Beardie Thrashing around and becoming touch averse

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Hi, my bearded dragon went through what I believe was brumation a couple days ago, I'm not really sure when she woke up because I was at university for while she was sleeping but when I came home recently I saw her doing this, it has occurred 4 times that I have seen and the attached video shows the time most recent time as of this post. I was wondering if anyone knows what is going on, I am worried that she is in pain or something may have happened and that's why she was sleeping for so long, outside of these moments she is very lethargic and doesn't move, I haven't gotten her to eat roaches but she has eaten some greens but only out of my hand.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hi, my bearded dragon went through what I believe was brumation a couple days ago, I'm not really sure when she woke up because I was at university for while she was sleeping but when I came home recently I saw her doing this, it has occurred 4 times that I have seen and the attached video shows the time most recent time as of this post. I was wondering if anyone knows what is going on, I am worried that she is in pain or something may have happened and that's why she was sleeping for so long, outside of these moments she is very lethargic and doesn't move, I haven't gotten her to eat roaches but she has eaten some greens but only out of my hand.
She looks like shes having some sort of seizure-- please get some substrate w/ some texture to it as well - put some dish towels in there or some paper towels -- what are you using for a UVB coil or a tube ? Please go over your whole set up basking temps how your taking them ? and please get another video of her from the front I would like to see her face and no that is not normal behavior -- I need some others to look at her
@Drache613
@AHBD
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
She looks like shes having some sort of seizure-- please get some substrate w/ some texture to it as well - put some dish towels in there or some paper towels -- what are you using for a UVB coil or a tube ? Please go over your whole set up basking temps how your taking them ? and please get another video of her from the front I would like to see her face and no that is not normal behavior -- I need some others to look at her
@Drache613
@AHBD
I am using a 10.0 zoomed UVB tube, her basking spot is around 100-110, the warm side of her terrarium is 90 and the cooler side is around 80, I will try and get another video when she does it again but when she does this behavior it is completely random, I managed feel her before she started being touch averse and I didn't feel any eggs so I don't believe that she could possibly be gravid, and for reference she is around a year and a half old
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I am using a 10.0 zoomed UVB tube, her basking spot is around 100-110, the warm side of her terrarium is 90 and the cooler side is around 80, I will try and get another video when she does it again but when she does this behavior it is completely random, I managed feel her before she started being touch averse and I didn't feel any eggs so I don't believe that she could possibly be gravid, and for reference she is around a year and a half old
Is the UVB on top of the screen or inside the tank -- the screen will block 30% of the rays so if its a fine mesh screen it needs to be inside -- 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor -- I have flagged your post to some others that can help -- one is our vet tech --
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Is the UVB on top of the screen or inside the tank -- the screen will block 30% of the rays so if its a fine mesh screen it needs to be inside -- 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor -- I have flagged your post to some others that can help -- one is our vet tech --
The UVB tube is inside the tank and is a foot above her basking spot
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

It does appear she had some type of seizure, bless her.
The UVB appears to be fine, perhaps you could move it just a bit closer if it's a T8. Usually
6-8 inches for a T8 is perfectly acceptable.
How often do you give calcium supplementation for her?
Is this the first time you have witnessed this type of behavior?

Tracie
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Hello,

It does appear she had some type of seizure, bless her.
The UVB appears to be fine, perhaps you could move it just a bit closer if it's a T8. Usually
6-8 inches for a T8 is perfectly acceptable.
How often do you give calcium supplementation for her?
Is this the first time you have witnessed this type of behavior?

Tracie
The UVB I use is a T5, I give her calcium every other day dusting her roaches, she doesn't always eat them so if she doesn't I dust her greens which I give daily, essentially I give her calcium every other day, and 2 days ago is the first time I saw this behavior, this video shows the 3rd time this has happened and it is the only one I have on video.
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

Ok, thanks. Since your tube is a T5, then the distance you have the light at is fine. The calcium
you use is with, or without D3?
How is she doing this evening?
How long did she brumate or sleep for? I ask just because perhaps she became too low in her
calcium reserves over her brumation phase.

Tracie
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
I give her with D3 and she was sleeping for about 2-3 weeks and didn't eat anything at all during that time, she still has eaten very little and hasn't eaten any roaches so I have dusted her greens but she is not eating them unless I hand feed her, but she became touch averse after I had fed her today so I'm not really sure how tomorrow will go. By touch averse I mean she flinches at my hand no matter how slow I move and hisses occasionally
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Hi I got her to eat 2 roaches today and she is still refusing her greens, I coated the roaches in calcium so she got at least some but she's been doing the behavior in the video for most of the day, sometimes its just a little but but she seems to always be off balance and this is how she's compensated. I have seen her flip over a couple times and I've had to help her, on the bright side she is letting me touch her again. Also her beard and stomach have never turned dark through this whole ordeal which is something I realized I should point out

 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

That is very strange behavior. So she did not do this at all prior to her sleeping, correct, but
started doing this after she came out of her short brumation?
Since you are using the T5, I would stop using D3 in the calcium & switch to a calcium without
D3 right now. This is possibly a D3 overdose, but, not sure. It appears neurological to me & it
seems to have come on suddenly also.
There is also a chance she might have some type of infection causing imbalance, too. What is
your humidity in the tank?
You should consider trying to get her to a qualified vet to see about doing a blood test to try &
determine some type of infection.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Right now she seems to be doing better, she has been eating over the last couple days and has pooped fine, I am working right now to try and get her to a vet as soon as possible and, none of this behavior was exhibited prior to sleeping.
 

MerithD

Member
Beardie name(s)
Calypso(rip) Pickles(rip) Ragetti Lenny Vash Fridae Gemma
She looks like shes having some sort of seizure-- please get some substrate w/ some texture to it as well - put some dish towels in there or some paper towels -- what are you using for a UVB coil or a tube ? Please go over your whole set up basking temps how your taking them ? and please get another video of her from the front I would like to see her face and no that is not normal behavior -- I need some others to look at her
@Drache613
@AHBD
You may want to make sure her salad is pesticide free. I had a similar scare that improved when i switched to organics. Best of luck to you. Hopefully yours will improve also!
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

Your girl is doing better now? Did you change something about her surroundings or diet, etc
for her to improve?
I am glad to hear she seems to be better but do keep us posted on her progress.

Tracie
 

pankko

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zelda
Hi all, thank you for your concern I have gotten together the resources to take her to a specialist soon and right now she seems to be doing better. I’ll likely update after the vet visit when I take her, hopefully I will be able to take her by the end of next week. she has been eating okay but less than what she normally would, but she did just recently go through a successful shed so I hope she’ll be fine, thank you everyone for your help thus far!
 

Members online

Latest resources

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,899
Messages
1,255,690
Members
75,966
Latest member
georgiarichmond
Top Bottom