Bit his tongue?

[AprilMayJune]

Is it possible for a beardie to bite his own tongue? We happened to have found some Dubia (ssshhh don't tell anyone because they are supposed to be illegal in Canada) and purchased a few for our Beardies. I think Lance may have bitten the tip while munching on one.

Background history:
2 year old (estimate as we are second owners)male dragon
Mega Ray
Basking temp is 98 (he doesn't like it any warmer, we tried that and he wouldn't go near)
Cool side is 80-85 in the day
Temps get down to 65-70 at night
Diet consists of superworms and occasional silkies, horn worms and crickets
Salad is a mix of collard greens, dandelion greens, parsley, and kale, bok choy and squashes occasionaly (LOVES Blueberries)
16-17 inches long
Baths 2-3 times per week when we can.
Lance has an overbite so the tip of his tongue is constantly sticking out and it looks like his mouth is always open. Since coming to our place it doesn't look as prominant as when we got him in early November.

Any thoughts guys and gals? What should I do with him to help his poor little tongue. He hasn't eaten much today and I suspect it's because his tongue is hurting him. He did have plenty to drink in his bath tonight.

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

How do you know he bit his tongue? Is it bleeding ?

 

[AprilMayJune]

it looks like it had been bleeding a bit

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Is the tongue still bleeding? Where on the tongue, the tip, or on the side?
You can swab some diluted betadine on it to help it out, but that is something that will need to be watched to make sure it doesn't cause him more problems or get infected.

Tracie

 

[AprilMayJune]

It only looks like a very small nip on the tip of his tongue. It has stopped bleeding. I don't think it bled for long.

I've been thinking, could it have gotten a sunburn from the Mega Ray since his tongue is always sticking out because of the overbite? Maybe? Input?

I'm going to try to take a picture and post it but the camera isn't the greatest so don't know how much detail will show up.

 

[Fogles]

It only looks like a very small nip on the tip of his tongue. It has stopped bleeding. I don't think it bled for long.

I've been thinking, could it have gotten a sunburn from the Mega Ray since his tongue is always sticking out because of the overbite? Maybe? Input?

I'm going to try to take a picture and post it but the camera isn't the greatest so don't know how much detail will show up.

It's very well possiple that the megaray could have caused it since his tounge is always out. Really depends on how close the bulb is. How close is it? If it's not 12-18inches away i would try to make it where it is. You don't want to bake him!

 

[AprilMayJune]

I just measured his mouth to the bulb where he always basks and it's 15 and 3/4 inches apart from each other. He doesn't like to bask directly under the bulb so he is to the side a couple inches from where it is hottest. I just measured the temps again to make sure it wasn't too hot for him and it's still at his favorite 98 degrees F.

I don't normally pay attention to his tongue, my boyfriend noticed it last night so it could have happened since his last bath a few days ago (apart from his bath last night). He's supposed to be the kids dragon so i can look after my new 9 month old i was given over a week ago and is still stressed (but i'm not worrying about him much). When he is adjusted I will put up an introduction in the appropriate section.

I do know a couple days ago he thought he was caplable of flying. He jumped from his basking rock over to the cool side and belly flopped right into his salad dish to spread it all over the floor to eat it. He hit the glass wall a couple times until i just dumped his salad out of the dish for him to eat. Yeah, he's a nutbar. Buy him a shell shaped dish that isn't too deep for his salad and he prefers to eat it from the floor. Go figure!

He hasn't eaten anything today, not even his favorite blueberries. He has gone a few days without eating before so it's not concerning me too much about him not eating. Just the tip of his tongue. I'm heading to the store now to get some betadine, but really, should that go in or on his tongue and mouth?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

No, the Megaray will not sunburn the tongue making it bleed. How close is the Megaray to him the 15 3/4 inches, is that correct? What wattage are you using?
How is his tongue looking today? Has it completely stopped bleeding now?

Tracie

 

[AprilMayJune]

The MegaRay we are using on him is the 160 watt bulb. It's 15 and 3/4 inches away from his nose/tongue on his basking spot. He always basks in the same spot.

It does not appear as if it has bled anymore and had completly stopped when we noticed it last night.

The tip of his tongue was white before. It now looks redish-purple and has a slit at the tip, more so than normal. It looks so much better this evening! I'm glad it does because we have decided to get some roaches (ssshhhhh) tomorrow and start our colony. I know it will take a while to develop the colony enough to feed off but we have about a thousand supers kicking around and the boyfriend just brought home a thousand 1/2 inch crickets for my little one! If our female continues to brumate she just might wake up to a tasty treat! :lol:

I feel better now that his tongue is improving a little. Sorry to have panicked and made you all worry as well. Looks as if the snugglebum is going to be alright!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Hm, what is the temperature of your basking spot? The 160watt Megaray is safe, so at 15 3/4 inches it should be ok. They are recommended at 18 inches though for safety.
Great that his tongue is looking better then. Hopefully he wont be too bothered by it when he eats. Roaches, huh? Good luck on your colony.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie