bearded dragon vs rankin dragon.

Question

Itchy & Scratchy   QUESTION: Hello,
I have bought my first pair of male bearded dragon from a particular @ 1 month ago. The guy told me they were both same size when he got them, but "Itchy" never grew more than 10" and is grey, while the other "scratchy" is @16", much larger and sand. Could "Itchy" be a rankin dragon ?
When "Itchy" doesn't want to be disturbed or is feeling threatened, his all belly and neck become strippy black, but I've never noticed it on "Scratchy", he just brings out some yellow orange colors from time to time.
Also, They don't have the same diet. "Scratchy" eats Meal worms and large Locust, but "Itchy" only feeds on Wax worms and may be a couple of mealworm / week, he's not interested in Locust or Crickets. I was told to stop giving him Wax worm cos they are too rich for them. After four days not eating, I started the waxworm again.
Is it true that I shouldn't feed him wax worms ??

ANSWER: Hello Jenny,

First off, are they housed together?  If so, that is not wise as that could be the person who got them from previously housed them together & one took the dominant role.  I am surprised that they survived because it is not a good idea to house males together.  
How old are they supposed to be?
No, Itchy does not appear to be a Rankins, from what I can tell from the picture.  
Mealies & waxies neither one are recommended on a regular basis.  They both have way too much fat & can contribute to fatty liver disease.  The mealies have too much shell & not enough protein to them.  They are not quality protein to help your dragons grow.  
You need to get locust & crickets & stick with them.  They are much better feeders for them than the fatty sources are.
Are you using UVB lighting, & if so, what type & brand are you using?  Is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?  What type of basking lamp are you using, a colored bulb or a bright white light?

Tracie

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QUESTION: Tracie,
Thank you for answering. I am starting to panic a bit here now that I am sure Itchy's not a Rankin.
The guy which had them before didn't know if they were male or female. It's only after checking on the internet that I have been able to find out. I know that they always have been housed together and there was no fights recorded from the previous owner, nither from myself. From what I can see since I have them, Itchy & Scratchy are sleeping together, They share the basking light, usually Itchy claims on the back of Scratchy to access the basking area, but just in case I've made sure they had both access to it by placing a stone and a Log.
The guy couldn't really tell me how old they were exactly, but after showing a picture of Scratcy in the City reptile shop, they've told me he was about 1-1/2 year old.
They are now both housed in a 3 foot tank, but the previous owner had them in a 6 foot one.
The tank I've bought was fitted with a UV light-XINGXING T8F15 15W 230V. I am not sure what sort it is, sorry.
The basking light is a bright 40W screw in spot.
Their basking area is always between 34 to 35 degrees and the other side of the tank is around 31 degrees.
I have a digestable substrate mixed with chipped wood.
There is a climbing wall in the cool area, where they usually claim on the stay beside the fan.
Itchy usually stay in this spot, while scratchy seams to be moving about a bit more.
The previous owner use to tell me that Itchy was always annoying Scratchy, but nothing bad at all. He thought Itchy was the dominant!I have noticed that everytime Itchy feels threatened he hides behind or claims on the top of scratchy.
The City reptile pet shop told me a 3 foot tank could do me for an other couple of years, what do you think, should I change for a 6 foot?
I am going to bring them both the vet asap to make sure they are ok but they are no Herp vet over here.

ANSWER: Hello Jenny,
Please send me more full body pictures to my email at:
Drache613@tampabay.rr.com
I just want to take a look at them both further.  
That is a problem not knowing what sex they are & housing them together, unfortunately.  Just by your description, it sounds like Itchy is the dominant one by climbing on Scratchy's back, which is odd since he is the smaller one.  Maybe he is trying to get more UVB.  That is usually a show of dominance.  He probably did not get enough UVB when he was younger because Scratchy climbed on his back & hogged it all.  Or, they just never got UVB is another option, too.
If you have a male & a female you will definitely need to separate otherwise they will mate & the smaller one, if female, is way too small (if it is a conventional bearded dragon) to breed, & they are too young.  They should not be bred until they are 2.  Plus, it is not recommended to breed dragons if they are not tested previously for the Adeno virus now.
The UVB light is really not a good one.  Is it made in China perhaps? I am pretty sure it is, & they are exporting reptile lights that have been known to emit UVC, so I would get another UVB light immediately. The only 2 flourescent tube bulbs that I recommend are either the Reptiglo 8 floruescent tube bulb or the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.  Steer away from the Reptiglo 10 flourescent bulb or the ESU/Zilla flourescent bulb, & any compact or coil lights.  
Your screw in basking light is fine.  What are the temps getting to & what do you measure the temps with?  
Personally, I would take the substrate with chipped wood mixed in out in case they ingest any of it.  They will become impacted, etc, & it is very hard to pass that stuff. There is no such thing as digestible sand, either.  The calcisand or reptisand, walnut shells, bark, etc are not good for them.  If you are going to use sand, use the washed & sifted playsand, but stay away from wood chips or other stuff like that.
The City reptile shop is crazy.  They don't even know the sex of them, & tell you to house them on that substrate which is not healthy & did they also sell you that UVB light too?  
I do not think that a 3 foot is large enough for 2 dragons.  An ideal size for 1 adult dragon is a 4x2x2, so, if you find out that they are 2 females, they could be housed in a 6 foot tank that would be fine, or you could go to an 8 foot.  They need room to run & bask & not fight.  There can be alot of issues housing 2 dragons.  Right now though, you need to find out the sex of them both.  If you have a male & a female you cannot house them together.  Sorry.
Do you use calcium supplementation?  

