Don't know what's wrong...

[sonicfizz]

I have an adult beardie, I don't know his age as he was a rescue from the front of an abandoned vehicle (I'm also not so sure about the whole "he" thing). We've had him for about a year. He is in a 40 breeder tank, he has 2 ceramic heat emiters, is on crushed walnut bedding. He eats a variety of fruits and veggies. He has been a bit lethargic, which we think is because it's winter and he isn't eating everyday and isn't as active (which started when the weather turned cold). However, for the past few days he has been hiding under his log, which he never does and hasn't come out to eat since sat. night. He is in a shed right now, but he sheds often so I don't know if that is the problem, although it is drier in the house. I should note that he HATES to be handled because I learned that the person who owned him previously used to attack him with a big glove, though I can move him when I have to, by being careful and slow. I was going to soak him to see if that would help, but other than that, I am at a loss. Any ideas would be great.

 

[Poisoned1]

Okay yeah this is not good sorry to say.


Get rid of that crushed walnut beeding and have him on paper towels or tile flooring.
He needs a proper basking bulb, a bright white light not heat emitters.

You need to get a digital thermometer to measure the temps and they should measure 105-110 in the basking spot and about 80 in the cooler spot.

Your dragon needs to be eating greens like collard/mustard/turnip greens which can be bought at your local store.

Your dragon also needs a UV light.

http://www.petmountain.com has the uv light you need

It's a flouresecent (long tube) REPTISUN 10.0 make sure it's the sun. Make sure you also get a holder for it.

Your dragon must be 6-8 inches away from that uv light. Yes give him a soaking for the shed and to hydrate him.

He also needs protein, about 50 crickets a WEEK or 30 superworms a WEEK.

If you have any other questions please ask.

 

[sonicfizz]

he has a retisun 10.0. We have been using the ceramic heat emiters because the heat bulbs keep breaking, at least once a month. Why do they need the light as opposed to the heat emiter? He does eat greens, generally cilantro, parsely, collards, different herbs, as well as different types of fruit ( i have a list that I refer to for what foods are ok). We dust with calcium and vits and he does get crickets. We switched from paper towels to vitasand to the crushed walnut. The paper towels were a huge hassel because they needed changing multiple times a day and he has a lot "furniture" that needed to be taken out to remove the paper towels.

 

[Poisoned1]

When did you change to the walnut crushed?

Because I know that that can just rip out their insides(if you want link to bearded dragon autopsy that died from walnut shells I can give you link)

They need the bright light to stimulate a day and not just heat otherwise they really get confused and it helps the uv light work with them.

 

[sonicfizz]

I switched to the walnut probably 4 or 5 months ago. I did just read up about the walnut, I should have done that before, duh me. I switched from the vitasand because we moved him to the big tank and it was just too expensive and like I said the papertowels (and newpaper and carpet) was a big hassel. I was reading a caresheet on this site that said washed playsand could be used, is that true? Or should I spring for the vitasand. I really need something scoopable. I really wouldn't have a problem using the lights except like I said they break really easily and it has started to ad up. Could I turn on the lamp next to the tank for extra light? I'm really not trying to sound like I'm saying no to all your help, just trying to find a happy medium for all of us! Thanks!

 

[Poisoned1]

Why are they breaking?

Are you sure you got the right holder for them?

I mean I have never had a bulb break on me...

Don't get vita sand it's just as bad as walnut shells.

The washed playsand can work but there is still the risk of impaction.

It's a possibility your dragon is goign through brumation or has parasites from crickets.

I hate crickets because of parasites, my dragon was parasite free for al ong time then i introduced crickets and bam parasites ugh.

How are you measuring temperatures?

The previous owner seemed like a douche...

 

[sonicfizz]

so pretty much what you're saying is that I should suck it up and use carpet or paper towels...

I really don't know how they are breaking. I have them in a regular dome light holder. The just burn out after a few weeks and I don't have any idea why. I have been using the appropriate watage for each one.

I have to confess, I haven't yet put up the temp gage.

Should I feed a different type of insect as opposed to the crickets?

It is possible he could be brumating I am trying to figure it out. I am so much better with day geckos and mantellas and tropical species. This is my first foray into beardies. The reason I ended up taking him out of all our neighbors, was because I was the only one with any reptile experience at all. The old owner was a jerk. Apparently he got him from someone who was going away, and they never came back for him. The new owner would get drunk with his friends and harass him with a big glove and leave him for weeks at a time with just lettuce. When I found him he was in a 20 tall with nothing in the tank in the front of a uhaul that sat at the end of the street for 3-4 weeks. He had dropped part of his tail, and who knows when he had eaten last. I'm trying to get as educated as I can so I can give him a good forever home.

 

[Poisoned1]

Wait...woah woah woah?

He dropped his tail?

That does not happen at all with beardies...

his tail was either chomped off, infected or the owner got very cruel with it and thought it would be a joke to cut it off and watch it grow back...

http://www.herpvetconnection.com

That website is your best bet in finding a vet

How long is this beardie?

You may want to consider superworms for feeding they are great.

And have you thought about tile for the bottom?

Petsmart and Petco have great digital thermometer real cheap as well.

 

[sonicfizz]

It wasn't his whole tail probably about the last 4-5 inches, but the site never looked infected or cut, but with his last owner who knows! It has healed very nicely and he has grown (at least around the middle) since we've had him. He is over a foot I would say, including tail. I never measured him since he gets very grumpy when he is handled.

I am going to set up the temp gage and clean out the tank tonight when I soak him. And I'll see about bringing a fecal sample to the vet (or him too depending!) Thanks so much for the help, I really hate being clueless.

What kind of tile would you suggest?

 

[beardie parents]

Tile that isn't smooth. You need the rough stuff so he can walk with out slipping.

 

[sonicfizz]

Thanks for the help guys! We soaked him and cleaned out the walnut and put up a temp gauge. He is looking a lot better and getting fiesty. He was really mad about the soak, but it really helped him out. We're going to go to home depot and get some nice rough tile for him, right now he is on paper towel until we do the tile. Can't tell you how much we appreciate the input.

 

[Poisoned1]

Hey there

Really glad we could help, any other questions I will try help out to best of my ability.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Just an additional note. The two main reasons that they need bright white light is to stimulate daytime spectrum & to protect their eyes from the UVB rays. Their pupils will remain dilated while underneath the UVB light if there is not enough bright white light to cause the pupils to constrict. Over time, this will damage the eyes permanently.

How is he doing now?

Tracie

 

[sonicfizz]

He is much more perky and not hiding and his beard and tail are a normal color. I think the temp was a bit too cold for him, as the basking spot was only up to 90. Winter is giving us all problems. Im just glad we haven't lost power yet.

I never knew that about the UV light. I guess I'm going to have to do some reconfiguring.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, you will need to redecorate the tank to make room for the basking light. Let us know how things are going.
Ah yes, at 90 that is not warm enough for basking. Try to get it up to at least 100 if you can to help him out.

Tracie