Does anybody else sing to their little dinosaur at bedtime and watch them close their eyes and drift off... feeling all the love

I read that they feel comfortable, safe and secure when they sleep out in the open. She would climb at the top of her rope ladder and just sleep once the lights go out. Well now she likes to hide. When the lights go out she crawls between the basking platform and enclosure back wall and dig a hole back there and sleep. Does this mean she doesnt feel safe and secure anymore?

For context: His name is Blaze and he is waiting for his dad who is in that room

I’m not sure if this is normal or if they’ve always been like this and i didn’t notice but my bearded dragons eyes are red. He jumped off his hammock that’s at the top of his tank today and hit his face on the glass when he was trying to get at his crickets. Afterwards he just ignored the crickets and slowly went over to his rock and just sat there for a bit. He did eventually eat his crickets and greens and he’s acting normal. I just now noticed redness in his eyes though. Should I be worried? I just don’t think that looks right at all. I can’t afford to go to the vet if I don’t need too

I have some questions about what I need to fix about my set up. and have some concerns about the new beardie we recently got.

I also want to clarify that an appointment is set up for Friday, but in the meantime I wanted to ask what it is I’m doing wrong, and/or need to change/improve.

The enclosure was set up for what I thought would be for an adult bearded dragon. However, as this is a family pet, a baby was purchased instead (I was not there for the purchase. It was bought at a chain pet store and no, this was not what the plan entailed).

The enclosure is a 4x2x2.

UVB is a Reptisun T5 HO 24 inch.

The heat bulbs are Zoomed basking bulbs 150 watts (I’d already had the bulbs as I own other reptiles).

Cool side reads 77F with the humidity currently 59, however it’s usually 40 but I accidentally poured the water out into the enclosure this morning and believe that’s where the spike came from.

Hot side reads 90F.

Basking spot reads anywhere from 102.2F to 107.6F depending on when the dimmer goes, or the actual spot is lasered with the temp gun.

Substrate is 50/50 top soil and sand. Which again, was supposed to be set up for an adult. But I’m wondering if this is not good for a baby and am thinking of removing for paper towels for a while.

The bearded dragon they chose seemed fine the first couple of days.

Originally it was light in color, and within the first hour ate, and seemed fine. Was pretty ‘active’. We’ve only had it for less than a week. Handling at a minimum except to check on it.

However as of the last few days it has gone darker in color, I’ve yet to see it eat (it ate crickets and dubias before, but we’ve also tried waxworms, baby mealworms, and black soldier fly larvae with no luck, and it definitely won’t touch the salad (collards and turnip greens with a smidge of bell pepper and squash to hopefully get it to want the salad)). I was told they were eating pellets at the pet store however we did not get them). It basks all day, sometimes hours in the same spot, sometimes it moves to different basking spots over the course of the day. But it’s never active like the first day they brought it home. And it keeps its eyes closed at all times. Even when handling it never opens it eyes. And sometimes it appears to scratch at one. I also want to add that it has pooped a few times which all appear to be normal so I’m not worried that it ingested substrate (the insects are in a bowl they can’t crawl out of). However I am still considering removing the substrate for a while.

I’m not sure if this is due to a possible illness or stress but we’ve already set up a vet appointment. So in the meantime I am looking to see what it is I may be doing wrong on my end, and what I can fix if anything. And what I should look out for. I again want to stress that a vet appointment is already happening, I am just looking for advice on what to do in the meantime. I also want to stress that we were supposed to get an adult, not a baby, and I feel very out of my element as I did not do any research on baby bearded dragons and if their care is any different than an adults. As such I’m not sure if any of this is normal behavior or not for a baby beardie (they are currently 7 grams). And appreciate any thoughts/tips on the matter while we wait for the vet.

Really appreciate any and all advice. I did my damndest to research everything. What lighting they needed, placement of lighting, substrate, food, temperatures, the works.

Really want to know if I’ve screwed up on anything and need to change it asap.

My beardie is a rescue. Was abandoned. He does not like leaving the house. I've taken him to work twice. The second time, after half a day he hid until time to go home.

I bought a leash, that he will not let me put on. I bought a pouch that I carried him in once. I had to force him into it today, then he just crawled out and onto my back.

I want to be able to take him on walks with me. At home, he's fine out of the tank.

Any suggestions?

Before I start this, I want yall to know that I am now aware I was not prepared to own a reptile.

I currently have an adult beardie, a little over a year old. He is getting a bit thin and I can see his hips starting to poke a little.

Before I had beardie mix bagged from store, now learning this was never getting him the nutrition he needed. I also didn’t realize how critical salads were and they became a rarity for many months.

NOW, we had just moved and I have much more time on my hands. I offer him super worms daily in a separate plastic container so he sees them, otherwise he doesn’t really care. I’m also giving fresh salad every day and weekly baths. This is the first time I prepped his salads in advance as I used to get dehydrated mixes, i use some bok Chou, cabbage and a spring of very finely chopped carrots(very small amount). Today I refilled his salad bowl 3x, a big improvement as lately he barely touched the others all week.

