Doesn't move, not eating, won't open eyes

[jfreeman]

He's less than 2 years old, @10" nose-to-tip of tail. In a glass 40-gallon tank with carpet, screen top, hammock, piece of wood anchored in slate and a tunnel, basking lamp (75 watt) and UVB 10.0 lamp. The UVB WAS a spiral Repti-Glo but I have since removed it since I've read on this site that those are not recommended. I've had that bulb hanging over his cage for the past year and a half, though. Up until recently, we had not been soaking or bathing him; he did have a water bowl in his tank. I've been feeding him meal worms and crickets, calcium powder in his tank. He's never eaten vegetables or fruit, but I'm under the impression he won't as long as I kept offering the "good stuff." He was really feisty when we first got him, but now is lethargic and doesn't move. He hasn't opened his eyes for over a week now even though I've been soaking and trying to clean them gently with a Q-Tip. I've researched and taken him to the reptile store here in town.
Recent events - we forgot several times to turn on-off his lamps. He started acting a bit lethargic, but would still eat fine. Was less active and less feisty. We figured it was because his days and nights were mixed up and that it possibly forced him into a brumating state? We were more diligent about turning his lights on and off (still using the UVB spiral bulb), but then he stopped moving completely, stopped eating and hasn't opened his eyes even when we pick him up.
The reptile store thinks there's something neurological going on? They also soaked him and used a Q-tip to removed some yellow dried "gunk" from his eyes. One eye is worse than the other. He will rarely open that one at all. I don't see any active draining from either eye. I've been soaking him daily/every-other-day and haven't used any UVB for a week. He hasn't eaten in several weeks. He stays in the same spot/position that I place him in the night before.
I don't know what else to do. I'm not the most proficient with beardeds, but want to do right by my little guy.

 

[jfreeman]

could it be that he's brumating and I need to just leave him alone? I don't want to do that if he's ill and I should be doing something else.

 

[Gail]

what brand of UVB do you have? If its a reptiglo then that could be the problem, they have been known to cause eye issues. Really the only safe brand is a reptiSUN 10.0 but they are hard to locate and you may need to order from petmountain.com
If you have sand or any other loose substrate in the tank, remove it and use saline to gently rinse his eyes out. I really would recommend a vet visit at this point.

 

[jfreeman]

thanks for your reply, Gail. In my post I said I WAS using the Repti-Glo bulb but also that I have stopped using it based on what I've read in posts on this site.
I also said I have carpet in my tank, not sand. I cannot imagine what might have gotten in his eyes (both) as nothing has changed in his habitat since he's been in our family.
Thank you, anyway, for your reply. I'm eagerly waiting to hear if there's anything else I can do.

 

[jfreeman]

awesome article on this site!
BRUMATION IN BEARDED DRAGONS
Understanding the Mystery...
Written by Denise R. Bushnell in June, 2008

 

[diamc]

It sounds like he has an eye infection, possibly an upper respiratory infection or the "dried gunk" could be from the bad UVB. You can pick up some Saline Eye Wash or Turtle Eye drops and flush his eyes with one of those but if it doesn't help, he should be seen by a vet. Is he having any breathing issues at all and does it look like he's lost any wt? Is his beard and/or tail darker than the rest of him?

He actually sounds sick rather than going through brumation. I would recommend picking up some chicken and squash baby food, mixing a little of each together, adding a little warm water to thin it and putting drops on his nose for him to lick off. It might take a few minutes for him to get the idea but he should really like it.

How often HAD you been dusting with calcium and vitamins when he was eating? What type of thermometer are you using and what are the basking and cool side temps?

