HELP!!! Beardie possible parasite?

[DanynAndSpyro]

Hello all I own a beautiful scaley baby. His name is Spyro.

He's about 6 month's old and has a great personailty. Recently instead of buying "Bug Tubs" of crickets I decided to buy bagged crickets and feed the crickets. I bought "Flukers Orange Cube" (picture below)

I've only been feeding him these crickets for the past 2 days but since I have been his poop and even urate has been different. (posted a photo of it below this) I'm concerned on his health and safety. The tank I have for him is an Exo Tera large low, His temps are perfect in all spots of the tank and he also has a UVB bulb as well. He doesn't drink water so I mist him and hes also always got vegetables and soft pellets in his food dish, and even though he doesn't drink water he does have a water dish with fresh water in it at all times. I have just moved and the move hasn't bothered him BUT I do now let him run around my room and he loves it. I don't think that him running around has affected him negatively because he does truly adore it and is very active when he's out. I do fear it has something to do with the crickets. Can someone please help me? I have a baby expected to be here in just over a week and I can't afford to jump to a vet if it's nothing serious. Thank you all xoxo

 

[duskypiano]

send in a stool sample to the nearest vet that takes reptiles, it is inexpensive and can help allot.

 

[sue09]

Are you using a red bulb in his tank?

 

[DanynAndSpyro]

Are you using a red bulb in his tank?

Yes, it is his heat bulb. That's never bothered him though. He's had that since I had gotten him.

 

[Taterbug]

It's great you are switching to live food - they can be much better for your dragon to eat. Crickets and live food always has a risk of parasites but it's pretty easy to test and treat. You might be able to get a exotic covet to run a fecal test without an exam or there are mail in labs. The test can run $15-20, treatment I think is about 15-20$ depending on the meds.

Sometimes a move or changes can be stressful and result in a bloom in parasites, sometimes they go down on their own. Super stinky or any behavior changes (loss of appetite, lethargy, stress colors) should probably get tested though.

Red bulbs are sold by pet stores and as parts of kits but they are not very good for dragons. To be at their best, dragons require good quality of bright light during the day and no light at night, not even red. A drop in temp is even good for them.

Instead of getting the cricket quenchers you can feed your crickets the same veggies you feed Spyro, and it will help make them much more nutritious.

 

[DanynAndSpyro]

It's great you are switching to live food - they can be much better for your dragon to eat. Crickets and live food always has a risk of parasites but it's pretty easy to test and treat. You might be able to get a exotic covet to run a fecal test without an exam or there are mail in labs. The test can run $15-20, treatment I think is about 15-20$ depending on the meds.

Sometimes a move or changes can be stressful and result in a bloom in parasites, sometimes they go down on their own. Super stinky or any behavior changes (loss of appetite, lethargy, stress colors) should probably get tested though.

Red bulbs are sold by pet stores and as parts of kits but they are not very good for dragons. To be at their best, dragons require good quality of bright light during the day and no light at night, not even red. A drop in temp is even good for them.

Instead of getting the cricket quenchers you can feed your crickets the same veggies you feed Spyro, and it will help make them much more nutritious.

I've always given him live cricket's since I had bought him. The only thing that has changed in the diet was feeding the crickets the orange cube. His fecal is now slowly reverting back to normal. He is also starting to shed so hopefully when I give him his warm bath he perks right up, let's out a nice poop and is back to normal. thank you.

 

[Taterbug]

Oops! Wow, sorry about that! I read "bug tubs" to be those cans of dried bugs.

Glad to hear is e getting back to normal!

 

[jacody]

2 things.. those orange cubes are a waste of $$.. gut feed the crix the greens, veggies you'd feed your pet.. also, you mentioned misting him?? Have you ever given him soaks?? Misting does nothing for them and is messy too.. @ 6 months he should be getting more regular soaks than an adult would, great if you do soak him, but just in case that's what stood out the most from your original posting..

 

[DanynAndSpyro]

2 things.. those orange cubes are a waste of $$.. gut feed the crix the greens, veggies you'd feed your pet.. also, you mentioned misting him?? Have you ever given him soaks?? Misting does nothing for them and is messy too.. @ 6 months he should be getting more regular soaks than an adult would, great if you do soak him, but just in case that's what stood out the most from your original posting..

Yes he gets tons of bath time, it's his favorite so even just I'm regards to keep him also happy other than just healthy and clean he gets tons of baths.

 

[DanynAndSpyro]

Oops! Wow, sorry about that! I read "bug tubs" to be those cans of dried bugs.

Glad to hear is e getting back to normal!

Absolutely, thank you.