BEARDED DRAGON POSSIBLY DYING!!!

[AlduinTheWorldEater]

My bearded dragon won't eat or poop for a month!! I moved him into the basement and he ate Good for The first few weeks and for about a week he didn't eat much or at all. After the week he wasn't eating AT ALL. I moved him back upstairs and he still doesn't eat or poop. Btw he hasn't ate for around 1 month.

I have a reptile sun 10.0 coil light uvb, a 100watt house bulb for heat. A 90 gallon tank for his home. I feed him jumbo grasshoppers which he used to love, and bok choi as his staple green.

His tank is usually 90-100f on warm side cool side is 60-70f. (Highest I can get them) dial thermometer.

he hasn't lost weight visually (I don't have a scale either).
He's 13 inches long From nose to tail. Born march 8th 2016.

For about 5 days I have been giving him 10-20 minute bath of warm water with exo terra electrolyte and vitamin d3 in the water at least 1 tea spoon if it.

Idk if he's impacted or sick but there are NO exotic vets here or near by ..

I tried force feeding but he just spits it out.

Please give me some soulutions for him.

 

[CooperDragon]

The first thing that stands out to me is the coil UVB light. They don't have a very big effective range. How far is it from his basking spot? He may not be getting enough UVB. A T5 tube would be most appropriate for a 90g enclosure so I suggest upgrading to that if you can. In the meantime I'd bring him outside for some natural sunlight if the weather is good outside.

Your heat gradient sounds good but it's important to have an accurate reading and go by the surface temperatures. Instead of a dial thermometer, I suggest using a digital thermometer with a probe for each end hhttps://www.amazon.ca/Digital-Aquarium-Marine-Water-Thermometer/dp/B00CERH0OG/ or an IR temp gun for spot checking https://www.amazon.ca/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK/

 

[Gormagon]

Also, all that moving around, will cause them to do weird things like this due to relocation stress that is added each time he is moved. They don't do well with change.
Also, CooperDragon is correct about the uvb bulb, it needs to be replaced because, without proper uvb, dragons cannot metabolize the nutrients from their food (calcium and D3, vitamins ect...)
Huge crickets can be problematic as well, get mediums. Don't feed anything longer that the space between their eyes.

I hope this helps you and, your dragon!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Definitely post some pictures of him & of your setup too.
Is he 13 inches from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail? If so, he is a little small for his age. Are you located in the US or the UK? You had mentioned hoppers. LOL
As suggested, changing out his UVB would be very helpful for him because the compact/coil lights really are not very good.

Tracie

 

[kingofnobbys]

My bearded dragon won't eat or poop for a month!! I moved him into the basement and he ate Good for The first few weeks and for about a week he didn't eat much or at all. After the week he wasn't eating AT ALL. I moved him back upstairs and he still doesn't eat or poop. Btw he hasn't ate for around 1 month.

I have a reptile sun 10.0 coil light uvb, a 100watt house bulb for heat. A 90 gallon tank for his home. I feed him jumbo grasshoppers which he used to love, and bok choi as his staple green.

His tank is usually 90-100f on warm side cool side is 60-70f. (Highest I can get them) dial thermometer.

he hasn't lost weight visually (I don't have a scale either).
He's 13 inches long From nose to tail. Born march 8th 2016.
<<< a cheap set of digital flat top scale for the kitchen are fine if they have a resolution of about 0.5g , of cause a resolution of 0.05 g is better when they are small. Can likely pick up a set of scales at the local supermarket for under $20.
Weighing weekly will give you a very good picture how he's growing or if he's loosing weight, keep in mind even a little hatchling like him can poo away 5-6g easy.

For about 5 days I have been giving him 10-20 minute bath of warm water with exo terra electrolyte and vitamin d3 in the water at least 1 tea spoon if it. <<<< adding electrolytes to his bath waters will ONLY HELP if he actually drinks the bath water, bearded dragons don't absorb water or electrolytes through their skin or via their vent.


Idk if he's impacted or sick but there are NO exotic vets here or near by ..
<<< can you feel any hard lumps in his tummy area ?
<<< have you tried giving 0.04ml of olive oil via a small syringe into his mouth (from the side - this is safer as it reduces the risk of his accidently aspiration some of the olive oil).

I tried force feeding but he just spits it out.
<<< if you suspect he's impacted, I wouldn't be giving him any solids until he gives you a nice smelly present or a vet . Giving him solids while impacted will only add to the logjamb and make the impaction worse. Sloopy baby foods, soft foods only and maybe some apple sauce, prune juice and purees for now.

(if no reptile vets in your neck of the woods, an exotics or even a general vet will have to do - and is better than no vet at all, chances are they will have a friend /colleague who is a reptile vet who they can pick up the phone and confer with , skype, or email if they aren't sure or need guidance - vets tend to very collegiate).
Even a general vet can do xrays to check for impactions and have some basic reptile vet care training (even if it was only in one semester).

Please give me some soulutions for him.

 

[kingofnobbys]

My bearded dragon won't eat or poop for a month!! I moved him into the basement and he ate Good for The first few weeks and for about a week he didn't eat much or at all. After the week he wasn't eating AT ALL. I moved him back upstairs and he still doesn't eat or poop. Btw he hasn't ate for around 1 month.

