Beardie won’t eat

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I just went to the pet store a little bit ago and got a zoo med light fixture with the reptisun 10.0 t5! I’ll be setting it up as soon as I get home :)
Distance and placement depends on the screen- if it's a fine mesh like a screen door- it needs to go inside the tank or take the screen off 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor wide hole type on top of screen distance 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor
 

goosegoose

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Goose
Yes it should be next to the heat bulb so she gets both while basking.
I’ve set up her light, here’s some pics of her tank. (I hope these are helpful enough 😅)
 

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xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
I'm guessing no eggs because she may be a he 🙂. In the last pictures the femoral pores look much more male that female to me. Are you certain you have a female? (Not that that has anything to do with your original post, just an observation 🙂)
 

Aquaman

New member
I just took my beardie Goose (2 yrs old) to the vet a little under a week ago as she was having trouble walking correctly and would wobble. They gave her fluids and a calcium shot and her blood test came back normal. I mentioned that she wasn’t eating at the time and now it has been almost a week and she still wont eat. I’m very concerned as she’s never had this issue before. She also pooped about a week ago and I’m not sure if she strained too hard but she’s got hardness on her sides as well which are dark, have red spots, and cause her discomfort when I touch the spot (see picture.) The vet did not say much about her sides but I’m just worried about her still. Please help.
I'm sorry to hear that your beardie, Goose, is still struggling. Based on the symptoms you described—wobbling, not eating, and the hardness with red spots on her sides—it’s definitely concerning, and I understand why you're worried. Here are some potential issues and steps you might consider taking:

1. Impaction or Constipation

  • The hardness on her sides could suggest impaction, especially if she hasn’t pooped recently. Bearded dragons can become impacted due to ingestion of substrate, large food items, or dehydration. If the vet hasn’t ruled this out, it might be worth asking about it again. Some signs include:
    • Hard, swollen abdomen
    • Lack of bowel movements
    • Discomfort when touched
  • What to do: Warm baths can sometimes help stimulate bowel movements and alleviate mild impaction. However, if it's severe, she may need assistance from a vet.

2. Calcium Deficiency (Metabolic Bone Disease - MBD)

  • Even though her blood calcium levels were normal, a one-time shot may not be enough if she has chronic low calcium absorption. Bearded dragons need consistent UVB exposure and calcium supplementation. If she wobbles while walking, it could indicate early stages of metabolic bone disease (MBD).
  • What to do: Ensure she has adequate UVB lighting (replacing bulbs every 6-12 months), proper diet, and calcium supplementation.

3. Internal Infections or Organ Issues

  • The dark spots with redness could indicate internal issues, such as organ inflammation or infection. Since the vet didn’t comment on these during the visit, it might be important to bring it up again, especially if the condition worsens or hasn’t improved.
  • What to do: Follow up with the vet to check if an X-ray or ultrasound could reveal any internal concerns.

4. Stress or Environmental Issues

  • Stress or an improper environment (like incorrect temperatures, humidity, or lack of UVB) can also cause bearded dragons to stop eating. If you haven’t already, ensure her enclosure has the proper temperatures (95-105°F in the basking spot and 80-85°F in the cooler areas).

5. Further Diagnostic Testing

  • Since the vet visit didn’t result in a definitive diagnosis, it might be worth asking about further tests, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or fecal exams (to check for parasites).
I recommend following up with your vet, especially with the redness and discomfort you're seeing. It's always better to be thorough, and if the current vet isn’t addressing your concerns, getting a second opinion might be beneficial.

In the meantime, keep her hydrated, monitor her closely, and try offering her favorite foods or some critical care formulas (available at reptile stores or prescribed by a vet). These can help her stay nourished until she starts eating again.

Wishing Goose a speedy recovery!
 

goosegoose

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Goose
I'm guessing no eggs because she may be a he 🙂. In the last pictures the femoral pores look much more male that female to me. Are you certain you have a female? (Not that that has anything to do with your original post, just an observation 🙂)
Hi! I cannot check right now as I’m not home, but when I last checked her (lifting up her tail) I believe she only had a single bump and not two like males do, if you know what I mean. Although I can check again and see, I have wondered about her pores before but they’ve always been very small so I wasn’t sure if that made her a he. I can also take a picture just to get a definite answer.
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Females have pores too, small ones like this but there's a chance Goose is a male. Post a pic with the tail arched up high and we can tell you.
BTW, you generally never need a vet for impaction or constipation. The vet will just give a chemical laxative called laculose or enulose. Natural laxatives like baby food prunes or squash, apple sauce and a few drops of olive oil or raw honey mixed , even some canned pumpkin will help them poo. Some vets will give an enema which is very dangerous so you wouldn't want that.
 

goosegoose

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Goose
Females have pores too, small ones like this but there's a chance Goose is a male. Post a pic with the tail arched up high and we can tell you.
BTW, you generally never need a vet for impaction or constipation. The vet will just give a chemical laxative called laculose or enulose. Natural laxatives like baby food prunes or squash, apple sauce and a few drops of olive oil or raw honey mixed , even some canned pumpkin will help them poo. Some vets will give an enema which is very dangerous so you wouldn't want that.
We did buy baby food yesterday as she likes it and has eaten it in the past. I don’t know if she’s constipated though as she pooped I believe exactly a week ago (which is normal for her to only poop once a week) and A LOT came out.
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Yeah, I was just following up because the poster Aquaman mentioned a whole bunch of stuff, some that we have already addressed. BTW, put extra calcium powder in the baby food to keep her calcium up. I'm still wondering about her sides. Are the little spikes on the plastic cactus hard ?
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Ruby, Sinatra, Zsa Zsa
I am aware that females have femoral pores also, they just usually aren't as pronounced 🙂
I'll post the picture of candle lighting (that I think I originally got from @AHBD 😉😁)
 

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AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Females often have ones that size, like Goose's. But that's why it's good to do the old tail flip to see what the rest of the gear in the rear looks like. :)
 

goosegoose

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Goose
Yeah, I was just following up because the poster Aquaman mentioned a whole bunch of stuff, some that we have already addressed. BTW, put extra calcium powder in the baby food to keep her calcium up. I'm still wondering about her sides. Are the little spikes on the plastic cactus hard ?
Okay will do. The little spikes are a soft plastic so I don’t really know if they would be able to scratch her.
 
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goosegoose

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Goose
Females often have ones that size, like Goose's. But that's why it's good to do the old tail flip to see what the rest of the gear in the rear looks like. :)
Just took a pic! lol I’m hoping you can tell as that was the best one I could get. 😅
 

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Does this look like a healthy beardie
LarryTheLizard wrote on ForLeonard!'s profile.
Aww your profile picture is precious ❤️‍🩹
Hey! I'm planning on ordering a 4x2x2 for my next beardie but I'm worried about lighting. I have a UVA and a UVB but they are small (the UVA just being a bulb and the UVB being 12 ish inches?) My house is drafty so I need a strong light that puts off quite a good amount of heat, any suggestions?
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