iv tryed every thing what sould i do help

should i missed spelled that i hate when i do that

hes a baby and hes in a 10 gal tank and i have 75 wat basking bulb and i got him at pets mart and iv been feeding him twice a day crickets and veggies and i have a book and i went thought every thing i dont know what im doing wrong

Answer 1

No on Heat Rocks. Their has been way too many cases of stomach burns on reptiles from heat rocks because of them shorting out and overheating. I am honestly amazed that they haven't been pulled off the market yet instead of slightly modified.
Regarding Heat Rocks - http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections+index-req-printpage-artid-24.html

Also, basking lizards such as Bearded Dragons benefit from ambient heat from above more than below. That is the way their body is designed to receive the heat instead of the belly.

Read up on some good caresheets such as this one.
http://www.australianbeardies.com/care.htm

Answer 2

Heat rocks are not good for any reptile. They tend to get way too hot and they can cause burns. A ten gallon tank is too small even for a baby beardie. You need a bigger tank so you can set up the proper heat gradient. That means warm on one side cooler on the other. That way the lizard can choose where to go depending on what he needs. Check the temperatures with a good digital thermometer. The temperature gradient during the day should range from 76 F (24 C) on the cool side to 86 F (30 C) on the warm side, with a basking area ranging from 90-100 F (32-37.7 C). Night time temperatures can drop no lower than the low to mid 70s (21 C) on the cool side.

An undertank heating pad under the warm side of the tank will gently heat the substrate. A basking light or heating element should be positioned above so that there is a vertical gradient, with the warmest end at the top. Here is a good care sheet that can help you set up your tank with the proper temperatures that you need.
http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Answer 3

The basking light is best for him. Put it at one end of the cage so there is a warm spot and a cooler area.
Get some mixed vegetables in the frozen food section. The one with carrots, peas and corn. Thaw it to room temp and offer that. Sometimes they want a little color in their diets.
Leave him alone to eat, he is freaked out and wants to feel safe to eat.
If he looks OK. Not faded, or tired. Wait another few days. Reptiles can go for a little while between meals.
If he starts to look sick, call a vet or the store where you got him. Not Petco or Petsmart though. Those people are idiots. They also don't take real good care of the animals, if you got him there, go to the vet now. He may already be sick. Call a reptile store for more advise.
Good luck

Answer 4

You need a heat lamp and a UV lamp. DO NOT USE HEAT ROCKS. A lot of reptiles tend to get burned from heat rocks. Your young dragon is probably just stressed a little bit from the move and all of the new attention. This is quite a common problem.
Remember. In a pet store, each animal only gets minimal attention. Owners, on the other hand, like to give a lot of time and attention to their animals. Give him a little time to settle in and calm his nerves. Try not to handle him a lot for the first week or so. Once he gets to feeling more at ease, he will be just fine.

Answer 5

It may just be stress from being moved, but you didn't mention whether you had a fluorescent UV bulb, it's VITAL that you get one as soon as possible, and place it within 18 inches of the animal. Diurnal lizards need UVB rays to synthesize vitamin D3 to metabolize calcium, especially while they're growing. Also, make sure you (once you get him to eat) supplement his food with calcium powder once or twice a week.. I'd advise against heat rocks. I hate those things, it's too easy for them to malfunction. A piece of red or black slate under a heat lamp works just as well. I would however recommend bumping him up to a larger aquarium. It's really difficult to establish the proper heat gradient you need in a 10 gallon aquarium. Just give him time and see if he adjusts, and find out from the people you got him from what exactly he was eating and try to mimic that as best you can. Try leaving him alone for a while, he may be stressed enough that he won't eat in your presence. Good luck! :)

Answer 6

They prefer to bask in heat than sit on it. Go to a petstore and get a heat lamp with a tight beam basking bulb. Exo-Terra Desert Sun lamps are the best for those types of lizards. Ask the person at the store to show you which one is best for the size cage you have him in.

Also make sure you're feeding the right food- crickets, mealworms, etc. Good luck!

Answer 7

First don't watch him eat. Let him get used to being in his new home. Think if you were his size and being handled and watched by someone 100 times bigger than you. He is probably scared to death. Second call the pet store and ask them what to do. Also find a GOOD book on reptile care and look up Bearded Dragons on the net for info too. Reptiles are very fragile despite their appearances. They have to be kept in very controlled environments. They are not like dogs and cats and need a lot of time to get used to you and their surroundings. Sudden changes or surprises can cause them distress or or death.

Answer 8

make sure you have a uv light and a regular light bulb for heat. also something for him to climb up on to get near or away from the heat. try giving some spring mix lettuce mix bag from the grocery store. i never had a heat rock for mine. i have had my two for 10 years. i do not recall them not eating for such a long time either. but it may be because he is in a new place, youve only had him for 5 days? i dont know. watch him for a few more days. look online and i am sure you can even communicate with someone at various websites. good luck!

Answer 9

You haven't supplied enough information.
How old is the reptile? What type of enclosure do you have it in? How big is the enclosure?
There are many options for keeping your pet happy - heat-rocks are not necessarily the best, or the most economical.
Given that the poor lil fella hasn't eaten in 5 days, I suggest you call the seller, or a vet, and give them specific deatils of the environment you have created for him, and seek their advice in the short term.
For long term advice (once he's eaten), post more specific information here, and I am more than happy to help.

Answer 10

DON'T use a heat rock. Beardies can not feel heat beneath them and it could burn them. He needs a UV light that is atleast 8% preferably 10%. The surface temp under the heat light should be for a baby beardie 105 - 110 degrees. He needs proper lighting for appetite and digestion. Here is an excellent forum that can help you with all your questions about your beardie http://bearded-dragons.com/boards/index.php.