Beardie not very responsive

[JasperTheBeardie]

Hello!My baby beardie jasper has been acting Very lazy and sick.When he poops he gets it all over his
"Hole" and hes barely responds.When i woke up i thought he had passed!He seems very weak as well.Someone please help!Please

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Sorry your little guy is not feeling well. Can you go over your set up?

 

[Newatthis]

hello,
I am in the same situation. I have the zilla set up which I already read is no good in any way. My bearded dragon is about 2 months old and I have had it for 12 days. in the past 4 days he/she has gone from what I imagine is normal to not eating much and at some point I believed he/she was dead, it has a very shallow breading. Poop is normal, moist, and is pooping every day. He is just not moving around and is eating about 5 crickets a day and won't touch the vegetables. I read all the information you have and there is no close vet experienced with bearded dragons but I will take it to one tomorrow here in Waco in hopes that they have something to say. I gave him/her a bath today just on case it was dehydrated.
I am feeling so bath! poor bearded dragon!! I am a terrible care giver.
Petco is terrible with information about bearded dragons I will definitely make a complaint. when I called today they told me that babies can suffer seizures and that they grow out of it.
Sorry for the long post. I figure details will help you provide us with immediate help.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. I know how you feel. I to bought my first beardie at petco 6 years ago. Bought the kit. Learned that it was total garbage. So I was lurker trying to figure out the best set up then I joined. I use the reptisun 10.0 t8 tube for uvb. They now have a t5 which is skinner, but more powerful so you can put it on top of the screen. The t8 I use you need to mount in the tank. In fact doctorfostersmith. Has all of their uvb lights for 19.99 and free shipping if you spend 19.99. Its a good deal , but only goes for another couple of days. Tep gun or digital with a wire probe to get corrct temps on the basking spot. Subtrate I use ceramic tile. I use to use sand it was so messy and stinky. No lights at night. Beardies like it dark and cool. Not under 65 at night. Hopefully you have a bright white basking light. What size is the enclosure ?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Please review your tank setup with us, such as your type & brand of UVB, supplementation, temperatures & types of foods used, too. I know you are using the Reptisun 10 for him. It is a tube bulb & not a compact/coil light, correct?
Has his beard been darker than usual?

Tracie

 

[Newatthis]

Hello and thank you for your concern.
The tank is a 30Lx12Wx12H
8.5" reflector dome with day blue light, night black heat bulb, and desert 50 UVB fluorescent coil bulb. I will not use the UVB today, I will buy the correct one and place it in his tank today.
For food: live crockets, small size, dusted with repti calcium every day. I also provide fortified food (zilla brand) which he will not touch; and collar greens like mustard leaves finely chopped and carrots also finely chopped. He has water in the tank but will not drink from it but the crickets doo so I figured that is good.
I learned that vitamin supplement once a week is also good and I will get one today as well.
The bath from yesterday really helped him. I changed him momentarily to a smaller tank without sand and with a digital thermometer to have a better idea of the temperature. He already had two crickets for breakfast and looks more alive.
I will call the certified vet today and see if I can have a phone appointment and ask for a recommendation here at Waco.
Should I give him more baths? once a day? until he looks more normal?

 

[destiny1998]

Thanks for answering. Nix the blue day bulb. Replace it with a bright white basking light. I use a halogen flood bulb. Get rid of the black light. Beardies like it cool at night and complete darkness to sleep. Even though we can see the black light they can. Unless you house gets below 65 at night no heat source is needed. Also she needs her feeders dusted with vitamins 2x a week. Calcium with d3 5x a week. For hydration you can get a dropper and drop water on her nose or you can use your fingers. Those pellets are good for the crickets .

 

[JasperTheBeardie]

I have Jasper in a 15 Gallon.I use ReptiSun 10 and a 100 Watt Basking light.He has a hide and a Basking log,and he has a humidity and thermomiter gadge on the cool side and a thermomiter on the hot side.The cool side is about 81 and the Warm is about 96-102

 

[Newatthis]

how is your bearded dragon today? I read that they can undergo hibernation if light and food is not adequate, go figure!
Did you try a bath? mine did much better after a bath. I know I have no experience, just starting to learn about bearded dragons.

 

[destiny1998]

hi. I think Jasper is way too hot. A 100 watt in a small tank is going to be too hot. I use a 75 watt in my 40gallon. You need a good thermometer like a temp gun or a digital with a wire probe. So you can know what the temp is. Also if you're using a coil/compact that will do more harm then good. You need to get a reptisun 10.0 Tube. That and correct temps will help her tremendously.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

****Newatthis****
So you can get a bit more attention on your post, go ahead & make your own thread concerning your dragon to keep the information on this thread from the Original Poster.

How is Jasper doing today?
I agree, I think the 15 gallon tank is too small & difficult to maintain the temperatures. You should try either a 30 or 40 gallon for him, so that there is a better gradient.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[JasperTheBeardie]

I think so to...They never move from there basking place..=I

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is Jasper doing today? Did he eat & bask normally?

Tracie

 

[JasperTheBeardie]

yes hes doing alot better now still hasnt eaten on his own though