Baby beardie lethargic and not eating

[AHBD]

Hey, that's GREAT that he ate a few crix !! Good for you and Norbert ! He even looks pretty good in that picture . Now just be sure....that those crix aren't too big !! Very important especially since he's not been well ! If in doubt, you can just kill them and remove the head, then feed him half a cricket at a time. You can't afford to have him get impacted on top of his recent problems. A little baby food squash with honey can help him poo if need be, but just see how he does. Oh, one more thing, he can easily get through the screen at the top, try to lower the log by about 4 inches. The recommended distance is fine at 8-10" .

 

[diamc]

Great to hear that he ate a couple of crickets. Yes, please make sure they aren't too big for him. The back legs of the larger crickets are hard for them to get down too.

His eyes look happier now. Make sure he gets at least 2 hrs to digest right in the basking area.

The distance of the T8 is fine for now & will give his eyes a chance to recover from being so close.

 

[ParkerandMe]

Thanks! He was a little sleepier today, but I think that was due to the fact he hadn't eaten in a while. I really hope that he will be okay; the crickets were probably to big-- they have been growing, uneaten, in their Critter Keeper for a few weeks after all. I'm going to get some more tomorrow though, I am all out. What size do you recommend? Small or pinhead? I'm also probably going to get a new basking bulb then. He hasn't gone to the bathroom yet, is this normal? He is a lot more active now though, and is currently trying to climb up my computer screen. He also ran all the way to the other end of the couch and tried to eat this smilie . Oy. He seems a lot happier now, so that's good . Thanks for your help!

 

[AHBD]

Small crickets should be fine....if you watch when the salesperson picks them out you can supervise the choice of what they put in the bag [an extent.] Just for the record, pinheads aren't actually sold in stores, even though they may be labeled as such. True pinheads are not much bigger that the tip of a pencil. Stores often carry their own version of what they consider small, medium or large, so just be sure that the crix are no longer than the space between his eyes, no matter what they are labeled as.

 

[ParkerandMe]

Okay thanks. I will probably either go to the store I got him from or Petco tomorrow.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Norbert is looking happy under his light!
I am sure he is worn out from not feeling well. At least he ate some crickets too, so he must be doing better now.
Definitely don't let them talk you into getting larger crickets at the store.

Let us know how things are going for him.

Tracie

 

[ParkerandMe]

Thanks guys! Norbert seems to be doing better today, and I am going to the store really soon. Two questions. One, will I need a bigger dome fixture for a higher watt bulb? Right now I have an Exo Terra Small fixture. Also, 75 or 100 watts? How far away do you thing my basking spot would have to be to get good temps? I don't think I have any spare household bulbs at the moment. Thank you!

 

[diamc]

What are you using now, a 50 watt bulb? What is the basking surface temp since you increased the distance?

Would be a good idea to make sure you have a dome with a ceramic top and that it is rated higher than the watts you will be putting in it. I think I would try a 75 watt bulb if the basking temp is a little too low now. He shouldn't be able to get any closer than 6" or so from the basking light itself.

Not sure what size the dome is now but it wouldn't hurt to go with the next larger diameter.

 

[ParkerandMe]

Norbert is definitely doing better! He ate four small crickets yesterday and four more today. It's weird, because sometimes he eats in the cardboard box, and sometimes he refuses but eats in his cage. My last bulb was a 50 watt, but he was still to close to his bulb when the temps were good so I went to the store yesterday. I got a 75 watt bulb and a fixture too, a timer outlet, and some calcium with D3 (my last one didn't have it). I'm actually going back to the pet store because I had underestimated how much he would eat. I haven't re-organized the cage yet to incorporate the new bulb, but I will later today. He did go to the bathroom yesterday, so that's good. I'm going to try to get on a more consistent schedule with him. Also, I know he has been sick, but how big were your little guys at about 3 months? He is 7.5 inches and 10 oz as of last week. Thanks for all your help!

 

[AHBD]

That's great! I'm really happy for you. Keep offering him the small crix a couple times a day, and it really sounds like he's turned the corner. He is a bit small, but he can catch up ....he has many months of growing ahead of him. Slow + steady is the way, as the weeks + months go by, he should do better + better.

 

[diamc]

That is awesome news! Makes us all happy to hear. He will catch up and like AHBD said "slow & steady is the way."

Great that he cleaned himself out too. How does he likes his baths?

Let us know how he likes the 75 watt bulb and what the temps are then.

 

[ParkerandMe]

Hi, sorry, I thought I had posted, but I guess not. I realized that the bulb was actually a 100 watt, not a 75, but Norbert seems happy. Basking is about 102, and coolest spot is about 82. He ate around 5 small crickets today. He has been eating regularly, and I'm really proud! He's "going" regularly, is alert and active, and is eating normally again. I'm back to the store actually. I'm going to have to get a bigger Critter Keeper. I know I can get just a plastic tub, but the tubes are really useful. Also, I am having trouble finding a good feeding area. The crickets easily climb out of the cardboard box, and crawl under the bottom. His cage doesn't work, because they run away too easily and hide. Is there anywhere you recommend to put them, or anything I can use to stop them from escaping? Thanks!
Claire

 

[AHBD]

It sounds like the temps. are good ! Claire, an easy way to feed him in the tank is to just shake the crix up in a jar , this will make them dizzy + slow[ add the pinch of calcium powder at the same time to coat the crix ] Then you drop 2-3 at a time where he can easily see them wobbling around, he should go for them and they won't be quick enough to hide because they have been " stunned" by the shaking. After he eats 2-3 repeat with a few more until he's had his fill. Try that out....hopefully it will work.