No uvb light for a day - should I still feed?

[KrissyLeigh]

Hey y'all quick question - if my beardie has been without UVB for a day, can I still feed him at the end of the day? I know heat is integral to their digestion, but UVB as well?


FYI - this doesn't happen often - the story is that sometimes I have to leave at 5:30 am for work, so I dont want to turn on all his lights and Jack with his circadian rhythm, so I have my partner turn on all the lights and do the morning feeding. For some reason he forgets the UVB light though. He turns on the heat lights but I guess doesn't notice the large 3 foot long tube light *rolls eyes*. This has happened a few times so I thought it was time to ask y'all. Is it safe to feed Skittles tonight?

PS - I think I may have to leave a giant bright sticky note saying "TURN ME ON!!!!" by the switch.

 

[Canicke]

is it ok? probably. Is it advisable? probably not. Will he starve if he doesn't eat for a day? not. Go to your local hardware store and pick up some timers. They are TOTALLY lifesavers!! I work insane hours and timers let me work as early and / or as late as my heart (well, the boss's heart) desires.
You can get fancy timers (ok - I got the fancy ones cuz I can set different times for different lights and it looks high tech! ) but you don't really NEED fancy !

 

[KrissyLeigh]

is it ok? probably. Is it advisable? probably not. Will he starve if he doesn't eat for a day? not. Go to your local hardware store and pick up some timers. They are TOTALLY lifesavers!! I work insane hours and timers let me work as early and / or as late as my heart (well, the boss's heart) desires.
You can get fancy timers (ok - I got the fancy ones cuz I can set different times for different lights and it looks high tech! ) but you don't really NEED fancy !

Yeah, everyone else is on timers except him... the problem is that they need at least 2 hours of light after I feed him, and his evening meal is not on a strict schedule - sometimes he gets fed at 6, sometimes 10, and everywhere in between. I don't know if I can get into a strict schedule for evening feedings because of my schedule.

But I will hold off on feeding him tonight. He got his morning meal, and I turned the UVB on when I got home so I'll just let him digest and feed him tomorrow.

Thank you!!!

 

[Canicke]

I think I probably wouldn't feed him after 6 or 7. definitely not 10. how old is your kid? if he's not a baby / juvenile you do not have to feed him protein every day. leave him greens and let him eat to his hearts content and give bugs when you can.

 

[KrissyLeigh]

He is 9 months. He gets salad and worms in the morning and roaches in the evening. Why does it matter if I feed him at 10, as long as he has heat/light for two hours to digest? His photoperiod is on average of 16 hours, which is normal? Not trying to be argumentative, just don't see why it is an issue

 

[PatsyB]

You want to mimic a day time schedule as close as possible. That means lights 12 hours on & 12 hours off or 14 hours on & 10 hours off. You want to try to match what is going on in the outside world. Feeding protein once a day for an adult dragon is perfectly fine. If you leave the salad in the tank for the whole day, they will eat that if they are hungry enough.