Let me know how things are going.

Tracie

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


Itchy&Scratchy's husba   QUESTION: I have stopped all worms at the minute until I get as you proposed Silk and phoenix ones. I also bought a cricket termite to try to make their feeding time a bit more fun.
I am pretty sure they are both male. I have checked underneath their tail while giving them a bath 2 days ago, and I can see too separate bulges (not too big but there!).
As for the UV light, I am going back today to the shop where I bought the tank to see what they can do about it and of course tell them that it is not appropriate for the reptiles. I have here with me a reptiglo 10.0 UVB but have never used it anyway cos it is a screw bulb and their tank's fitted for a Tube. But I am going to ask for reptiglo 8.0 or reptisun 10.0, thanks for that advice!
The substrate I am using was given to me from an other reptile shop. It is nothing like calcisand, they actually told me to stay away from it or any sort of sand, so they advised me to use that substrate. It's not like sand fine sand at all and is apparently giving them calcium if ingested, but I was thinking of changing for a reptile carpet as it is much easier to clean. I'll check for that too today but I might have to order it as never seen in shops before. Can newspaper, butcher paper or lino do them at the minute?
I thought myself than 3 foot may not be big enough for the two of them so I am going to start saving up for a 6 foot. I'll feel much better to see them in a 6 foot tank anyway.
I am indeed using calcium supplement, it is Euro Rep Natural Calcium dietary supplement, for bugs and veggy. Their greens are dusted every day (don't eat much of it anyway) so are the bugs, once every two feeding.
They get bath twice a week and I am starting to massage their tummy now to help them go to toilet as they don't go much. Every morning, I offer fresh water in bowl and in eye drop if necessary, fresh green such as mixed Italian salad, water cress, kale and grapes or Kiwi (they seam to like grapes)and of course finally grated carrots, which they do not eat! Itchy likes Asperagus, but only gave him once as not too sure if I should.
Oh, I use a digital thermometer and regularly check the temperature.
I take them out everyday if possible for a god wee way to get them use to me and the house. They stay on my chest and enjoy a bit of sun at the window. They like to rest there. I spend a lot of time with my two wee beardie!
I am really trying my best for them to feel good, in a look alike natural environment and with me, when I have an animal it is forlife and I go 100% with them. I am going to send you those pictures you asked for, also pictures of their habitat and their substrate.
Thank you again for your help and advice, it is much appreciated.

Answer
Hello Jenny,

You are doing a great job in getting everything all changed around for them.
Thanks for the pics, & am looking forward to more.  Thanks.  The butcher's paper would be better than newspaper so none of the ink might come off on their feet.  Or non adhesive shelf liner works well also, & is easy to clean off too.
Great you are using a digital probe so your temps should be accurate them, if you are placing it directly under the basking area.  
I am glad that you will look for one of those UVB lights.  IF you are going to house them together right now, you could get a dual fixture to hold 2 bulbs to make sure that there is plenty of UVB spread out to the areas where they will bask since they can have their own space.  
Try looking at:  www.beautifuldragons.com   at a nutritional chart for feeding.  It has alot of do's & dont's for feeding.  It is helpful.  
You can shop for either one of those UVB lights at the following places here & it is much cheaper than at the petstores:  Please do not use the Reptiglo 10 as it is a crappy light, also.  It is currently being tested more extensively right now.  
www.petmountain.com
www.reptilesupply.com
www.bigappleherp.com

As long as the natural calcium supplement you are using does not have phosphorus in it.  Check the label to make sure, as phosphorus will bind the calcium absorption.
Great you are going to get a 6 foot tank.  What you can do is get one large 6-8 foot tank, build it, or whatever you are going to do, but you will need to keep them separate.  Right now, they are not mature or have not been mature enough to fight.  Their hormonal levels are probably down due to the care they have received.  Trust me, if they are both males & they begin to feel better, & grow, etc, they will fight & it may not end well.  So you can put a divider & just have 2 separate setups for each one, but in one tank. They can each have their own basking & UVB light, & space.  Just cover the divider with paper so they can't see each other.  It is way too stressful.  The only successful housing in the long run is 2 females, that is it.  
The problem with any substrate that has calcium in it, if the reptile is low in calcium, then they may seek sources of calcium around them.  If too much is ingested, it could impact them, so it is better not to use substrates like that.  
Oh you can use crickets, also, if they like them too.
I hope they are both doing well today.

Tracie