indicamutchler
New member
My Beardie is about 4 years old (Female) and she hasn't been eating. This started a couple weeks ago. At first I thought it was brumation because it's been cold up until recently. But I don't think it's that.
My mom said she'd been eating, just not while being watched (there were less greens when she would check on her) but now I'm terrified that isn't the case. She doesn't react to mealworms, or greens. We even tried to feed her a pinki mice today (it was plenty small enough for her, and was moving) and she didn't even react to it.
She doesn't look well. She doesn't move much and she almost acted like she needed to throw up earlier today? She was breathing deeply, like heaving, for a moment or two every once and awhile and opening her mouth.
She isn't dehydrated, I don't think. I've been spritzing her more recently since I was worried that was the problem.
Her substrate is just carpet, so nothing related to loose substrate is the problem.
She has been moved recently in to a new habitat recently, but the eating issue was still happening before the move.
She has pooped recently, but they were very small.
Her basking spot reaches about 100 F, cooler side about 75-80. UVB mentioned below.
She has always been fed collards, with either squash, pepper or (sometimes as a treat) strawberries. Additionally, she usually gets mealworms with her greens every day or two. Every once and awhile we give her horne worms and a pinkie.
I have two ideas for why she isn't eating, otherwise I don't know what to do:
1. Lack of UVB? - Until recently, while we were moving, we used a regular bulb and a basking bulb for her tank, with no UVB. This was an awful mistake that I only realized recently. For two weeks she had a UVB on her left (cooler side). Now she has a UVB in the middle that covers almost the whole tank. Perhaps the lack of UVB has ruined her appetite?
2. Lack od Calcium - we usually put some calcium powder on her bugs/greens, but while we moved we packed it, and haven't been using it on her. This would be about 3 months of time without calcium.
I want to take her to a vet because I'm terrified, but I don't know how expensive it will be for my family. I feel like I've completley failed my beardie because of stupidity and I'll do anything to help. I also plan on calling a local reptile vet tomorrow anyways, to see what to do. But if ANYONE has any idea what I can do, and how deadly this may be, please say something.
My mom said she'd been eating, just not while being watched (there were less greens when she would check on her) but now I'm terrified that isn't the case. She doesn't react to mealworms, or greens. We even tried to feed her a pinki mice today (it was plenty small enough for her, and was moving) and she didn't even react to it.
She doesn't look well. She doesn't move much and she almost acted like she needed to throw up earlier today? She was breathing deeply, like heaving, for a moment or two every once and awhile and opening her mouth.
She isn't dehydrated, I don't think. I've been spritzing her more recently since I was worried that was the problem.
Her substrate is just carpet, so nothing related to loose substrate is the problem.
She has been moved recently in to a new habitat recently, but the eating issue was still happening before the move.
She has pooped recently, but they were very small.
Her basking spot reaches about 100 F, cooler side about 75-80. UVB mentioned below.
She has always been fed collards, with either squash, pepper or (sometimes as a treat) strawberries. Additionally, she usually gets mealworms with her greens every day or two. Every once and awhile we give her horne worms and a pinkie.
I have two ideas for why she isn't eating, otherwise I don't know what to do:
1. Lack of UVB? - Until recently, while we were moving, we used a regular bulb and a basking bulb for her tank, with no UVB. This was an awful mistake that I only realized recently. For two weeks she had a UVB on her left (cooler side). Now she has a UVB in the middle that covers almost the whole tank. Perhaps the lack of UVB has ruined her appetite?
2. Lack od Calcium - we usually put some calcium powder on her bugs/greens, but while we moved we packed it, and haven't been using it on her. This would be about 3 months of time without calcium.
I want to take her to a vet because I'm terrified, but I don't know how expensive it will be for my family. I feel like I've completley failed my beardie because of stupidity and I'll do anything to help. I also plan on calling a local reptile vet tomorrow anyways, to see what to do. But if ANYONE has any idea what I can do, and how deadly this may be, please say something.