HELP!!??

[scheibs]

I have a female beardie who is approximately five years old. We got her when she was approximately eight months to a year old. Since then nothing has changed. She has been in back and forth between a 55 gallon aquarium and a 100 gallon aquarium. I have always used the same lights. The lights are always updated and changed as they should but I take in the old lights and purchase the exact same thing. I cannot tell you off the top of my head what they are, but I did everything by the book as far as UVA and all the types of lights. Please don't ask me that as she has been fine for five years so the lights are not the problem. I hate to admit it but I cannot tell you when the last time she pooped was. I thought she was ready to lay her infertile eggs, which she has gone through three times at least, maybe four. Thus, when we thought she was ready we put in the organic dirt, put up cardboard around the sides so she has a dark, private area as she has always had. My son takes off the cardboard walls and wets the water often and she is in a warm bath almost daily for at least twenty minutes. Lately we have kept her in at least an hour up to two hours, switching out water and adding warm water every twenty minutes or as needed. She has not even started digging as usual. The other thing is she isn't eating. I would say in all, this strange behavior has been going on a couple months. There has been two changes in that time. One, I moved my office upstairs and she was always right outside my office. Two, we had a very large iguana whose cage was near hers and 8' x 6' x 4'. They were near each other, but certainly not next to each other, howeaver that is another change. We had rescued her, had her almost two years and then gave her to a true reptile family. But now Ollie is strange. I do not know what brumating is nor was it in Webster dictionary. I don't know if they go into a slow state during the winter? I thought she was egg bound and her belly seems big, but she has not changed color, size, weight or absolutely anything in all this time. She looks great. Her eyes are alert. Her legs are fine and when she is up and around, she is fine. She ate crickets two weeks ago and was a happy camper but there are crickets in there now and she doesn't care. I know she needs to go to the Doctor but she has been five times and he has never once charged me and has always said she is one of the healthiest dragons he has ever seen. So I haven't ran back in. Oh, one other change was the reptile family that came to get out iggy clilpped our dragons toenails. He/they were a rescue family and he seemed like he knew what he was doing. There was no problems after but it is one thing that has changed. When my office was next to her she would often come and knock on the glass to get my attention. She just seems odd but if you look at her she looks perfect as always. ANY IDEAS? Yes, take her to the vet, but you have absolutely no idea what my schedule is and how far away the vet is, so I wanted to try this first. Any/all help/ideas will be appreciated. Thank you, Jill

 

[Jiffy]

Hi. Sorry your beardie isnt well. I am just bumping this up for others to see

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jill,

I realize you mentioned that your setup was fine & that you replace your lights regularly, etc & have gone by the book. However, this is information that we need to know in order to be able to go through a process of elimination. Please answer the questions so we can help you better.
The problem is that there are a large number of poor UVB lights out there & in order to help diagnose any problems at the moment, I really need to know exactly what type & brand of UVB light you are using. Is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?
What are the temps in the tank, & what do you use to measure the temps with a stick on type of thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?
How often do you supplement calcium?
She is 5, so she still needs calcium 3 times per week. Did she ever have any trouble before with laying her eggs? How many eggs did she lay each time & how long ago was her last clutch?
It is a possibility that she could be eggbound but if you don't think she looks gravid, then that probably is not it. An x-ray or ultrasound would determine if she has retained eggs, or developing follicles.
Has a bloodtest ever been done on her?
Brumation is a naturally occuring slow down phase that most adults go through during the late fall & wintertime. They slow their metabolisms down & just rest awhile. Sometimes they come in & out of it while others are down for the count.
Also, changing them back & forth from one tank to another too often stresses them. They don't like to be moved all of the time & go through a relocation type of stress each time they are moved which greatly affects their moods & behavior.


Tracie

 

[scheibs]

Thank you and especially for explaining brumation, as that is what I think is probably happening. It will take me some time to go look at the lights, etc. and I would have to do when they are off. She is on a timer, etc. What I can answer quickly is she has never had trouble passing eggs. She will lay anywhere from twenty to thirty, however I have never taken them out, my son has always done and he is not home this weekend. She always gets calcium when fed crickets as we always dust the crickets when they are still in the tube from the cricket keeper and right before placing them in her tank. The only time she is moved from aquarium to aquarium is when she is laying eggs and I was told by the Doctor to do so. The last time she laid eggs tho we put organic dirt in aorner of her tank so she didn't need to be moved and that is what we did this time. Last night we took everything out though so she only has her digging area and somewhere to get privacy as she has always had and used when laying eggs in the past. I will try to get her a doctor appt. this week....to make sure she is in their form of hibernation, which is brumation in their world??? Thank you again. Jill

 

[scheibs]

Thank you Jiffy!!! One more question to the forum, do we still keep bathing her if she is in brumation? Just saw her this morning and she is alert, legs are strong, color is perfect. Should I try to get food in her if in brumation other than crickets, salad greens, vegies that she has as her normal diet and isnt eating? Or gatorade? Wht are the rules with brumation so I can try before seeing the vet? Thanks!

