Help with two starved bearded dragons

[jessimarie]

So I am a junior in highschool and since my freshman year I have been taking care of all the reptiles in the science department. Mainly Bozo and Sancho, two adult male bearded dragons. They have always been healthy and happy because I usually keep them on a strict eating and exercise schedule because they mean the world to me. About two months ago my anxiety got really bad and was pulled from school and put into independent study. I wasnt able to feed or take care of them during this time but I did type up a schedule and provided the money for food for them, however the teacher hasnt been feeding them as he said he would. When I went to pick them up for the summer today I was horrified. Sancho is practically skin and bones , his spine all the way to his tail is very very pronounced, and couldnt move to his food dish when I went to feed him. Bozo isnt as bad but he is starting to get there. I need to know what to do for them. I looked up bearded dragon diets and I have been doing it wrong this whole time. I am determined to get them back to health. I have measured and weighed each of them to determine how much they should weigh,(which I need help with calculating), and how much they should eat. I intend to weigh them weekly to make sure they are gaining weight. I was also wondering if i could still give them a bath now, separately of course, but their cages were full of feces and they are covered and I want to get them clean, but if I need to wait for their health I will. I really would like some help with the proper lighting feeding schedule and diet and exercise, and I know it's a lot to do but these guys honestly mean the world to me and I am so crushed by what they have got to. Please help me. Thank you so much.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. I'm sorry bout your beardies. There are two informative articles to the right Newbies guide Lighting help and Newbies Guide on What to buy. As for diet I would feed them baby food until their bodies get use to food. Stage one squash, sweet potatoes, chicken and turkey are all good and I would mix in the vitamins and calcium. Are they housed together? How old are they? What are their set ups like?

 

[CooperDragon]

I understand both anxiety issues and caring for dragons more than anything. I will do the best I can to help you get them back to health. Can you please give me a detailed rundown of their current setups? That will give me a baseline to start from. There are lots of good people on here with experience nursing dragons back to health who will be very much willing to help out too. Getting them and their tanks cleaned up will be important. Hydrating them is also a priority. Can you get your hands on some repta boost or some baby food and a feeding syringe? If you can get some chicken or turkey and some squash or sweet potato. Mix a little of those with the squash or potato and put some on their noses to see if they'll lick it off a little at a time.

 

[jessimarie]

They are not housed together, they are both males so I don't want any fights. I can get some pictures of their setups for you guys. I know that for Sancho (the worst one) his heating lamp bulb died while I was gone and they just replaced it with a regular bulb so I know I need to get a new one. I'm going on a huge shopping trip tomorrow for everything they are going to need. I will also post pictures of them. I am not sure of their age as I have only been caring for them for 3 years, so older than that. Their setups have been changed since I was gone, Bozo went from paper towel base to sand which I am not happy about, but I think that the cages are too small for them, I am looking into getting lager ones now but it is quite pricey.

If you go to this link it has pictures of their cages and themselves. https://www.flickr.com/photos/119353513@N07/with/14301216492

Bozo is 16 1/2 inches and weighs 5.9 oz.
Sancho is 17.2 inches and weighs 4.6 oz.

 

[jessimarie]

They are not housed together, they are both males so I don't want any fights. I can get some pictures of their setups for you guys. I know that for Sancho (the worst one) his heating lamp bulb died while I was gone and they just replaced it with a regular bulb so I know I need to get a new one. I'm going on a huge shopping trip tomorrow for everything they are going to need. I will also post pictures of them. I am not sure of their age as I have only been caring for them for 3 years, so older than that. Their setups have been changed since I was gone, Bozo went from paper towel base to sand which I am not happy about, but I think that the cages are too small for them, I am looking into getting lager ones now but it is quite pricey.

If you go to this link it has pictures of their cages and themselves. https://www.flickr.com/photos/119353513@N07/with/14301216492

Bozo is 16 1/2 inches and weighs 5.9 oz.
Sancho is 17.2 inches and weighs 4.6 oz.

 

[destiny1998]

Oh wow! Thats so sad Do they have uvb lights? I use a halogen flood bulb for basking light. Way cheaper then the pet store and they last couple years.

 

[AHBD]

Oh wow, that is advanced emaciation....poor, poor things ! Well, it's good that they are with someone who cares for them ! First off, don't run out to buy alot of things or new tanks....these dragons may not make it. The priority is to get small amounts of nutrients in while hydrating them. If they begin to improve, then you can feel comfortable buying new things. The squash or chicken baby food mixed with water is the way to go now, and it will take a while to get them [ if at all possible ] back to health. There is also something called Carnivore Critical Care that you might try to get. You might gently take them out in the sun, laying in the grass on a warm 75 F or higher day. That way they can get some UVB . Just be sure to stay with them. A regular housebulb or halogen bulb is fine as long as it produces heat. I hope you have success with them.

