One of the main keys to catching dehydration/impactions/temperature/UV issues is paying attention to defecation patterns.  All of them directly effect the dragons’ ability to pass digested materials.

Signs of dehydration, impaction, temperature and UV issues include:

• Not defecating on a regular basis (every 1-2 days)

• Lazy eyes, not fully open

• Less active, sleeping more, dark eyes, "sunken sockets”

• Decreased appetite

• Hanging out in den, less social

• Not very active, listless
  

A)  Dehydration 

• Bearded Dragons depend on being able to get most of the moisture they need through the insects they eat.  However captive lizards often need additional water provided to them.

• Kricket's Kritters bearded dragons are given warm baths (1x/week for 15-20 minutes up to the belly spines), morning sprays (daily light misting), and water via a baby food dropper (1x/day).

B)  Impaction

• If you find that your dragon is kicking food into the dish of food, try putting the dish more into the middle of the enclosure or finding something deeper.  This may decrease the contamination of the food.  Contaminated food (feces, dead insects, dried up leftovers, bedding substrate, etc) should be removed and replaced immediately.

• Many intestinal impactions that occur in reptiles are often not from the food they eat, but instead the bedding substrate they are housed on.  I have seen numerous images of reptile dissections (see image in FAQ#5 above) where the intestinal tract was full of sand or walnut shells.

• NOTE:  Although the packaging for Calci-Sand suggest that the product may be digestable, it is not digestible and instead is a major contributor to gut impactions in captive lizards.

• Please read FAQ #7 also

C)  Temperature

Too much or too little heat can cause health issues like: constipation, dehydration, lethargy, decreased food intake, impactions, stress, respiratory infections, potential death, etc.

Too low of temperatures is one of the largest causes of health issues in captive Bearded Dragons.  If your dragon is lethargic, lazy, barely moves around the enclosure, doesn't eat  properly, doesn't poop every 1-3 days, it is very likely that your temperatures are too low and the Dragons body systems are having a hard time coping with it.

Get a digital temperature gun and monitor your temps, also put your heat sources on a reliable thermostat and let technology do the work for you.

Basking area temperatures MUST be 105-110*F, and ambient temperatures need to be 80-85*F.  Heat is provided by basking lamps.  A temperature gradient within the enclosure must be created.

Put your heat sources on a reliable thermostat/temperature controller and let technology do the work for you.  Kricket's Kritters recommends going to Radio Shack or your local hardware/department store for single device thermostats, or trying the Alife 1000w temperature controller, which can control 3 devices per enclosure.

D)  UVA/UVB

Simulated sun rays (UVA/UVB) MUST be provided by using special fluorescent bulbs designed for use with reptiles such as the ReptiSun 10.0 bulb.

 NOTE: Do not use 2.0, 5.0, or 8.0 bulbs, they are not strong enough for beardies, only use 10.0 bulbs.

The alternative is to use mercury vapor bulbs which emit heat and more UVA/UVB rays.

Mercury vapor bulbs are only intended for use in large enclosures and they require appropriately rated ceramic fixtures.

NOTE:  Mercury Vapor bulbs generally do not provide enough heat themselves so additional basking lamps are often required depending on set-up.

• Remember many bulbs need to be swapped every 6 months to 1 year of use to ensure UV output, check the lamp box for replacement information.
  

• Heat and UV should be provided for an absolute minimum of 8 hours a day, every day.  Although 10-14 hours is recommended.

• Kricket's Kritters provides UV and heat for 14 hours per day during summer months and 10 hours during winter months to simulate seasonal temperature and daylight patterns.
  

          E)  Brumation

See FAQ Winter weather preparations - What night time temperature is too cold?  Is my dragon brumating?  What is brumation?