severly dehydrated baby beardie, won't eat- PEASE HELP!!!

sandybeardedd":711yx7ix said:

I got a baby beardie recently who is now about 3 months old and 5-6in in length. I for the past few days my beardie hasnt eaten a single thing, has very sunken eyes and has a black beard. very lethargic, can barely move. I know it was because his basking temps were at 130 and he is very small, so today I went to the store and got ReptiBoost which he ate willingly and also switched his bulb to a 100 watt bulb. I gave him a bath with pedeolyte and now hes sitting on a stick looking upset with a black beard. I'm very worried about him. I have an appointment with the Vet on tuesday but today is sunday and every exotic animal hospital near me is closed and I have called every animal hospital near me and even a few a few hours from me to see if anyone knows someone I could see and they all kept refering me to people who couldnt help me. I'm desperate, any advice would be very much appreciated

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CooperDragon":3r5t6yto said:

Poor guy. The black beard and sunken eyes makes this pretty critical. Hopefully you can keep him going until the vet visit. Can you post some photos of him and his setup? You can upload photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them to your thread using the XIMG button.

For now, I would focus on getting the temperature gradient correct and UVB exposure correct. I would also try to keep giving him fluids. Drip water on his nose for him to lick up several times per day. If he takes the water it's a good sign. If he refuses water then he is probably in pretty rough shape. When did the black bearding start?

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CooperDragon":2fi0yevm said:

Poor guy. The black beard and sunken eyes makes this pretty critical. Hopefully you can keep him going until the vet visit. Can you post some photos of him and his setup? You can upload photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post them to your thread using the XIMG button.

For now, I would focus on getting the temperature gradient correct and UVB exposure correct. I would also try to keep giving him fluids. Drip water on his nose for him to lick up several times per day. If he takes the water it's a good sign. If he refuses water then he is probably in pretty rough shape. When did the black bearding start?

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CooperDragon":2sofcymj said:

His setup looks nice. Keep offering the water so he can drink when he wants to. Keep him as well hydrated as possible.

It sounds like the temperature has been corrected which is good. It's also a good sign that his beard is no longer black.

As far as UVB goes, the way to measure it is with a Solarmeter. They are expensive so aside from measuring it you can adjust the height based on test results from similar bulbs. Which bulb do you have for him? I can help you find the correct distance as it varies between bulbs quite a bit. The UVB light should sit over the basking area right next to the basking light so they are producing a combination over the basking area to simulate natural sunlight as closely as possible.

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CooperDragon":29bn1yxw said:

Based on the dome fixture you're using, it's likely a compact or coil bulb. If you read the base of the bulb it should say the brand and wattage. The 13w compacts/coils aren't powerful enough to be useful for a dragon. The 26w ones are better but vary by brand. A 26w UVB200 or UVB150 is ok in small enclosures but are most effective at 6-8''. In a larger tank the best option in my opinion is a T5 tube which when used in a fixture with a reflector is most effective at about 12''.

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CooperDragon":1wh023t3 said:

Yeah the 13w isn't going to be sufficient. Ideally I'd get a T5 tube like this http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/ but in the meantime your best bet with that dome fixture is a 26w ExoTerra UVB200 which will be pretty decent at 6-8'' up. It sounds like there may be more going on in this case, but proper UVB exposure does have a direct effect on their appetite, ability to digest food properly, and their overall health.

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CooperDragon":wu7zxmv4 said:

His condition does sound serious but there isn't a whole lot else I can think of to do other than keeping him hydrated, warm, and comfortable. If you have sunlight coming in through a window perhaps he would like some time near that. The UVB will be blocked but the infrared (heat) and UVA will be beneficial to him. I know my guy enjoys sitting in the window and soaking up some real sunlight. If the weather was warmer I'd say bring him outside for time in the natural sunlight but that's only a viable option if it's above 70 or so outside.

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