Beardie not moving

[JeneaL]

 I am having a problem with my beardie. Andy is 2 years old and has been very food driven lately. She always seems to stop eating when she is full but she ate 15-20 crickets today then stopped moving. I’ve called vets all around me, but none look after reptiles or had appointments. One person I called said that beardies do that and to just keep and eye on her. She has pooped once, there was white and then the poop that got stuck. The poop came out and she has been lethargic since. We made a hammock for her so her belly hangs free and have given her a warm bath but nothing has changed. She is somewhat alert but won’t move unless we mess with her. Any advice is welcome as well as any idea of how long this will last.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Jeneal, was Andy healthy + active before this ? Is there anything else you can think of that might be connected ? A large meal of crickets shouldn't have such bad effects unless the temps. are not high enough for digestion or if there's severe dehydration. Has she been outside or roaming out of the tank ? Can you post pics of her set up including lights and what the temps, are ?

 

[JeneaL]

Hi Jeneal, was Andy healthy + active before this ? Is there anything else you can think of that might be connected ? A large meal of crickets shouldn't have such bad effects unless the temps. are not high enough for digestion or if there's severe dehydration. Has she been outside or roaming out of the tank ? Can you post pics of her set up including lights and what the temps, are ?

She seems pretty healthy - we just realized today the tank is too small and we’re researching a bigger one. She only drinks out of the bath or a running faucet, so honestly not sure she always gets enough water but it’s available in her enclosure as well. She is laying on the hammock we made so her belly doesn’t press on her spine. The lights were off so everything is kinda cold, she is 80 degrees and tank is 77 degrees. I gave her some water today and she drank a little, plus the bath.

 

[AHBD]

She does look pretty worn out from something. How long have you had her ? What are the temps. in the tank normally and how many watts are the 2 bulbs you have each ? If you only have a stick on thermometer they are not accurate, you need to get a digital one ASAP, they are not expensive at all.

 

[KarrieRee]

The UVB fixture has a reflector on it ? If not you either need to get one w/ a reflector or buy a reflector or move the fixture directly over her approx 4-6 inches from basking decor -- either case the UVB needs to be corrected --- and yes please go get a digital probe thermometer from petco or petsmart for $7 --- your basking temps need to be 95-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer ASAP--unless she is really dehydrated I would not giver her anymore baths -- she needs basking temps up and bathing could cause her to get sicker w/ her not being warm enough -- her eyes look swollen in the pic --- so she ate all those crickets are you feeding salads? improper basking temps will cause her not to be able to digest her food along w/ that UVB --- she needs the lighting corrected in the tank
Karrie

 

[JeneaL]

I took her temp this morning with my infrared thermometer and she was 89 degrees so I moved her to the warm side while I work on correcting the lighting. The warm side is 93 so I’ll put her up higher. I don’t remember when I replaced the tube light (UVB) so will get a new one recommended on other boards. I don’t know if there is a reflector or not, I assume you’re talking about on the tube light? I think the basking light is wrong? It’s a 100 watt UVA UVB mercury vapor bulb bought in 2018. Do I need something different. The other light bulb is the dreaded coil fluorescent that needs to be replaced with a standard lightbulb (correct)?

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok first look on the tube UVB and tell me what it is brand and bulb- the reflector is a shiny piece behind the bulb itself - if its the same color as the fixture there is no reflector -- the MVB is completely expired and doing NO good at all -- its 2 years old they need to be replaced its either every 6 months or 1 year for them I am not savvy on them -- but you need to get all that lighting in the tank corrected -- I would get the UVB separate from the basking bulbs all together and get this to replace what you have
start w/ a 100 watt bulb https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/exo-terra-intense-basking-spot-light-14809.html?cgid=500202
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/t5-uvb-light-fixture.html do not use the bulb in this fixture its not for reptiles -- or you can get this one
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html I would get the 24" fixture - it comes w/ a 5.0 bulb keep it for a back up its more of a T 8 and order this bulb
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-t5.html get a 22" bulb and its the T 5 stronger bulb --
In the meantime get her outside in a plastic tote NO glass or have her sit on you -- 15 minutes in the tote direct sunlight / partial shade no longer or on you for 30 minutes or so - we dont want to burn her up in the tote -- do this a couple times per day till you get the UVB -- please get the basking bulb ASAP and the UVB as soon as you can as well
Karrie
Karrie

 

[JeneaL]

Thank you for all the help! I ordered the attached setup to be delivered June 30. In the meantime I’m picking up a 75 W basking bulb and digital thermometer from PetSmart. I’ll get her in the sun too. Do you think she needs to stay in her “hammock”

 

[AHBD]

O.K., that's all good ! If it's warm out, set her in the grass because even the tote will heat up too much. And one tip for the basking/heat lamp is you never need the pet store bulb. Go to Walmart and get these, a 4 pack is around 5-6 bucks.

https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/29993/full

 

[KarrieRee]

Its trial and error w/ the basking bulbs -- make sure you have the digital probe so you can get accurate readings --- I cant use the regular bulbs AHBD uses my tank will not get the proper temps so I am stuck using the basking bulbs from Petsmart or Petco -- you want basking temps 95-110 - its good to offer a gradient heat so she can pick a spot of where she wants to bask a piece of decor that has different places to sit stand or lay on is good -- petsmart has some nice decor for dragons-- I would move her under the new basking bulb when you get it see how she reacts --- is she still not moving?
Karrie

 

[AHBD]

As long as you have the dome light fixtures like Jeneal has you can use these bulbs. The dome projects the heat down.

 

[KarrieRee]

I have the same domes and the same bulbs right now in the house - tomorrow morning I will try again and see what I get for basking temps-
Karrie

 

[AHBD]

Karrie I know your tank is a tall custom enclosure so all your lights are higher up than in some tanks so it would be harder for the heat to project far down.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yep but I will try out of curiosity-- I want to see what I get for temps

Karrie

 

[JeneaL]

Its trial and error w/ the basking bulbs -- make sure you have the digital probe so you can get accurate readings --- I cant use the regular bulbs AHBD uses my tank will not get the

proper temps so I am stuck using the basking bulbs from Petsmart or Petco -- you want basking temps 95-110 - its good to offer a gradient heat so she can pick a spot of where she wants to bask a piece of decor that has different places to sit stand or lay on is good -- petsmart has some nice decor for dragons-- I would move her under the new basking bulb when you get it see how she reacts --- is she still not moving?
Karrie

I took her outside and I couldn’t believe it! She perked up, jumped out of her hammock and ran to my flowers. I am keeping her outside for now, she is hiding in the shade. I took her temp again and it was 95.8 so much better. She is holding her head up and moves to the shade when I put her in the sun.