Don't know what is wrong with my dragon

[Gravesdigger]

Before I get into the details of it's problem I will get all the basics out of the way knowing it will be the first thing asked.
Her viv consists of a 20 gallon tank (I will be getting a bigger one soon if I can fix this problem). Lighting Zoo Med Basking Lamp, Zoo Med Night Lamp, and a Reptisun 10.0 UVB compact light which is about 10" from his favorite perch. Temperatures: 105F-110F basking gradiant temps through the viv are between 95F-84F (Measured with infered thermometer).
Feeding: Crickets and Giant meal worms that are dusted regularly with calcium w/D3. He doesn't eat any of the veggies I have tried to feed it. (Romain, collard greens, celery leaves, strawberry, pickel, bannanna) would not eat any of it.
He just shed about a week ago.

The problem:
Just after he completed shedding he looked like he was losing balance and staggering around. He has been shaking his head violently and falling off his perch.

 

[ikkie78]

The compact UVB lamp should go immediately...these along with the could bulbs have been show. To cause damage to beardies and should not be used. The bulbs that are recommended here Are the reptisun 10.0 TUBE bulb and the Arcadia 12% tube bulb...they must be the tubes though as the could and compacts put out the wrong wavelengths of uv and are harmful to them. You best be would be to turn off the UVB bulb and get the correct fixture/light...he will be okay for a few days without UVB.

 

[ikkie78]

Also you should probably stop feeding the mealworms...the had a hard shell and its difficult for beardies to digest and can cause impaction...especially if they are large like you said.

 

[diamc]

How old is your beardie?

As ikkie78 mentioned, the compact UVB's are VERY bad and can cause lethargy, loss of appetite, seizures, etc. I would turn of the UVB immediately and purchase one of the 2 that ikkie suggested.

You mentioned that you're using an infrared thermometer, did you mean an infrared temperature gun? If so, make sure you hold it only 2" from the area you're checking.

Have you been giving your beardie baths? If he is dehydrated, that can cause staggering and loss of balance.

The veggies and other foods you mentioned you're feeding are not good ones except for the collards. Strawberry is fine to feed rarely. Here's the site that shows the best to feed in green ink: http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html Mealworms are an impaction risk due to their hard chitin shell. There are much healthier feeders that you can order online.

 

[Gravesdigger]

He is 6 months old and about 11" long right now from nose to tail. He has regular bowl movements and gets a bath every other day and usually leave it in until it poops. Like I said it doesn't eat anything but the meal worms and crickets. Tends to like the meal worms over anthing else. I was trying to hold off on the UV light until I got a new cage for it but may have to go ahead and get one now.

 

[diamc]

If he is only 11" long, he is WAY to small for any large worms, especially mealworms and that should be a big concern. You could pick up small supers instead, they would be much safer.

I highly recommend you turn off the compact UVB at least for a few days and see if you notice any change in his behavior and would order one of the other recommended bulbs right away.

Good that you're bathing him every other day.

Had you been checking the temps as I recommended above? Is it a temp gun that you're using?

 

[Gravesdigger]

Yes, I am using a temp gun at about 2". I will go and get a new light tomorrow. It is currently off right now. I am also going to try a different mixture of foods from the sight to get it to eat something else.

 

[diamc]

Hopefully you will be able to find the Repti-Sun 10.0 fluorescent but some pet stores don't carry them so you would have to order it online.

Good that you're going to try other foods.

 

[vampy]

Superworms are often called giant mealworms in stores, even though they aren't actually related to mealworms...so everyone panicking about that might be worrying unnecessarily. If they are listed as giant mealworms (morio) or something similar, they are actually superworms. Or you can google a pic and compare the ones you have, superworms and mealworms do look different enough to tell apart from a photo.

If it's those he is getting, they don't have the same impaction risk as regular mealworms, but they might be too large for him at only 11 inches long, it's generally not recommended to feed them until the dragon is 16 inches. However if the ones you have are small enough for him and he's been eating them for a while with no issues, he should be ok to carry on with them...but no more than 5 or so a day, as they are much higher in fat than most other live feeders.

Fingers crossed that changing his UV makes him feel better.

 

[Gravesdigger]

Update: I was able to get a Reptisun 10 tube light and I also blended up apple with reptivite and D3. I was actually able to get it to eat some of it off my finger so hopefully this will work. Time will tell. It also ate about 5 crickets this morning as well. It has never been a big eater.

 

[diamc]

Great that you were able to get the Repti-Sun tube. A good sign that he is eating better too.

 

[Mediabandit]

Glad you were able to get the light, hopefully you are able to change his/her veggie intake as well.
Also, if you would like to post a pic of your dragon with his/her tail lifted showing the vent, we may be able to help you sex it so you can stop referring to him/her as an IT. Keep us updated on how he/she is doing.

 

[Gravesdigger]

Update:

I did get a tube a Reptisun 10 tube bulb and I changed to a different brand of calcium w/D3 and also started dusting crickets and worms with vita supplement too.
Seems to be doing better, but still keeping an eye on him. I also noticed that he is starting to eat the greens finally. I think I got it to start eating them by mixing the meal worms into it to make him hunt for them. Eventually he started eating the greens too.

He is still looks dizzy when he walks and his legs look like they are abnormal when he walks, but I think it is getting better.

 

[ziggydoodles]

Update:

He is still looks dizzy when he walks and his legs look like they are abnormal when he walks, but I think it is getting better.

Are you giving him baths to keep him hydrated? Dizziness can be a sign of dehydration. Also, you say his legs look abnormal, can you post any pictures of your beardie?

 

[Mustashio]

Just a note on the dizziness thing and falling over. My Mustashio was acting just like that when we first brought him home when he was 2 months. (He's 11months now) I actually took video of it and you can watch that in a post "Videos of Baby Beardie Walking Funny" on the Health and/or ER board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAWIsEBH

http://youtu.be/ciAZfMGdAfU

http://youtu.be/GPbWyO0i5XY

You may want to take a fecal sample to the vet asap to rule out problems. What it ended up being with my baby was a huge parasite load in his poop. Like yours, my beardie was eating and pooping fine, but he would walk around like he couldn't hold his head up and even fall off his log at times. Everyone thought it was either MBD or some type of neurological problem. Took him to the vet and as I said, it was a huge parasite load. Treated with panacur and some other med I can't remember the name of. Then he stopped eating (likely due to the meds) and we had to syringe feed him critical care for a couple of weeks. Vet said it was 50/50 chance we might lose him cuz he was so little at the time (only 11g). But we burrowed through and now he is a healthy and HUGE 371g, 16in long eating machine!

The other option too for foods....you said your guy loves the worms and won't touch crickets. Try Phoenix Worms from phoenixworms.com because they are super wiggly and come in 3 sizes, and all shipping is the same no matter how much you order ($6 I think). Tashi loves PW's. Even goes crazy when he sees the black container!

Anyway, hope this helps!