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jill,

No, during brumation, if they are totally out & sleeping, it is more harmful than good to feed them. They are too cold to digest & if they go down into deep sleeping with too much food in their system, it can cause GI trouble. If she has never brumated before, you don't know what her habits will be. She might not sleep very heavy & sleep say, for a few days, then come out to bask for a few days, etc, or longer, then decide to go back in. If she does go in, you can turn off her UVB light but just leave her basking light on for regulation of light & dark cycles in case she is just hanging out. If she stays out for longer than a few days you can give her water & maybe a snack or two, that is fine. She might need to go to the bathroom, during that period too. It is very individual with dragons, they all don't seem to do the same thing.
I would just make sure she is not retaining any eggs, & get a fecal on her. Then, if everything checks out there is no reason why she can't brumate for awhile.
Did you figure out your lights?? Just wondering which UVB you were using. Thanks.

Tracie

 

[scheibs]

Hi Tracy and thank you again for keeping in touch with me. My computer was down so I am just getting back to the computer now. Thank you for explaining brumation in more detail, I can guarnatee you that is what is going on and she is doing everything you say. One more quick question though regarding that, should we be taking her out and keeping her in a warm bath if she wants/needs to brumate? When we took her out of the tub yesterday, we had wet down all her dirt to see if she would "dig" and she did! But...she only dug under her big rock thingy that she sleeps under. It looks cavelike and they sell them at all the petstores. So she dug out a little bit, I heard her for about 45 minutes, got herself cozy and now she hasn't been out again. The "cave" is under her heat light and regular light (sorry, I do not know proper terminology) so she is still getting some heat in her viv, however the heat is veering down on the cave thing and not directly on her....as far as the lights, I will email you again later. I found the bulb box as I have been moving five rooms around in the house which has caused for quite a mess. When I found the bulb box I put it under her viv so I know where it is. I will email more later and I will definitely call the vet this week to have her looked at....and put my mind at ease. Really, the five times I have taken her he has sent me home no charge and said she is healthier than ever, but this is a new one on me. The only time he has ever charged me was $7.00 to clip her toenails one time. He is the nicest vet and very eccentric, well known all around our area because he has a deer that he saved and has also had an alligator that he saved. Good guy. Thank you and I'll get back to you when I come upstairs with the bulb box next time. Jill

 

[scheibs]

The bulb is a zoo med repti basking spot lamp, 150W. I don't have the name, etc. of the long bulb, the name was turned inward and too hot to look at. Jill

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jill,
Did you ever look at the name of the UVB tube, Reptisun or Reptiglo?
If she is wanting to go into brumation, then no you don't need to get her out to bathe her right now unless you feel that she is dehydrated. It sounds like she is happy after digging her little cave. If she stays in there, then you can unplug the UVB & just leave the basking light on or you can shorten her basking time to 8 or so hours per day if she is not underneath it anyway.
Wow your vet doesn't even charge you anything? That is extremely lucky! He sounds pretty caring though that is really good.

Tracie

 

[scheibs]

Hi again, no, I never remember to look at that bulb except during the day when it is hot. Is it ok for it to keep going on? How long will she stay in there before I have to worry? I don't know how she won't get dehydrated if we aren't putting her in a bath, etc. AUGH! I am so stressed! I hate "first" times Thank you so much for staying in touch and I will try to remember to go to her viv after 8:00 when her lights go out and have cooled.....I guess after 8:00 so they cool down. Thank you again. Jill

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jill,

I know it's hard with it being her first time to brumate! It really is hard to know what to do as well.
If it will ease your mind, you can check on her daily, but not really disturb her. If you want to offer her water through a dropper while she is laying in there, that is up to you. If she wants water, she will take it, otherwise, she will just look at you & shut her eyes.

Tracie