You might also post this in the rescue section, there are people there who have dealt successfully with starved beardies. Oh, it's O.K. to soak them a bit, but right now oral hydration will do much more, plus a soak may stress them since they are not used to it and can easily drown or just be too much for them to handle.

 

[jessimarie]

I have updates the pictures if the new thing I have gotten them and set them up with.

Today I was able to take out both of their cages and rinse and spray them with a 10% bleach solution to kill anything that could have been in them, it took me at least 30 minutes to do each and since I was outside I took one at a time and pit them in a shallow crate to get direct sunlight. They also had a spot to go if them got hot but they seemed to love it! I got Sancho a new light, a Reptisun UVB 10.0 I think? It was the only one at my pet store that have off UVB rays, however it doesn't give off much heat, so I was wondering if he needs another light for heat too? I have an extra one from my leopard gecko, but it is colored, I have a picture of both bulbs and their packaging on the previous link. I do have heating pads underneath the terry cloth bedding inside of their cages, I took out the heating rocks because they seemed to be burning the stomachs and I was worried. I couldn't find any of the reptiboost recommended so I bought another supplement that I have a picture posted of, is that one alright to use? I got Sancho to eat a syringe of chicken and sweet potato baby food mixed with just a super small amount of the supplement and have him a bath where he drank a ton of water. Should I feed him more than that? I have a picture of the syringe also. I also bought crickets, and waxworms. The crickets I am gutloading currently with lettuce squash and a small pice of carrot. I got bozo kale and yellow squash and he ate some but not too much, how to I properly prepare the squash for him? I had it cut smaller that the space between his eyes but to I need to cook it first? And bozo has a rock to club on it was just drying still in the picture.

 

[kbro]

This made me so sad, those poor guys. Your teacher should be reported at least to your principle if not more. Proper hydration is a must before you feed too much protein. You will need some type of electolyte there are reptile electrolytes but they are harder to find, zoomed makes reptisafe water conditioner that has some electrolytes which may help a little. I wouldn't really give protein yet. I will try to find a recipie and get some other people who are more knowledgeable about this type of extreme care to help. I do see you did get some good people to answer though

 

[kbro]

Where are you located jessimarie? Please don't take this the wrong way but it may be for the best to find a reptile rescue in your area that can handle their situation better.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Goodness, that is absolutely horrid. Why on earth would your teacher allow them to decline to that extent????
Are you taking over care of them then, at your home or attempting to?
I am glad you aren't housing them together since they are both males.
I would focus right now on hydration status before giving much of any protein to ensure the kidneys can handle food.
Oral fluids are the best right now, as they are very weak & thin. You can use water, vitamins, calcium & pedialyte diluted or a fruit juice like apple, to mix in with the water for some flavor. Dilute the juice down to a 3 parts water to 1 part juice.
You can blend some fresh greens, sweet potato or squash baby food all together using a plastic dropper or syringe. Give small amounts, several times per day to try & get them hydrated right now. Give them around a week or so before feeding too much protein/insects. Be sure that they are excreting a decent amount of urates to determine kidney function, first. Don't let them drink too much at once so they don't choke or aspirate on the fluids.
For UVB, the best ones are either the Reptisun 10 tube bulb or the Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb. You can use a halogen flood light for basking.
For now, keep them around 80 if you can, overnight to help with immune system support.
The key here is to go slow to help with recovery. I am so sorry that this happened to them.

Tracie

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. I see you have the reptisun 10.0 compact. Those are not good for them. They cause lethargy, appetite problems and eye issues. They each need acreptisun 10.0 Tube mounted in the tank. They also need a bright white basking bulb. You may also want to get a che(ceramic heat emitter) for night time to help them with their immune system. Also the best uvb is real sun if you can take them outside everyday for 30 mins that would help them immensely.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Just checking to see if you have any updates for us on your two guys. I hope that they are doing better, though it will be a slow recovery.
Keep us posted on them both.

Tracie

 

[jessimarie]

Hello! They are doing much much better. We do have another issue now because we think Bozo is actually a girl. On the previous link I have pictures of what appears to be an egg and my brother cut it open so I have a picture of what was inside, but we are not sure if that is what it really is. Fortunately, both are hydrated, have been pooping regularly, eating solids in Sanchos case and must more alert and active.

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

I am glad the poor little darlings are doing better but I agree the teacher should be reported to the principal and possibly to the police. He took your money and made life hell fo them. He might do this to future animals or abuse them.