Ethelia
Extreme Poster
Ive been discussing this in a number of other topics, but Im getting very distressed and desperate so Im starting a new thread to try to get some more help.
Here's the background:
Dex is a rescued female with two missing claws. She was hardly fed and kept in a viv with multiple species of lizards.
She was incredibly skinny and agressive when we first brought her home. Now she is an affectionate cuddlebug who loves nothing more than to run around and snuggle into my neck.
At the best of times she hasnt the best apetite, but she would eat supers, devour locusts and i would trick her into eating veggies too. But even still she would require special attention, and often would only eat if I hand fed her. She would never eat if my partner was in the room.
A month ago her apetite disapeared, she was running everywhere, digging and had a huge belly. After two weeks in a laybox she showed no signs of wanting to lay. A week after that she spent 3 days at a reptile store, still nothing. A week later... she lays 17 eggs in her sleeping box.
During this time I was coaxing her to eat 2-3 supers every 4 days or so. I would also feed her chicken+squash babyfood with vits every 5 days that she didnt eat because I wanted to keep up her vitamin intake.
Now:
Dexter laid sunday morning and I was relieved. Thank GOD she was pregant and it wasnt something serious, now I was sure her apetite would return.
No chance.
Forget her eating from her food bowls, even if I waggle/dangle worms at her she just looks at me like there is nothing there. She wont even accept waxworms, which she would usually walk through fire to get.
Because she is so thin Ive been syringing her 10-12mls of babyfood with calc+vits daily. But her lack of interest in food is getting really scary. Even if i open her mouth and put supers/waxies in she just bites them once and lets them fall out of her mouth!
Every store Ive called says she SHOULD be ravenous.
The day after she laid I picked her up and could feel her ribs and her belly was flacid.
Today (3 days later) she feels heavier and her skin is less loose, but this is only due to me force feeding her and she is still thin.
What can I do?
Im terrified shes just fading away from me, and that laying was too traumatic for her body.
Ive fought so hard to get her back to health and to tame her when we adopted her. I cant let her go.
From the day after she laid, snubbing everything I offered her:
The next day, still skinny:
Today. Starting to put some weight on underneath on her belly.
How old is your dragon? Unknown as she is a rescue.
How long have you had your dragon? 4 months
How long is your dragon? 17 inches.
What is the sex of your dragon? female
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 120gallon
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? sifted playsand
Do you use UVB lights? yes.
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? mercury vapor Realsun 100w (awful brand but all they stock in Hull. Im getting a TREX ACTIVE MVB next month when ive been paid).
How old is your UVB bulb? 4 months
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? no closer than 8 inches.
What are the basking temps? 115
What is the cool side temp? 83
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? a digital thermom with a probe (i have two in there because im paranoid)
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? directly under the lamp on her basking rocks.
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? nope.
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. PREVIOUSLY: veggies (chinese leaf, spinach, watercress, rocket leaf, little carrot, occasional fruit) cut up into small bits, mealworms sprinkled on top to attract her attention, around 2-4 superworms, 3 large locust a day.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? she is given her food when her light goes on in the morning. food is taken out at night.
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? yes.
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? 'Dragon Dust' ICB and Veggie all in one vits.
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? yes.
Do you bath your dragon? How often? once daily in the evening a few hours befor lights out.
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? mist yes. she will only drink from her bath though.
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? no.
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? no. im still looking for a vet who is familiar with reptiles. I live in a small village and so far Ive found none in the main city or surrounding cities.
Activity:
She has been doing alot of basking. Wonders around a little onto different positions to flop into. Sleeps in her hide at night.
Please help.
I have no where to turn and Im in a complete state.
Here's the background:
Dex is a rescued female with two missing claws. She was hardly fed and kept in a viv with multiple species of lizards.
She was incredibly skinny and agressive when we first brought her home. Now she is an affectionate cuddlebug who loves nothing more than to run around and snuggle into my neck.
At the best of times she hasnt the best apetite, but she would eat supers, devour locusts and i would trick her into eating veggies too. But even still she would require special attention, and often would only eat if I hand fed her. She would never eat if my partner was in the room.
A month ago her apetite disapeared, she was running everywhere, digging and had a huge belly. After two weeks in a laybox she showed no signs of wanting to lay. A week after that she spent 3 days at a reptile store, still nothing. A week later... she lays 17 eggs in her sleeping box.
During this time I was coaxing her to eat 2-3 supers every 4 days or so. I would also feed her chicken+squash babyfood with vits every 5 days that she didnt eat because I wanted to keep up her vitamin intake.
Now:
Dexter laid sunday morning and I was relieved. Thank GOD she was pregant and it wasnt something serious, now I was sure her apetite would return.
No chance.
Forget her eating from her food bowls, even if I waggle/dangle worms at her she just looks at me like there is nothing there. She wont even accept waxworms, which she would usually walk through fire to get.
Because she is so thin Ive been syringing her 10-12mls of babyfood with calc+vits daily. But her lack of interest in food is getting really scary. Even if i open her mouth and put supers/waxies in she just bites them once and lets them fall out of her mouth!
Every store Ive called says she SHOULD be ravenous.
The day after she laid I picked her up and could feel her ribs and her belly was flacid.
Today (3 days later) she feels heavier and her skin is less loose, but this is only due to me force feeding her and she is still thin.
What can I do?
Im terrified shes just fading away from me, and that laying was too traumatic for her body.
Ive fought so hard to get her back to health and to tame her when we adopted her. I cant let her go.
From the day after she laid, snubbing everything I offered her:
The next day, still skinny:
Today. Starting to put some weight on underneath on her belly.
How old is your dragon? Unknown as she is a rescue.
How long have you had your dragon? 4 months
How long is your dragon? 17 inches.
What is the sex of your dragon? female
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 120gallon
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? sifted playsand
Do you use UVB lights? yes.
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? mercury vapor Realsun 100w (awful brand but all they stock in Hull. Im getting a TREX ACTIVE MVB next month when ive been paid).
How old is your UVB bulb? 4 months
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? no closer than 8 inches.
What are the basking temps? 115
What is the cool side temp? 83
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? a digital thermom with a probe (i have two in there because im paranoid)
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? directly under the lamp on her basking rocks.
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? nope.
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. PREVIOUSLY: veggies (chinese leaf, spinach, watercress, rocket leaf, little carrot, occasional fruit) cut up into small bits, mealworms sprinkled on top to attract her attention, around 2-4 superworms, 3 large locust a day.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? she is given her food when her light goes on in the morning. food is taken out at night.
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? yes.
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? 'Dragon Dust' ICB and Veggie all in one vits.
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? yes.
Do you bath your dragon? How often? once daily in the evening a few hours befor lights out.
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? mist yes. she will only drink from her bath though.
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? no.
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? no. im still looking for a vet who is familiar with reptiles. I live in a small village and so far Ive found none in the main city or surrounding cities.
Activity:
She has been doing alot of basking. Wonders around a little onto different positions to flop into. Sleeps in her hide at night.
Please help.
I have no where to turn and Im in a complete state.
