baby beardie troubles

[mbarnes227]

i posted in introductions but i figured i should the troubles issue here. i found a gooey mass of stuff that looked like it had part of a wasx worm in it and maybe some other stuff, my baby is still very dark with stress spots and not eating, *sigh*


her temps are about 80-87 cool, 93-102 basking, has UVA and UVB, was eating fly sized crickets and a wax worm once in a while. now, nothing. bathed her tonight, to no reduction of stress spots, she runs away when you try to pick her up but when shes just in the tank she just stays in one spot with her eyes closed. i donno what to do.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I noticed you posted in the general section. It looks like you need to review your tank setup with us.
What type & brand of UVB are you using, is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?
What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temps with, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
I would double check your temps to make sure that she is getting warm enough. How late do you feed her, do you give at least 2 hours prior to her lights out to feed her?

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

I've been offering food all day at diff times. Temps are about about 84 cool end and 95-100 basking. Using two thermometers with probes. She has 75 watt spot for basking strop light with repti sun 10.0 in it. Switched it from a different bulb with less UVB last night. When I got her she was eating fine but I can't get her to eat.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How many waxworms do you feed? I do not recommend feeding waxworms on a regular basis other than for just a snack. They are fatty & can upset their tummies, especially the young ones & babies. Maybe she ate it too late before bedtime? I would continue the small crickets, that should be fine.
What do you mean you switched bulbs to decrease her UVB? Why did you do that? She needs the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb. Is it placed directly beside the basking light?
You could safely bump up the basking temperatures to a range from 95-110. Usually babies like it a litter hotter than adults do, so, try that & see if that helps her out.
Let me know how it goes.

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

No, I mean the bulb I had had less UVB. I switched it TO a repti sun 10.0 the other put out UVB. Just not as much. I fed one small wax worm. It was about six o'clock at night. Lights go off at ten.... She won't eat crickets. I got her to nom nom some squash organic bab food with an eye dropper. That's all she's eaten.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh ok, good you switched from a weaker to a stronger bulb. I misread your data.
Try increasing the temps a little bit to see if that may help out. You can add some chicken or turkey to the squash when feeding her so she doesn't lose any weight.
Let me know how she is doing! I hope she gets to feeling better soon.

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

I got some chicken veggie baby food. I'll try that tommorrow. Raise the temps to about 105 basking, 87-92 cool...

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, good. However, try not to raise the temps on the cooler end to over 85, otherwise, overheating may occur. There needs to be a definite "hot side" & a definite "cooler side" for thermoregulation.
Good luck with feeding the babyfood. Let me know how that goes with her.
How is she doing today?

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

Still dark with stress spots and pathetic looking but she does run from me now instead of just closing her eyes and sitting there so I think she has more energy

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, it sounds like she might be feeling better now. Though, we still need to tweak those temps so she doesn't overheat on you.
Has she eaten anything?

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

She hasn't eaten any live food I've offered. She licks up the baby food pretty well off the eye dropper and I think she munches on some greens while I'm at work cuz about half the little pile is gone when I come home... I feed her the baby food and leave some greens then feed baby food again when I get home. I made it a lil cooler before I left.

 

[mbarnes227]

her belly seems squishy....is that normal?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Squishy for the stomach? Well, their little bellies are supposed to be soft, yes.
It sounds like she is eating pretty well then, which is great. How did she like the temperatures were they ok for her?

Tracie

 

[mbarnes227]

Ok. Just seemed different, more like a lil balloon belly but it's not hard like bloating so I guess were ok. She runs from me now which is good I guess I just can't get her to eat anything by herself or color up and get rid of the stress spots. Beardies seem like a lot of trouble lol. I was gunna get another at the reptile show this weekend (diff cage) but idk if I can handle another. Haha

 

[SlaveToKazul]

For what it's worth...my baby's stomach looked kinda bloated when he was eating a steady diet of baby food. He even burped while I was feeding it to him :shock: It didn't seem to hurt him at all, and he's doing much better now.

Good luck with your little one!