 

[jfreeman]

thanks diamc for responding!
I hadn't been dusting the crickets all that often. Actually, only when I thought about it. The store said it wasn't necessary to do it all that often since their crickets were gut-loaded already.
Basking temp @90-100. Hygrometer @80%. Cool side @80, but he rarely ever went over there.
I read about doing saline drops and about possible eye ointment? Do you know anything about doing ointment? His eyes aren't actively draining, but when I soak him and rub his eyes gently, I sometimes get dried pieces off. Doing that doesn't seem to make him open his eyes any more than that, though.
His beard isn't any darker than it always has been.
I will try the baby-food and see. I've tried hand-feeding him, but he's not interested at all.
When I soak him, sometimes he gets wild in the little tank and thrashes his head around, but then stops and just sits and soaks. Never opens his eyes.
Before he started closing his eyes and not moving/eating at all, he had the hugest bowel movement he's ever had since in our family! I was worried that he might have been blocked, but no concern about that now.
I am caring for him as if he's sick, however, all but his eyes lead me to believe he's brumating...or trying to.
He has not lost any noticeable weight even though he hasn't eaten anything in the past 2-3 weeks and not his usual amount for a couple weeks before that. The Reptile store said he seemed of good weight and healthy otherwise. Concerned might be neurological if not an eye infection/irritation. I don't use sand and can't think of anything else that would irritate BOTH eyes at the same time. He has a carpet lining his cage.
I'm not using the UVB light at all right now. Will get a Repti-SUN one. I am actually slowly decreasing the amount of time his basking light is on and will do that for a couple of weeks if it IS brumation. I have a reptile heating pad underneath one corner of his tank and place him there after soaking/drying so that he doesn't get too cool. Temp in cage with lights off rarely goes below 80.

 

[MissT]

What type of thermometor and hygrometer are you using? Is it digital? That humidity seems VERY high. If it's not an eye problem caused by the light, it could very well be a respiratory infection!

 

[jfreeman]

the kind of thermometer/hygrometer that sticks to the side of the tank, not digital.
what signs would I look for if it were respiratory? he doesn't seem to be laboring to breathe.
hygrometer only goes to 80 after I spritz the tank. when it's drier, it hangs around 60%, but I am not sure how accurate the readings are with those stick-on devices.

 

[herpgirl2510]

At this point he really needs to be seen by a vet. When they say gutloading it means they have been fed however once the cricket poops it needs to be gut loaded again. They need to be dusted with calcium . If he is two he really should be eating dark leafy greens like collared greens and dandelion greens this should make up 80% of his diet. You need a digital hygrometer/thermometer they are $11 at walmart accurite is a common one used. The stick on ones from the pet store are useless.

 

[Mama2mc]

I'm no expert but he sounds really sick. You've made a number of mistakes in his routine care. I'd start with a trip to the vet if I were you.

 

[scubasteve25]

.....

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How often do you give calcium for him? Since he had been under a coil light, he may be having some calcium issues. Have you noticed whether or not he can support himself on all four legs or does he seem to have any balance issues that you have noticed?
I definitely would not let him go into brumation if there is any question whether or not he is ill as he may not come out of it.
I would try to get the humidity down to a 30% or lower right now in case he has a respiratory infection brewing. He needs a digital probe or temp gun for better temperature readings.
The antibiotic eye ointment is very effective when they have an eye infection. I really think he has a respiratory infection & should be seen by a vet at this point. Oftentimes, respiratory infections can go into pneumonia if not treated.

***Word to posters, let's keep this on a positive note as OP is seeking help. Rude behavior & personal attacks are not allowed on the forum. Please see the Rude behavior policy if you have any questions.


Tracie

 

[jfreeman]

Herpgirl, my bearded has never eaten the greens I put in his tank. I was told that as long as I was also offering meal worms and crickets, he would opt for those over the veggies. I put greens (kale) in now and no meal worms or crickets, but since he's not eating at all...
I had cricket food in the container with the crickets. And dusted them @every other time I fed him. Kept the container clean by removing dead crickets and their excrement.

Thank you Tracie for the reminder of positive behavior. I have...and have read!...a book for Bearded dragons, have researched and frequently referenced a care guide site and am a frequent visitor to our local reptile-dedicated store. None have been able to diagnose or change my bearded's current condition. There are so many varying opinions out there and vast information. I will head to a vet on Monday.

Thanks for all your help & advice....and opinions!

 

[munchkins9802]

Is he at least pooping normally? Mealworms really arent all that great for the beardies can cause impactions.
get a digital thermometer with a probe, and in addition replace the uvb light--he really does need one. Also get him to a vet, maybe he picked up some parasites as that often causes the not wanting to eat. In addition, the eyes could be from the light you had be using (I know you turned it off but long term exposure to those lights =eye problems)