Help! 9yr old sons beardie is sick! dont want him to die!

[Jlynn5974]

Not sure it's compact. It is a pretty large bulb with 3 or 4 long tubes. Thanks you! I hope he starts getting better.

 

[diamc]

Would be a good idea to get the Repti-Sun 10.0 tube as soon as you can as the compacts aren't very good either even though they are the Repti-Sun brand.
The one you just bought looks like this one, right?

 

[Jlynn5974]

Yes! That's what it looks like and its big. Is this not a good one?

 

[diamc]

It gives off a lot of rays in the beginning but only in a small area. Watch for any eye issues, lethargy, etc and get the recommended one as soon as you can.

Did they have any Repti-Sun strip fluorescent tubes? If so, maybe you can exchange this for one of them until you can get the 10.0.

 

[Jlynn5974]

I'm not sure about the flourecent tubes. I'll check tomorrow. He has been shutting one eye a lot. The vet said his eyes where fine but I wonder.

 

[diamc]

Turning the UVB off for a few days or so will do no harm. That way you can see how he is after a few days.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Definitely try to replace that compact/coil light. Since he is already starting to close one eye intermittently, then it is already affecting him in that manner.
How is he doing this evening?

Tracie

 

[Jlynn5974]

This is the bulb I bought today. ZOO MED™ REPTISUN™ 10.0 UVB Compact Desert Reptile Lamp. Is this one not good? It's bigger then the small little coil light.

Do we need a long one that goes across the whole tank? He's doing better. He's moving more just still not eating though. It's been 3days

 

[diamc]

Sorry to have to tell you this but no, you don't want any coil or compact UVB's. What you need is the Repti-Sun 10.0 fluorscent tube, the long one and it should cover about 3/4 of the tank length, that way the beardie can out of the UVB if he prefers.

Good to hear he is doing better and moving around some. Hopefully he will eat later. If not, you could offer some chicken & sweet potato or squash baby food.

 

[Jlynn5974]

Ok so get the tube light that covers 3/4 of the tank so he is never out of the uvb light. They have an 18' one at petco. Should I get that one or longer?. He's in a 40 gallon tank.
I also tried the baby food thing yesterday and he would eat it. I could ever get him to open his mouth. It make me sad because he's look thinner and thinner everyday. I pray he starts eating soon.

 

[CooperDragon]

In a 40g I suggest either of the setups I linked to. If you get the 18" T8 then I suggest mounting it inside the tank at about 6" above the basking area because it has a lower output. You'll also want to be sure to remove the plastic cover from the fixture if it comes with one. Nothing should be between the bulb and the basking area.

 

[Jlynn5974]

Has anyone heard of the Powerson 2 in 1 light bulb? I went to a reptile store today to see if they had a 22' tube light and they suggested that instead since I already have the dome light. I'm so confused. Will that help him or should I stick to the tube light?

 

[Toddzilla1108]

Has anyone heard of the Powerson 2 in 1 light bulb? I went to a reptile store today to see if they had a 22' tube light and they suggested that instead since I already have the dome light. I'm so confused. Will that help him or should I stick to the tube light?

I'm using the Powersun 100 watt at the moment. I have not had any noticeable issues with it yet (minus trying to position it w/another basking lamp I'm using to get a good temp range for basking). While most people prefer the Reptisun tubes, Powersun MVB (Provides heat & UV), is acceptable from what I've heard. You do want to watch out for most other MVB bulbs I believe as they don't output the correct levels of UV, which can harm your beardie. Also, MVB's focus UV rays onto one spot of the tank while a tube will be able to cover most/all of the tank with UV rays. One of the more knowledgeable posters will be able to give you more reliable information.

I think when it comes down to UV/temps, the Reptisun tubes give you the most flexibility in being able to create the gradients of temp and UV to make your beardie happy. Again, a more knowledgeable poster will be able to tell you the real stuff

 

[PogoLover]

Has anyone heard of the Powerson 2 in 1 light bulb? I went to a reptile store today to see if they had a 22' tube light and they suggested that instead since I already have the dome light. I'm so confused. Will that help him or should I stick to the tube light?

Most people will tell you to get a UVB florescent tube light that runs most of the length of the cage. Just as an FYI, I had the recommended lighting with my dragon within the right distances, etc. I use a 36" ReptiSun 10.0 T8 for a 50-gallon tank, and I have the screen cut out of the cage lid on the side with the UVB bulb so that the screen doesn't filter out any of the UVB.

Even with the proper lighting, Pogo did the eye thing. Started with one eye closed, then both. It took almost two months before she had them both open consistently. For me, it had nothing to do with my lighting. She had a bacterial infection in her gut - we did two types of antibiotics and she is better now. Not sure why she did the eye thing - maybe the stress, etc. The vet wasn't sure why she did the eye thing. She also did not eat bugs for two months. I had to feed her with an eyedropper - a mix of Carnivore Care, baby food (usually, squash), and water. She had dubia roaches and phoenix worms in her cage in a non-escapable bowl that whole time and would not touch them. She will still not eat bugs on her own. I have to hand feed them to her - but she eats 40-60 worms a day now. My lighting has been the same for the three plus months that I have had her, except that I did try turning the UVB off for three days to see if it helped her eyes - it didn't.

I used Bene Bac gel with, and after, the antibiotics to help keep the "good" bacteria level up in her gut.

Long story short, my advice would be to get your little guy eating. I used the tip of the eyedropper to get Pogo to open her mouth and then she gladly licked the baby food/Carnivore Care mix (as if she were starving). She would eat for a while, take a break for a few minutes; rinse, repeat until she wouldn't open her mouth anymore. I got her to triple her weight just eating out of an eyedropper (offering her bugs and collard greens the whole time). She went from lethargic, eyes closed and emaciated to a big fat eyes-open jumper who runs around the room like a psycho sometimes after eating (she thinks she can fly, so I have to keep her low). But it did take two months, a lot of patience, trial and error, and two types of antibiotics.

 

[Jlynn5974]

I've been trying to feed him baby food with an eye dropper but he won't open his mouth. Is there a special way to get them to open his mouth? Going on 5 days of not eating.