Baby Turning Black

[evvdcaec]

I have had my beardie for close to two weeks with no problems. I noticed today that when she was basking, she was almost completely black on her back and her belly and chin were VERY dark and covered with stress spots. This is the first time that I have seen this from her. When I take her out of the tank she returns to normal bright colors and a milky whit belly. I put her back in the tank and an hour later she was black with stress marks again. Anyone have any explanation?

Seems to be a female
She is about 6" long
~107ºF basking, ~78ºF cool side
tank 4'L x 2'W x 2'H
Paper towles as substrate
Sun GLO 150W Basking/UVA
ReptiGLO 10.0 UVB 36" Tube
Eating 6-8 pinheads per day
Regular BM

*Edit - I seem to have found the problem, she likes it a bit hotter for basking. I turned up the basking light a little and she went right back to normal. She is happily sitting on her branch all bright eyed and colorful. I have read that is is normal for them to open their mouth when they reach optimal temperature to dissipate excess heat. This is the first time that I have seen her gaping and I hope that this is normal but I would still like some assurance.

 

[Jiffy]

Glad that she seems to be doing better. What did you bump the temps up to?

 

[evvdcaec]

I moved her favourite stick to a better location, directly under the basking light, and the probe on the stick is reading 110 even.

 

[IAmThor]

Those temps are great. Have you tried feeding her more? she doesn't seem to be eating much for a baby of 6"

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[evvdcaec]

Took her to a vet yesterday, she had a respiratory infection. Sadly she died this morning. I called the pet store where I got her from and they said that five other beardies from the same clutch have been returned with the same problem. From now on, no more pet stores, only breaders. This is now the second bearded dragon that I have had die from the same pet store (Pet's Unlimited, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland) in a few weeks. The first dragon was sick when I brought him/her home and died on the second day. I've been asking around and the local breader has heard the same story too many times in the past month. Is this typical of chain pet store care?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh no! I am very sorry to hear of your baby's passing in that way. That is devastating.
If you need anything, please let us know.

Tracie

 

[IAmThor]

Oh dear sorry to hear she never made it..

Sadly, most pet stores don't provide their animals with the right care so it's not your fault, you did the best you could. You can get good pet stores though so they're not all bad. I prefer to support and go with breeders, especially the ones I know and trust. As you can get bad breeders as well as pet shops.

Good luck

 

[evvdcaec]

Hello,

Oh no! I am very sorry to hear of your baby's passing in that way. That is devastating.
If you need anything, please let us know.

Tracie

Oh dear sorry to hear she never made it..

Sadly, most pet stores don't provide their animals with the right care so it's not your fault, you did the best you could. You can get good pet stores though so they're not all bad. I prefer to support and go with breeders, especially the ones I know and trust. As you can get bad breeders as well as pet shops.

Good luck

Thanks for the support guys! I have been talking to the local breeder and I will probably drop over there tomorrow. I would like to think that it's nothing I did wrong, I really can't go through another one passing again. Hopefully I will have a healthy beardie (or two) within the next few days. Still thinking over though.