constant open mouth and wont eat.

[salliepaysonlucier]

We picked up a Bearded Dragon that was a give away. She is to be 6 years old. She came with everything supposedly needed. Well first , She is about 14 inches long and I would say ok weight wise. But she came to me with Dubai roaches, super worms and Kale. This is what the lady said is the only thing she will eat. Before we arrived to get her. She took a really deep green wet bm. The lady said she would only eat the kale . so What my fear is , is that when she walks around she shakes her legs. And she is continuous opening her mouth. It is around 90 in her viv that has vent holes in the sides of her tank. She has not pottie yet today. And she wont eat. anything. I have been giving her water when she has her mouth open . Also I dont think the lady was giving calcium powder . :shock:

 

[NightFury]

Hello,

Sounds very much like a respiratory infection, those can be caused by very high humidity/moisture and alot of times from Vitamin A deficiency but unsure, does she make pop noises? Runny nose? She needs calcium ASAP! The shaky legs are most likely caused from the lack of calcium which causes metabolic bone disease. Do you have supplements for her? Did the lady use supplements? I recommend RepCal Calcium with D3 and Herbtivite for the Vitamins. I would take her to the vet if you could, she probably needs a vitamin A injection. What setup did she have her in and what do you use in your setup?

-Shilo

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

I am giving her liquid calcium. I kinda figured it was lask of calcium. I have a 75 wat black night light, uvb strip light that came with it {will be changed to a new one on friday} and a 90 wat reg house bulb. I have a 150 w red bulb would this be better for her than the 90 w? no runny nose or popping noises. Just sits and keeps her mouth open. That lady said not to mist her back but if she is not really drinking water dont she get water threw her skin/scales too. Im afraid to put her in a soak other than the holder in her cage. As far as I know no the lady did not give her supplements. What you recommended the RepCal Calcium with D3 , can this be mixed with water to give her. I have the powder but with her not eating she is not getting that. So I got some liquid calcium from a friend , thats what im giving her but I'm running out. . She gave me her enclosure and Dubai roaches and super worms and kale. But she wont eat. Enclosure is 36 X 18 X 25 I believe its a 75 gal but it has vents in the sides so I covered the open vents with packing tape to get the temp up.

 

[Esther19]

Please remove the tape. Your dragon needs fresh air.

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

ok all or just 2. Im trying to keep heat in there. There is a total of 4, 3 inch across.

 

[Esther19]

You can get a higher wattage household bulb to raise the temperature. You can also raise the basking spot.What are you measuring temps with? Temp at basking site should be 100-105 degrees.Make sure you get a ReptiSUN 10 tube, or an Arcadia D3 12%. They are cheaper online. I would not suggest a different bulb if you cannot find these in a store. These are the only 2 we feel comfortable recommending for beardies, unless you get a mercury vapor bulb.

Misting your dragon will not help. They absorb a bit of water through their vents during a bath. You can give water orally by dribbling water over the lips. Sometimes it takes a few tries before they get it. I would also stop the kale, as it binds to the calcium and makes the calcium unable to absorb. Try collard, mustard, or dandelion greens instead. If she continues to refuse to eat, you can offer her baby food. Stage 1 turkey or chicken, and squash or green beans.

If possible, I would suggest a trip to the vet to rule out a respiratory infection. Please let us know how Dexter is doing.

 

[Esther19]

If it was me, I'd remove it all. Your beardie needs to cool down at night anyways. Tomorrow you can get a higher wattage bulb.

 

[NightFury]

Make sure the UVB bulb you get is the Reptisun 10 or the Arcadia D3 12%. What is the temp in her enclosure right now? Beardies tend to open their mouth to dissipate heat when they are overheated. Temp has to be between 100-110, it may be too hot for her so you might have to take the tape off the vents so she has ventilation. Yes you can mix the powder with some squash baby food or maybe some turkey baby food since she is not eating, you will want to give her some vitamins as soon as you can with the Herbtivite I recommended. You can give her baths in a separate plastic container or the tub (as long as its cleaned before and after.) They will take in water through their vent in the tub to hydrate themselves, they normally do not need a water bowl or to be sprayed often since they will get enough water through the vegetable matter. Does she seem thirsty? I would get rid of the Red and Black light, beardies can see light and this will keep them up more than help them sleep. As long as your house doesnt get below 65 she will be fine without it, if it gets too cold then I recommend a Ceramic Heat Emitter. This is a bulb that emits heat without any light. I prefer halogen bulbs for my basking source and a 75W usually does well enough for my 40 gal with the dome directly on top. Does her poop smell really bad? Can you post of photo of her so I can see if she is dehydrated? The eyes would usually be sunken in and the skin can be wrinkly. Let me know

-Shilo

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

ok tape is gone. temp in there is 85 and I thought if it is a respiratory infection , would it be better to keep it a little warmer? The lady had a reptile stick on glass temp thermostat . I will be going to the store to get the baby food in the morning. It stays around 70 degrees in the house at night. So I should take out the water bowl she had in there? She pooped yesterday before we picked her up. It was large and dark green. and was wet not runny tho.

 

[Esther19]

Yes, please remove the water dish. If you can get to WalMart, they have thermometers with a digital probe for about $10-$12. They are in the outdoor thermometer section, which is by the light bulbs in my store. So you can pick up baby food, a thermometer, and a new light bulb all at Wally's.

It is entirely possible that she is too hot, and that is why her mouth is always open. Those strip things can be off by at least 20 degrees. She should be fine with no light or heat overnight. They like to sleep in darkness anyway.

Let us know how things go.

 

[NightFury]

If she has an infection then yes he needs a slightly higher temp but do not raise it unless we know she does for sure. Her temp does need to be at least 100 it is very critical for digestion and health. I would buy a temp gun or a digital probe thermometer to monitor the temp directly under the basking spot, the stick ones are not accurate. Leave the lights off at night, 70 is a great night time temp. You can take out the water bowl, just be sure to give her baths weekly. Her poop is green due to the vegetable matter, the liquid is either excess water or just mucous. Esther is right about not feeding Kale, switch it out. How big is the tank?

-Shilo

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

Her tank is 75 gal. 3 ft wide 18" front to back and 25" tall. Water bowl is gone and I took the top off so it would cool down . It is now 75 degrees in there now. I put a thermometer that you would hang outside. That will be good til Friday . But Im off in the morning to get the baby food.

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

Ok this morning the temp in her Viv is around 70 degrees. She is still shakes when walking but the open mouth thing has stopped. My daughter ripped up some romaine for her and held it to her mouth she was licking it. Hopefully she will eat. But Im still going to the store to get squash, green beans and turkey . Would beginners or level 1 be better for her?

 

[daner923]

For baby food, you want whatever has the least additives (sugar, preservatives, etc). is it 70 throughout the whole viv? That is much much too low. Those are good overnight temps, but the daytime temps should be 100-105 on the basking spot and around 80 on the cool side.

 

[salliepaysonlucier]

ok that is what I will look for for the baby food. That temp was before any of her daytime lights were turned on. what is your take on the Infrared Red lights? It is a 150 wat. Would this be healthy for her?