I have a reptile sun 10.0 coil light uvb
<<< how far is the 10%UVB coil mounted from his basking spot and is it older than 6 months old ?

, a 100watt house bulb for heat. A 90 gallon tank for his home. I feed him jumbo grasshoppers
<<< I think the jumbo hoppers are too big for him
which he used to love, and bok choi as his staple green.

His tank is usually 90-100f on warm side cool side is 60-70f. (Highest I can get them) dial thermometer.
<<<< these are very much better than dial style analog thermometers which are very inaccurate.
.... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4x-LCD-Digital-Temperature-Thermometer-Fridge-Freezer-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Reptile/152552282270?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107090050%26meid%3Dc731a9084a7c44e7ae65298baaa7c7f5%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D391259141696
he hasn't lost weight visually (I don't have a scale either).
He's 13 inches long From nose to tail. Born march 8th 2016.
<<< he's only a tiny boy if he's 15-16 months old . , is likely the UVB is too far away to be very beneficial , I mount my 26 W UVB200 compacts in a ExoTerra Nano-Hood under my viv's lids about 8 inches above the basking spots for my beardies.

Too far and the UVA and UVB WILL BE TOO DILUTE .
UVA FLUX TOO LOW where dragon is ==> a very lethargic dragon w/ a very poor apetite just in the short term , and neurological problems if this persists , not to mention MVB if UVB flux too low long enough with inadequate metabolisation of dietary calcium or inadequate intake out calcium



For about 5 days I have been giving him 10-20 minute bath of warm water with exo terra electrolyte and vitamin d3 in the water at least 1 tea spoon if it.

Idk if he's impacted or sick but there are NO exotic vets here or near by ..

I tried force feeding but he just spits it out.

Please give me some soulutions for him.

 

[EllenD]

I totally agree that his major problems are that his UVB light isn't adequate, he's quite small at 13 inches for a year and a half, and that's because the inadequate UVB light isn't allowing him to absorb any Calcium or other nutrients from his food, so he's a bit stunted. This will also eventually cause him to lose his appetite. In addition, those coil UVB bulbs can also cause eye damage. You have quite a large tank, he needs a long tube UVB, mounted inside the tank with no lid in-between him and the tube, and his basking spot must be at the correct distance from the UVB tube.

His temps also need corrected, you cannot measure his basking spot temperature with one of those round stick-on thermometers, and they are typically off by up to 20 degrees anyway. You need one of the digital probe thermometers, and you have to set the probe on his basking spot for at least 20-30 minutes before reading the temperature. Then move the probe to the floor of the hot side, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then read the temperature, the move the probe to the floor of the Cool Side, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then read the temperature. His Cool Side must be between 75-80 but no hotter, 60-70 is pretty cold, so you may need to add another bright white basking bulb, low wattage, to the cool side. His basking spot needs to be between 98-103, if it's not hot enough he cannot digest his food. Some adults like it a bit hotter but not much, if he starts mouth gaping while on his basking spot then it's a bit hot.

Once you get him an adequate UVB tube (I'd get at least a 36" tube for a 90 gallon tank, centered over top of his basking spot, right alongside the basking bulb so he gets both lights while basking) and you get his temps correct his appetite should pick up pretty quickly, and he may even grow a bit, they typically do not stop growing until 2 years old, so you still have a little time for him to put on not only weight but also a little length.

 

[AlduinTheWorldEater]

Hi, his uvb light is about 5 inches away from him. He has a rock tower thing (fish decoration) I always used this brand of light since I got him, he used to eat GREAT. But since I moved him up he stopped eating. I also just bought the light 1 month ago paid 70$ CAD. I am in Canada btw.

I also forgot to mention his 90g tank is split in half. My other dragon is on the other side. He still eat great and is healthy.

I will call the vet on Monday when they open again.

I'll try to pick up some baby food soon.

 

[Gormagon]

Dragons are individuals and, have distinct personalities. This being said, relocation stress is very real in most dragons. That coupled with the fact that he knows the other dragon is there and, this can also be adding to the problem...." He can hear and smell the other dragon."
And, yes, that uvb is playing a factor in this to. Those coil bulbs have caused more damage to dragons than you can imagine? Why they still sell them for dragons is beyond me!

 

[kingofnobbys]

Dragons are individuals and, have distinct personalities. This being said, relocation stress is very real in most dragons. That coupled with the fact that he knows the other dragon is there and, this can also be adding to the problem...." He can hear and smell the other dragon."
And, yes, that uvb is playing a factor in this to. Those coil bulbs have caused more damage to dragons than you can imagine? Why they still sell them for dragons is beyond me!

Regarding compact UVB bulbs : so long as you stick to high quality brands such as Exo Terra , Zoo Med and Arcadia , and try to mount them in horizontal configuration rather than vertical configuration , and at the appropriate distance to get 190 microW UVB / sqcm at the beardie's basking spot, they are fine, the engineering in them has come a long way since the 00s and early 10s, and in small footprint (rearing) vivs they are the only real option .