Is something wrong with my new bearded dragon?

Question

I have been doing some research on bearded dragons and so I decided to get one. I brought home a small beardie.

That day he kept on shutting his eyes for a long period of time then opening them minutes later. He only ate three crickets. I thought young beardies eat alot?

Is there something wrong? I'm especially worried about the shutting eyes bit. He does that when I'm handling him

He has UV light as well. The temperature is fine in the tank

Answer 1

Very common behavior in babies--as long as everything else is correct in his environment!!

1. UVB bulb made for reptiles, and within 12 inches of basking spot.
2. Heat basking bulb with temp at basking spot for babies 105. Measure only with a digital probe thermometer. You want to measure the temp on the basking spot, not the air temp.
3. Basking spot at one end of the tank, cooler area at other end (40 gallon breeder tank minimum size for beardie)
4. Daily misting and several times a week bathing/soaking for baby beardies.
5. Absolutely a vet check for parasites--a big health problem in beardies.
6. Crickets must be small enough or paralysis can occur--no bigger than the space between his eyes. Once he settles into his new home, he'll begin to eat an enormous quantity of crickets.
7. Offer a fresh salad every day--some babies won't eat until older, but you must expose them to it while young.
8. Calcium D3 (no phosphorus) dusted on crickets 4-5 times a week, a multivitamin once a week.
9. NO NO NO loose substrate like any kind of sand, etc for babies!!! Impactions are a huge problem. Use NON adhesive shelf liner, paper towels, or reptile carpet.
10. More info at these excellent sites:

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/home.html

http://www.reptilerooms.com/

http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/BD.html

Answer 2

Well, let's see... HE WOULD PROBABLY RATHER BE LIVING OUT IN NATURE INSTEAD OF IN A BOX WITH A ROCK AND A LIGHT BULB AND YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS POKING AT HIM ALL THE TIME.

Get a cat.

Answer 3

get him a heater, he should be fine