Sick beardie, not sure how to help

Hi there, I'm super worried for my bearded dragon and unsure how to help him. My beardie is 2 and a half years old and has never had serious health issues. However, the day before yesterday he took a poop and when I came to clean it he had a black beard and was puffing. I didn't think much of it as he gets fussy after he poops. When I returned to his terrarium after cleaning it he had a jet black beard, was wheezing and pulling his stomach in flat whilst standing. I tried calming him down and after some time of me keeping him on me he calmed down and went back to normal. I kept a close eye on him that day and yesterday but everything was completely normal. However, today it happened twice and I'm unsure what it could be. I'm asking around to see if anyone knows of a reptile specialised vet as my country is on a partial lockdown with only essential services open. I have a video of it happening but I don't know how to post it. Please give me any advice on what I can do in the meanwhile.

Go to you tube record get the link and post the link here --- we are gonna probably need Tracie or AHBD to see the video -- in the mean time either post a pic of the tank or tell us what your using for UVB and basking temps and how your taking them NO stick ons------------ give as much info about husbandry and what your feeding --- diet please ---
Karrie

KarrieRee":o05ybafn said:

Go to you tube record get the link and post the link here --- we are gonna probably need Tracie or AHBD to see the video -- in the mean time either post a pic of the tank or tell us what your using for UVB and basking temps and how your taking them NO stick ons------------ give as much info about husbandry and what your feeding --- diet please ---
Karrie

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For UVB I use Reptisun 10.0 UVB, the basking temps are 39°c and I take them using a thermostat. His diet consists of mainly dubia roaches for live food, sometimes locusts but they aren't always in stock and sometimes I'd give him a super worm or two as a treat. His veggies consist of fresh dandelions, celery and we try to mix it up everyday with something different which he likes such as carrots, apples, arugula and other veggies that are safe to eat, we haven't given anything he has not tried before. He gets baths twice a week and has a very irregular pattern if passing stool. I have taken a picture of his terrarium but I'm not sure how to post it as I am very new to this website.

Reptisun 10.0 UVB is this a tube or coil??????????? Here is a website for nutrition
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
Here is how to post pics
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at top of message box then click on the pic it should post
Please no more celery -- basking temp is good --- its the UVB I am wondering about--- it its a coil that is not good -- are you in the states? Or in Canada?
Karrie

Here I have the link of the video I took:
https://youtu.be/SVItuxnKEjw

KarrieRee":m1sc54dr said:

Reptisun 10.0 UVB is this a tube or coil??????????? Here is a website for nutrition
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
Here is how to post pics
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at top of message box then click on the pic it should post
Please no more celery -- basking temp is good --- its the UVB I am wondering about--- it its a coil that is not good -- are you in the states? Or in Canada?
Karrie

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The UVB is a tube, t5 HO. Understood, no more celery. I live in Europe. Here are the images of his terrarium:https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/#list

Ok so the pics did not post but the link did and it looks like she has something caught in her throat---when was the last time she ate locust and how big was it ???? she is in distress as her beard is black as it can be --- https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist
Here are some websites to find a vet please try and find one ---
Can you open her mouth to look and see if you can see anything in the back of her throat
Your 5.0 tube should be replaced w/ a 10.0 - your using a aquarium tube basically and you need the stronger out put --- is it in the tank or on top of screen --- if its on top please get it inside the tank approx 8-10 inches from basking spot w/ NO cover over the bulb it needs to be exposed
Karrie

KarrieRee":58bbknm1 said:

Ok so the pics did not post but the link did and it looks like she has something caught in her throat---when was the last time she ate locust and how big was it ???? she is in distress as her beard is black as it can be --- https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist
Here are some websites to find a vet please try and find one ---
Can you open her mouth to look and see if you can see anything in the back of her throat
Your 5.0 tube should be replaced w/ a 10.0 - your using a aquarium tube basically and you need the stronger out put --- is it in the tank or on top of screen --- if its on top please get it inside the tank approx 8-10 inches from basking spot w/ NO cover over the bulb it needs to be exposed
Karrie

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If I am not mistaken my UVB is a 10.0. He hasn't eaten a locust in more then over a month, so don't think that's it. He has a tendency of playing with hair and going in it, could it be the case that he somehow swallowed a hair and its stuck in there? The only other thing stuck could be a cockroach left over? He isn't constantly doing this, but has random fits throughout the day. My UVB and basking lamp are both inside the terrarium. Thank you for your help so far.

I will let Tracie or ahbd look and see what they think it could be a piece of hair- if it is it's really causing distress- does the black beard come and go or is it constant
Karrie

KarrieRee":3upcztt0 said:

I will let Tracie or ahbd look and see what they think it could be a piece of hair- if it is it's really causing distress- does the black beard come and go or is it constant
Karrie

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The black beard comes and goes with the fits.

I am flagging this post so Tracie or AHBD will look
Is she still doing it?
Karrie

KarrieRee":1jc2yxhq said:

I am flagging this post so Tracie or AHBD will look
Is she still doing it?
Karrie

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Hasn't happened so far today. However, yesterday it happened two more times after sending the video.

Hi there, that's very scary to see your beardie like this and no vets available. Are you in the U.K. ? It seems that something is really causing extreme stomach pain off + on, are there any fake plants in the tank or has he been out where he could swallow a foreign object like coin, rubber band, etc ? Swallowing hair could definitely cause problems since the hair can wind around intestines and cause stricture or ' strangling " of the organ. Those are just guesses. I hope he improves and this problem is resolved.

AHBD":202ipl2u said:

Hi there, that's very scary to see your beardie like this and no vets available. Are you in the U.K. ? It seems that something is really causing extreme stomach pain off + on, are there any fake plants in the tank or has he been out where he could swallow a foreign object like coin, rubber band, etc ? Swallowing hair could definitely cause problems since the hair can wind around intestines and cause stricture or ' strangling " of the organ. Those are just guesses. I hope he improves and this problem is resolved.

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I live on an island in Europe, Malta. It's very small so there is very few options for specialists even during normal times. I seemed to have found a clinic which specialises in reptiles as well and am trying to make an appointment for as soon as possible. He used to have real plants hanging, which we checked were safe for him, but we took them down about a year ago as he kept playing with them. He has been let out to run around the house but I always keep close watch and don't let him go where I can't see him. Hair is the only possibility I can think of. He is having another fit right now and I'm getting super worried but hoping the vets are good and can help. Thank you for all the help. I'd also like to note that he is passing stool regularly.

Please let us know what happens
thanks Karrie