Free Sick Rescue Beardie

Hello.

Today I was at Petco with my little brother. We were contemplating getting a beardie hammock for our crazy teen beardie. While we were there we saw one of the pet store workers carrying a baby bearded dragon. He was REALLY bloated and dark. He couldn't open his eyes and he looked very lethargic.

Currently I am a volunteer for a Reptile Rescue and I told the worker this. I knew that the rescue could probably take him in. I was impressed that Petco brought him to the reptile vet that we use. I got to take him home for free. The hope is to get him to the rescue by Thursday.

Long story short, he is a secret from our mom right now because we are pretty sure she might kill us for having another animal about. Currently he is staying the night at my boyfriend's.

He isn't bloated (for now) but sometimes his breathing becomes rapid. He perked up A LOT under the light. Soon he started blindly exploring his enclosure. He even jumped out! I am surprised how brave he is. He can't open his eyes but he still moves about. He's trying very hard to open his eyes.

I just put him to bed. He is on a heat pad with a towel over the top. Then a towel over him. He is sleeping now. I don't know if he shall make it through the night or not. I really hope so. I will be watching him 24/7.

I have a 20 gallon he can temporary stay in, I have paper towels, food (not bugs though as our other beardie won't eat). I don't have lights though. I don't have the money to care for him (can't afford dome and mvp right now). I can only do this temporary because I could put him in a KK into Gamma's enclosure so they can share the light but I don't want either of them to get stressed and Gamma needs his space.

Does anyone have any advice for this little guy? We really shouldn't spend more pet money right now. He has improved so much though! If we can't take him in to the rescue or the bearded dragon lady online who takes them in then we shall find him a home. I can't imagine selling him on Craigslist though. I MUST know he is going to a good home.

Again, any advice would be wonderful. =) Please keep this little guy in your thoughts.

 

[zandi202]

First off, congratz on your beautiful rescue. I am the queen at hiding pets from my grandparents. I have 5 reptiles and fish and they only know about 3 of the reptiles :lol:

You send you plan to bring him to the rescue on Thursday, right? He should be all right without UVB until then. You can try taking him out on nice sunny days to make up for no UVB. As for the heat situation, that's difficult, because he needs to bask for an hour in 95* or higher temp before eating and then for 2 hours after eating at that temp. Hmm, do you have any desk lamps you can put over his cage to give some kind of heat?

Also, don't feed him kale as it is a calcium binder and not good for beardies as a staple - I learned the hard way.

Hope that helps.

 

[Skymall007]

Thank you ubers! That is impressive you hide them so well! I didn't realize that about the kale! My teen beardie will be upset lolz. That's his favorite.

I have him under Gamma's mvb bulb for now. Since Gamma likes running around the house so much during the day he could have his light then I think. Not sure it is warm enough here for outside.

He is a sweet little thing. I am so glad the pet store let me have him. I wasn't sure he would make it through the night but he did =)

 

[Skymall007]

This morning when we went to wake him up he was already fully awake and trying to climb out of his bed. Good sign I think. Brave too considering he can't see. I can tell he is struggling to open his eyes still. They are tiny slits right now. I gave him some saline eye drops and I hope those shall help. That is what they were doing at the petco.

I have learned from a wonderful poster on here that kale is not the best choice so no more kale for him. Gotta get this little guy healthy. The fact that he made it through the night is wonderful. That is more than we expected when we took him home. He did bloat up a little bit today but only for a little bit and then it was gone. Even when he did bloat up it wasn't as much as when we first brought him home.

He rubbed his head on the side of his enclosure (currently cardboard box with mvb and close supervision). He kind of nodded his head up and down a little bit. That concerned me because Spock (our first and only baby beardie) did that and died shortly after.

This little guy has a funny end to his tail. It looks like it is about to fall of (the very end). My lizard at home (Gamma the teenage dragon) kind of has that too. He reminds me more of Gamma than Spock which is strange. This little guy is spit and vinegar.

 

[zandi202]

So will the rescue take him?

 

[Skymall007]

They will =) I have him until Thursday. I wish I could keep him. He is the sweetest thing.

 

[zandi202]

That's good and I totally understand wanting to keep hin. I would too.