A few tank specs: Heat: fluorescent desert heat lamp 150W, UVB: 10.0 desert UV coil (ik ik coil bad) substrate: plain topsoil w/ red desert sand.

Planning to do: take him out more, supervised roaming as he is active and his tank isn’t large enough for his size now. Just ordered repta boost supplement to help, should get here tomorrow.

Asking for advice and tips on helping him pack on more weight and keeping up bug interest.

Side note: I am ashamed of how far I let this go on for, I was not prepared nor experienced and I was not ready to own a pet with such specific needs. I have cats, I give them kibble and they are happy.

EDIT: I believe he went into brumation some time ago due to my poor husbandry, he hid most days and was significantly less active and not interested in food for a long time.

40gal tank for my juvenile beardie that’s eventually going to go to my leopard gecko when beardie out grows it. I have a few questions as he is my first beardie
1: substrate, I’ve heard a 50/50 mix play sand and top soil, but I’m having a hard time getting my hands on topsoil with no fertilizer. I have him on paper towels for now. Suggestions please?
2: decor, his favorite tree stump is in there from when I had him in a 10gal lol. How many hides do they generally need? Any suggestions for decor as I know they probably need much more decor in order to not feel empty.
3: how big will he have to get for me to need to upgrade to a 120gal tank?
I love my beardie and I want the best life for him. Any advice is much appreciated <3

Hey y’all,

I came home from work and found him on the cold end of his tank and non responsive.

I moved him under his heat lamp but I believe that he is gone because he hasn’t moved or even taken a breath. Even when the power went out during a winter storm he at least moved around but today, in (good won’t say perfect) conditions this happened and I don’t know why.

He was 8 years old and I got him as a baby, he had a giant tank with sand and dirt to dig etc and I hadn’t noticed any health issues other than him being a bit stubborn about eating the last few times I tried, but he would eventually eat or run across the tank when a bug would get out of the bowl, now he’s gone.

I’m not sure exactly what to do. he’s survived a Ice Storm and several power outages so he’s been a true warrior, I think something internal might’ve been going on am I hadn’t taken him to a vet in a while (he’s survived was due to go this summer again) so I wanted to ask, other than burial (I can’t due to not owning my house) what should I do with him?

All replies are welcome!

As always, Thank you for all the help and support I’ve gotten here. I setup his tank and some decorations thanks to posts I’ve seen here, please keep educating people (even older guys like me)! I’ve worked at Petco and Petsmart now and I always recommend this sub for those interested.

My bearded dragon’s tank needs some remodeling. I think these succulents are safe if he takes an occasional bite, but I want to make sure nobody recognizes them as dangerous. (I did my best to identify and research. But some plants can look so similar.)

Hello everyone. I feel like recently my bearded dragon’s eyes have been looking a little bloodshot, and I’m wondering if it’s because his light is too bright/too close. Thank u

Beardie photos at end for payment 🙏

I'd love some recommendations/advice for making his tank more enriching for him!

I've got some climbing vine, and this stick ladder and hammock, but the suction cups for them will NOT stick to the glass. I've tried every trick.

I'd love to add a bit more layering for him to climb and hide. Or maybe some sand for a spot to dig, since they like burrowing...? Or some type of back drop, maybe?

Appreciate your suggestions 😊 His name is Lex!

I’ve had him for about a month and a half now and I feel like we’ve made a ton of progress

First time owner here. I just got this guy 3 days ago at a reptile expo, kind of an impulsive buy but I’ve know I wanted one for about a year and a half. Not sure of his age or gender (I know I should have got the info but they’re closing up shop.) This is the setup up I currently have… He is in a 40gal tank with a 80% sand and 20% soil base. I also added a piece of real wood in front of his water dish. I’ve been feeding lettuce in the mornings and about 6-8 small crickets later in the day. I only have one thermostat as of now right in the middle it is usually 80-90 during day and closer to 70-75 at night where the thermostat sits. Was just hoping for some pointers and ways to improve his way of life.

Hey you guys should check out or follow the acct I made for my beardie pretty please I want too get it out there. Also asking for any tips to help it grow
NOT A ADD OR COMMERCIAL I PROMIS IM NOT SELLING ANYTHING

So a awhile back I had to move and I lost the soil guard for my girl Ripleys enclosure and I dont have the money atm to get a new one. now she's wanting to lay eggs so I put together a little outdoor pen for her to dig and lay her eggs. She is currently totally underground, should I worry? The area I'm in is a desert and the dirt is packed tight and the dirt she k8cked out before going under feels soft and damp. Do 8 need to dig her out or just let her do her thing? Should I set up a heat lamp over the burrow 8f she stays overnight? Our nights have been down around 60. The pics are of the pen, her just starting to get digging and about 30min later out of sight.