Weird Bearded Dragon Behavior

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I've just a few questions on my bearded dragons behavior...
When we bought him on May 1 and introduced him to his home, he was about 3 inches long, not including his tail. He has a cave-like thing that doubles as his basking area, and where he sleeps at night. The temperature above the rock is of about 100 degrees F., while the other side of the tank is about 75-80 Degrees F. When we got him, thats always where he stayed during the day, on top of his rock basking. Now he is about six inches long, excluding the tail again, but will come out of the cave to eat, and then returns in the cave to sleep, and flattens himself out on the carpet. I haven't seen him bask up on his rock in awhile and am worried if something is wrong. He is still eating, 15-30 crickets daily, and eats peas, green beans, and kale daily as well. Also, when he is in a stationary position, his back legs get all floppy and twisted, but when he moves they perk up again, is that ok?

ANSWER: Hello Flash,

Let's review your tank setup a bit mroe.  
Are you using any UVB source?  If so, what type & brand of light do you use?  What type of basking light are you using, a bright white light or a colored light?
What type of thermometer are you using, a temp gun, a digital probe or a stick on type of thermometer?
Is he spending a lot of time in his cave during the day?  If so, I would recommend removing his cave so he doesn't spend so much time in there.  He is not getting enough light & warmth if he is spending too much time in his cave.
Do you give him any calcium supplementation right now?
That is not normal really for his back legs to get floppy & twisted no.  Can he support his body weight on all fours without any trouble, or is he having any balance issues?

Do you have any pictures of him for me?

Tracie

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


Draco   QUESTION: He has UVB, a ReptiSun 10.0. His heat lamp is a Zoo Med 100 MW, and its white light. We have two stick on thermometers in the tank, and one hydronometer. As for the calcium supplement, we use the same stuff that Petsmart used, they are the ones who sold him to us, and its a cricket feeded that gut loads them called Fluckers Cricket Quench Calcium. And he can support his weight, he even runs after his food occasionally. Sorry about the image, its of him when we got him, my camera broke so i don't have any recent images.

ANSWER: Hello Flash,

Ok, everything sounds pretty good.  
I would use a digital probe or a temp gun to get better readings on your temperatures.
How far away is the Reptisun 10?  It is a tube bulb, correct?  Is there plastic or screen in between him & the light?

That is a cute picture of him.  
Does he seem to have any balance issues thus far?  Can he climb well?
You will also need to use a calcium powder as well as the cricket gut load/feed.  This will ensure that he gets plenty of calcium in his growing years.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Ok, thank you, i'll get him some of the powder. Um, i haven't noticed any balance issues, and he climbs well if you put him on your shirt or something. You are right, it is a tube bulb, and 18 inch, which he can get within 16 inches of, and the screen is made of metal.

Answer
Hello Flash,

Great, that sounds like a plan then.  You can get Reptical powder here in the US or Jurassical powder, either one is fine.
If he doesn't have any balance or climbing issues yet, then if he is slightly hypocalcemic, then starting him on calcium should help him out.  
However, if at all possible, I would try to mount the light on the underneath side of the screen top to get him within 6-8 inches of the UVB light for better exposure.

Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie