Bearded dragon ( Healty and Loving it )

Question
QUESTION: Hey, my bearded dragon I recently got from a well established pet store, Pets mart... My bearded dragon has been in my care for about 2weeks, he is eating and moving when its food time, all limbs work and what not im most scarded because his color and body style has change his top scals/spikes are now looking more like bumps his eyes are like sleepy tired looking, he is basketing alot more, and looks scarded whenever he hears something, at first I thought it was inpaction after he pooped on my leg and it smelled like **** I soaked him in warter for 5 minutes he pooped and I did it agin the next day smae thing, I recently bought some new ( Anti Parasite Meal) (http://www.junglereptile.com/productsb.asp) ... Im hoping it might not be a Parasite, he did start shedding on his leg rear leg, he is about 2 monuths maybe more I have no clue right now. Tank temp ( 90-95F - Basketing area) (Humidty 30-50%) .... Maybe its Just hes starting to shed, but the weight loss and smelly poop... Thanks please reply !

ANSWER: Hello Justin,

Can you tell me what type & brand of UVB you are using?  Is it a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?
Do you have a picture of him?
A lot of times, when they are young & relocated, they do have increased levels of parasites or worms just from stress.  
What type of basking light do you use, is it a bright white light or a colored light?  
The basking temperatures need to be around 95-110, with a cooler end of around 78-82.  The temperatures need to be measured by either a digital probe or a temp gun for the best readings.  So, if you are using a stick on type of thermometer your temperatures probably will be off.
What type of substrate do you use, sand, paper towels, carpet?  
What are you feeding him?
I couldn't get the picture to come up, what is the anti-parasite medication called?  Usually, very smelly stools do indicate parasite levels that are too high.

Tracie


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, I have a starter Kit, 20 gallon Night Bulb/Day Bulb . I have Regular substrate With Hide Out. Tank is 20 Gallons. UBV light bulb is a repti glo 10.0 UBV from Exo terra 26W. He eats a mixture of greens Meal worms and some crickets. The Anti Parasite I have is Reptile xtra it is like the Calcuim powder in the same form but diffrent color and he seems not to mind, I gave him a bowl of Greens with the Mix of them and 2 meal worms he also seems to be looking a slight better it is still the 1st day of 9 and my thermometer is one of the best kinds, Petsmart offers, its a Zilla so its working 100% i tested 3 times before I used it. I dont have my Camrea right now, Next reply it will be here.

ANSWER: Hello Justin,

The 20 gallon is ok, but once he becomes an adult, you will need to upgrade his tank size to at least a 75 gallon for comfort.
The Reptiglo 10 fluorescent tube bulb is not a good bulb, unfortunately.  They are not strong enough for bearded dragons & do not emit the proper wavelength of UVB emissions to stimulate D3 synthesis.  You will need to get a Reptisun 10 tube bulb for the UVB, instead, it is much much better.  
The thermometer, if it is a digital probe, is fine then, it doesn't really matter the brand of those most of the times.  
I would feed more crickets, & less mealies.  The mealworms are higher in fat & chitin, which is the harder outer shell & they can contribute to impaction in younger dragons.  
What is the regular type of substrate, sand?  If you are using a calcium based sand, then I highly recommend taking that out & replacing it with paper towels, non adhesive shelf liner, or tiles for a safer alternative.  

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Tracie its been about 3weeks and my bearded dragon has been looking better, I bout a new basket bulb to up the temps from 91.4 to 101-102 he looks to be enjoying it but then he has has sad days, I wanted to no no thats hes about 8.2inchs Can I put sand in his tank, ( Not going to be feed in there ) its just He was in the corner of the tank trying to dig kinda and fell right to sleep I had to help him up to his normal spot, If so what sand is the best quality that wont hurt him?
Thanks Justin and Rumble

Answer
Hello Justin,

The basking temperatures are fine, no problems there.  So, he is doing better, overall then?  Did you ever get him another UVB light yet?
How is his appetite now?
Well, IF you do use sand, the only type of sand that I would recommend is the washed & sifted playsand as that will not clump up as badly as the calcium based sand.
However, I really think it would be best if you waited to put him on sand until he is 1 year.  The younger dragons have such a tendency to lick their surroundings too much.  You want to keep the chances for him to become impacted low right now, with his size.

Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie