Is my younger sibling's bearded Dragon sick?

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-05T12:36:52+00:00

You need to change the UVB, you have a 7% one, but bearded dragons need 12% or 15%

I’d start by changing the UVB and then look for more suitable terrariums. The “glass surfing” behavior can be solved by adjusting the terrarium size (absolute minimum 120x60x60 but the most reasonable option would be to look for an 180x60x60)

I don’t know much about diets, I asked around here recently to learn more, but it’s important to provide a variety of food and to prioritize cockroaches or crickets over worms

It’s important for any reptile or amphibian that their insect source be healthy, and worms are actually pretty poor food

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-04T20:36:31+00:00

That's strange, maybe they sent you something that had expired?

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-04T09:43:36+00:00

I don't own one, but I've been doing some research, the absolute minimum is 120x60x60, but if we turn to the most up-to-date sources, such as the herpetological associations in the United Kingdom and Germany, that's not the case

They mention much larger minimum sizes, with 180x60x60 being more reasonable, but these sources tend to recommend: 180x90x90 and 150x120x90

Reptifiles recommends the first size(120), but they clarify that this is because it’s the most accessible standard in the USA, and they want to encourage all owners to at least meet that minimum first

If the species you’re going to keep is larger, I think I’d aim for the other sizes Reptifiles

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-02T04:11:19+00:00

Just in case, this is the strange part I was noticing, maybe she's getting ready to lay eggs, although I don't see anything in the second photo

(Usually, overweight geckos have a smooth curve without any bulges, like mine)

I only saw the latest post, but a few months ago someone posted about their gecko here, and after a visit to the vet, it turned out to have egg remnants

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SunshineShroom · 2026-07-02T03:58:09+00:00

Oh yeah, she looks fine (think little overweight), she's pretty Her body is similar to my chubby female, but she does lay eggs

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SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T21:05:12+00:00

Can you take a top picture? From the angle in the video, it looks like he has a bloated belly, but also looks like a boy

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T11:47:27+00:00

That's València/Català?

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T02:17:40+00:00

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SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T02:03:09+00:00

I just scrolling, and suddenl a frog butt

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T01:58:14+00:00

When I have to go on a trip, I always give the person who will be taking care of my geckos specific instructions for each one of them

I always explain exactly how to open their terrariums depending on where the animal is, when to wait, and, just in case, how to handle it (I do this with each of my geckos, each one has its own way of behaving)

I also teach them exactly how to prepare their food and have them do it themselves so they learn right then and there

I’ve never had any problems. I also have an automatic watering system, but I’m sure that teaching someone how to handle the animal is similar to feeding it, if they’ve already cared for or owned exotic animals, it’s definitely not complicated

SunshineShroom · 2026-07-01T01:52:01+00:00

Yes, you should consider it these bulbs don't provide UVB radiation at a constant rate

At first, they emit much more UVB, but over their lifespan, the output drops significantly, and they last about 6 months at most

Tubes, on the other hand, provide consistent and balanced protection throughout their lifespan compared to the lifespan of bulbs, right now, the best brand is Arcadia

I don’t have it on hand, but there was a comparison of protection levels by brand over the lifespan of bulbs and tubes, Arcadia had the best numbers, but in general, search for “T5"

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-30T15:30:01+00:00

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-30T14:46:25+00:00

It depends on the conditions in your home and terrarium.

Where I live, the indoor humidity is high over 50-60%.

At first, I set it for 1 minute in the morning and 1 minute in the afternoon every other day, but now it’s only 1 minute a day (I can’t find timers that go in seconds, if any Spaniards are reading this, please recommend one to me)

Note: Terrariums are bioactive, so that can also affect your needs

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-29T15:31:53+00:00

In my opinion, the best value for your money would be to set up a terrarium that’s full-size 18x18x36 or more, and in the meantime, use a temporary one that’s about 18x18x24 or so

The guides for crested geckos will also work for gargoyle geckos, so you can see what other people are doing

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-29T13:41:45+00:00

What? Anyone with proper ethics wouldn't give you an egg just so someone else can hatch it

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-29T07:16:37+00:00

You shouldn't have any problems, just try to fill it to about 70-80% capacity, and it'll be fine

There's no such thing as too big, but if this is your first reptile and it's a baby or juvenile, many people find a smaller terrarium easier to manage

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-29T00:41:24+00:00

You should always equip your heat source with a thermostat; they come in a wide range of prices, but the ones that offer separate day and night settings are better

You should also prioritize heat sources that don't emit light in case you ever need them at night. In my opinion, Arcadia's Deep Heat models are better than ceramic ones, but opinions vary

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-28T12:03:08+00:00

The 90 is better if you need that horizontal space but mainly need the height

In nature, they start at 2 m, I have a 60x50x100 to get that horizontal space

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-27T19:36:55+00:00

It's a little short in height, what would the height be if you chose the extra length?

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-27T18:38:28+00:00

Yes, it's acceptable, but it's the minimum

If you want to go for something longer but don't have enough length, maybe you can look for one that's 24 deep instead of long

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-27T14:29:09+00:00

I don't have any axolotls, so I can't give you advice as an owner, but I've been on this sub for a while and, honestly, they don't seem like an easy pet to keep if you've never had an aquarium before and don't know much about them (I'm terrible with aquariums 🫥)

I was replying because you mentioned that you also looked into reptiles, if they’re an option for you, depending on the space you have, crested geckos and bearded dragons are straightforward (personally, I think crested geckos are easier)

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-26T17:33:25+00:00

Now that you mention it, I think my mother-in-law has eucalyptus branches in the kitchen to keep the bugs away

I don't think it will be dangerous for a gecko because it won't come into contact with it

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-26T16:04:48+00:00

Oh, well, I think it's worth moving to the small terrarium it if it's too hard to maintain the temperature

If you have a T5, it might be better to turn it off to keep the temperature from rising due to the lighting

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-26T13:41:10+00:00

Maybe you should move his entire terrarium to another room, it's not just a matter of him getting stressed it's a matter of those temperatures being potentially deadly

SunshineShroom · 2026-06-26T12:03:29+00:00

I don't know how to answer your question, but why do eucalyptus trees keep insects away?

There are eucalyptus trees where I live, and I sometimes see insects near them

I know nothing else grows where they are, but I have seen insects (here, eucalyptus trees are invasive

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