How to help my bearded dragon

Skindo

Member
Original Poster
I thought that my beardie was just going into brumation but some recent behavior has really concerned me. He first started refusing food and became lethargic, and would just sit under his basking spot all day. Just today however I realized he is having trouble walking, he drags himself across the turf in bursts. He also has had some runny urate and poop which I was keeping an eye on. I’d love to be told otherwise but at this point it seems it’s certainly not brumation. The problem is that I called my vet and there are no openings for quite a while. Is there anything I can to to help him myself or should I get him to a vet ASAP?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I thought that my beardie was just going into brumation but some recent behavior has really concerned me. He first started refusing food and became lethargic, and would just sit under his basking spot all day. Just today however I realized he is having trouble walking, he drags himself across the turf in bursts. He also has had some runny urate and poop which I was keeping an eye on. I’d love to be told otherwise but at this point it seems it’s certainly not brumation. The problem is that I called my vet and there are no openings for quite a while. Is there anything I can to to help him myself or should I get him to a vet ASAP?
Yes go over the UVB your using--- coil or long tube fixture? Surface basking temps- what are they and how are you taking them? Please no stick ons digital probe thermometer -- they are the most accurate --- what are you feeding for insects?
 

Skindo

Member
Original Poster
Yes go over the UVB your using--- coil or long tube fixture? Surface basking temps- what are they and how are you taking them? Please no stick ons digital probe thermometer -- they are the most accurate --- what are you feeding for insects?
He has a reptisun uvb 10 long tube, and his basking temps are always around 100 F. He usually gets 2-3 calcium dusted crickets a day with blueberries and kale
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
He has a reptisun uvb 10 long tube, and his basking temps are always around 100 F. He usually gets 2-3 calcium dusted crickets a day with blueberries and kale
Long tube UVB is a T 5 or a T 8 and where in the tank is it? Top of screen or inside the tank--- 2-3 insects per day is not enough --- how old is the dragon -- how are you taking the 105 temp? Please lay off the blueberries ---- too much sugar ---- kale is good --- here is a nutrition website ignore the kale info its outdated Nutrition Content
 

Skindo

Member
Original Poster
Long tube UVB is a T 5 or a T 8 and where in the tank is it? Top of screen or inside the tank--- 2-3 insects per day is not enough --- how old is the dragon -- how are you taking the 105 temp? Please lay off the blueberries ---- too much sugar ---- kale is good --- here is a nutrition website ignore the kale info its outdated Nutrition Content
The uvb is on top of the screen. He is 2 years old and I take the temperature with a digital thermometer. Also do you have tips on how to get him to eat other foods? I’ve tried a lot of different produce and kale lettuce and blueberries were all he’d eat
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
The uvb is on top of the screen. He is 2 years old and I take the temperature with a digital thermometer. Also do you have tips on how to get him to eat other foods? I’ve tried a lot of different produce and kale lettuce and blueberries were all he’d eat
The screen is a fine mesh screen or a wide hole type- this will contribute to his appetite- your screen will block out 30% of rays if its a fine mesh like a screen door - the digital thermometer is a probe? Not a IR gun correct? What kind of lettuce? NO ice berg -- romaine is good --- I posted a nutrition website - its trial and error w/ foods - you have found what he likes which is good start offering other things on the nutrition site and go from there - are you feeding any super worms horn worms or meal worms as treats? Why is he not eating more crickets? Does he not like them? I would get him on some dubia roaches -- they are better nutritional wise ---- you can also order super worms and horn worms from here as well
www.dubiaroaches.com the horn worms grow really fast so order small amounts and feed every day till gone -- they are a good hydrating worm --- please make sure hes hydrated - rinse your greens Kale before serving and he will get water that way -- also make sure your gut loading your insects at night before feeding
 

Skindo

Member
Original Poster
The screen is a fine mesh screen or a wide hole type- this will contribute to his appetite- your screen will block out 30% of rays if its a fine mesh like a screen door - the digital thermometer is a probe? Not a IR gun correct? What kind of lettuce? NO ice berg -- romaine is good --- I posted a nutrition website - its trial and error w/ foods - you have found what he likes which is good start offering other things on the nutrition site and go from there - are you feeding any super worms horn worms or meal worms as treats? Why is he not eating more crickets? Does he not like them? I would get him on some dubia roaches -- they are better nutritional wise ---- you can also order super worms and horn worms from here as well
www.dubiaroaches.com the horn worms grow really fast so order small amounts and feed every day till gone -- they are a good hydrating worm --- please make sure hes hydrated - rinse your greens Kale before serving and he will get water that way -- also make sure your gut loading your insects at night before feeding
I have fed him horn worms I’d say they’re his favorite but they’ve gotten really expensive so I haven’t given him any in a while. I’ve also tried the Dubia roaches and he loved them too. He does like crickets too though I was just not feeding him enough seemingly. He started gaining weight so I though I should lower the amount but it seems the blueberries were the problem. It was always romaine lettuce that I’ve fed him. And the thermometer is a probe, yes. I’m glad to have learned what faults I’ve made in his diet but as for his current condition he’s still refusing to eat and remaining almost motionless. I’m calling the vet today but it’s likely they won’t have an opening. And it all happened so suddenly he was completely normal half a week ago, to me that suggests that the diet wasn’t the reason for this even if it was poor?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I have fed him horn worms I’d say they’re his favorite but they’ve gotten really expensive so I haven’t given him any in a while. I’ve also tried the Dubia roaches and he loved them too. He does like crickets too though I was just not feeding him enough seemingly. He started gaining weight so I though I should lower the amount but it seems the blueberries were the problem. It was always romaine lettuce that I’ve fed him. And the thermometer is a probe, yes. I’m glad to have learned what faults I’ve made in his diet but as for his current condition he’s still refusing to eat and remaining almost motionless. I’m calling the vet today but it’s likely they won’t have an opening. And it all happened so suddenly he was completely normal half a week ago, to me that suggests that the diet wasn’t the reason for this even if it was poor?
What is the screen on the tank ? We need to get it properly placed and distanced for your UVB
 

Skindo

Member
Original Poster
Ok you need to either get it in the tank or cut the screen so its not being blocked - I can post things to hang inside the tank if you like - it needs to be 12-15 inches directly above his basking decor --
I’ll cut a hole in the mesh for it. Is there anything else I should do or just report if it helps his situation at all after a while?
 

Members online

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,899
Messages
1,255,688
Members
75,966
Latest member
georgiarichmond
Top Bottom