Beardie won't stop rolling

[mistyf]

Has anyone every heard of a beardie "playing dead"? I'm just wondering if the cat might have triggered a defense mechanism or something. It seems like Yoshi holds his breath for 20-30 seconds, then he'll take like two breaths, and hold it again. Could he be doing it on purpose, or is he dying?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Does Yoshi still see the cat?
They can hold their breaths & breathe only a couple of times per minutes if they are scared.
Is his mouth staying open right now? How are his colors?
I really hope that he pulls through for you. Keep us posted on him.

Tracie

 

[mistyf]

He hasn't seen the cat since this all started a week ago. His colors are dark, and his mouth stays closed. He hasn't rolled all day, but he hasn't done anything else either. He is completely unresponsive right now. He doesn't even try to hold on if I move him around in my hand. I've even flipped him upside down with no response. I don't keep him like that for very long, because I know they can't breathe on their backs. It doesn't seem like he's fighting anymore. I think he's dying.

 

[dragginfly]

So sorry for what you're going through, my good thoughts and support go your way. I have no advice, I'm pretty new-but everyone here is so helpful.
Draggin'Fly

 

[mistyf]

Thank you all for your prayers and support. My little Yoshi is no longer suffering. He has passed. As heartbroken as I am, I'm also glad it's over. He had suffered enough. And even though I still feel the blame for him ending up sick in the first place, I know I did everything I could in the end. If you guys don't mind, I'll still be around the forums. I plan to get another beardie when I'm ready. Thank you again. RIP my sweet Yoshi.

 

[dragginfly]

Crying...of course hang around

 

[Esther19]

I am so sorry to hear that little Yoshi has crossed over. At least he is no longer in pain. Please do stay. There are great folks here to support you and to help when you are ready for another dragon.
Hugs and prayers your way,
Esther

 

[ShannyBeard]

Thank you all for your prayers and support. My little Yoshi is no longer suffering. He has passed. As heartbroken as I am, I'm also glad it's over. He had suffered enough. And even though I still feel the blame for him ending up sick in the first place, I know I did everything I could in the end. If you guys don't mind, I'll still be around the forums. I plan to get another beardie when I'm ready. Thank you again. RIP my sweet Yoshi.

I am glad he is no longer sufferring, and I really do acknowledge that you did what you could do for him in the end, but honestly, before you even consider getting another beardie, you need to evaluate your husbandry. I mean take a really hard look at what just happened in your own home. I really do care about how you feel, too, and I know you came out and said right off that you know you messed up. I am not trying to be harsh, and I want to send you as much empathy and positive vibes towards you and your situation, and be very compassionate towards you, but something is really wrong with the way Yoshi was living.

Please don't get another bearded dragon until you are 100% able to care for it properly. I know it has been very hard on you and very heartbreaking for you to have seen Yoshi suffer, but it's hard on me, too. And everyone else here who reads such a horrifying end to a sweet, innocent animal.

 

[mistyf]

dragginfly and esther: Thank you for the support.

Shanny: Thank you for the support, and for your concern over my future beardie's well-being. While I'm not offended by your comments, because I know they came from a place of love, I do need to defend myself. The only thing wrong with my husbandry and the way Yoshi was living was my lack of deligence with the vitamins and calcium. I understand that's HUGE, but now that I know how truly IMPERATIVE it is, it will NEVER happen again. As far as the cat is concerned, my husband already made a new top for the tank that he can't get through. We've also been discussing building a custom viv like the crossfire that would have a front opening instead of the top. This will likely be done BEFORE we get a new baby. Trust me, I'm not going to go out and get one today. I need time to grieve and prepare.

 

[ShannyBeard]

Are you sure that he was 5-6 months old and 10 grams? How is that possible? That is what has made me wonder that you feel your only problem was calcium and vitamins. I don't see what you are seeing, I am sorry. For an animal to be 10 grams in total body weight at the age of 5 - 6 months is... :!: :?:

My dragons were gaining 10+ grams in 5 days at the age of 3 months old - this was the time they were growing like weeds! At 5 months old my dragons were in the 250 gram range. 25 times more body weight than your dragon.

I don't see how the problem with Yoshi was only lack of supplements. There has to be more to the picture, logically. That has me completely and utterly baffled. I am NOT criticizing you. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it, and to understand it.

 

[ShannyBeard]

I'm just wondering - could Yoshi have had parasites and that be the reason for a lack of growth or weight gain? Before you reuse that tank, I would have it totally disinfected for any possible dragon parasites, even coccidia. I'm just trying to brainstorm what could have been so wrong with Yoshi. I know you want to build a new tank, but before you use any of Yoshi's old stuff, look into disinfecting everything. I'm just trying to help you be proactive.

 

[Gymgirlx]

wow. I didn't catch that. DId you mean to put 100 grams? I think that would still be small for a 5-6 month, but not terribly small.

 

[Gymgirlx]

nevermind. Just looked at the pics. again. hmmm. It's possible there was already something really wrong with him. He looks extremly small for a 5-6 month old. My 2.5 month old is bigger/fatter. Maybe look into getting a healthy and big 4-5 month old dragon?! They will have a great start at life and be a little easier to care for.

 

[mistyf]

We got him 3 months ago, and I assumed he was 2-3 months old then. I can't be sure since he came from a pet store. I realize how strange it is from him to only be weigh 10 grams, but I don't see what else I'm doing wrong. My setup is right on, he ate 15-20 small dubia every day, had a bath once a week, and occasionaly drank from a water dish. The temps always read 107 on basking surface and around 77 on cool side. I use a CHE at night, which kept the temps above 70. I measure all this with the digital thermometer from walmart with the probe on the basking suface and the unit on the cool side. And the humidity never rose above 29%, even with the water dish (which he did drink out of). He could get within 8 inches of the ReptiSun 10.0 linear bulb that just now hit 6 months (the new one came today btw). What else is there? Can't MBD cause stunted growth? Are there any genetic disorders he may have been born with? I'm not being defensive, but I need/want to know if I'm doing anything wrong.

 

[mistyf]

Was typing my reply so didn't see your second one. His fecal came back clear, but I still plan on thoroughly disenfecting everything.