I REALLY need your help!!!

[Bree]

So i have a 7 year old 24" bearded dragon, have had him since he was only a tiny 3 inch baby. For the first 2 years he went through many health issues including a severe impaction in his right abdomen that almost killed him, because of that he has gotten MBD and his tail had broken in one place, but has been healthy and happy for the last 5 years.

He lives in a custom 4x2x2 foot enclosure (around 110 gallons) with built in level background, lots of driftwood, crushed walnut sand etc. I have been running 2x 50 watt basking spot lamps on either side of the tank, and a UVB strip along the front. During the night the temperatures stay above 75 degrees and i run a ceramic heat emitter from above on colder nights, and have been running it during the night lately anyways.

He has been eating well enough, lots of calcium dusted crickets, kingworms, a pinky rat every month and many different types of fruits and veggies, which i feed by hand.
However he just sleeps all day, only coming out when i physically pick him out of the corner and place him infront of the food dish where he eats, then afterwords goes straight back to his corner and sleeps.
....What i mean is he really doesn't move at all, and even when i pick him up and place him on the ground (where he normally starts running around and exploring like mad) he just lies down and sleeps, and just picking him up and cuddling again he doesn't even bother to open his eyes.. Or if he does, doesn't look interested- just sleepy.

I am so worried about him, this guy is so important to me, saved my life, its time for me to save his...again.
Could he be just getting old? Its breaks my heart to even thing about that...

 

[Bree]

And before you say anything about the temperature i have always had it no higher than 90 F as be would get severely stressed out and strained looking if temps. were raised above that. So the warmest place in his tank is 90 F and the coolest is at 72 F. been like that his whole life.

The vets around here are useless btw, they don't know anything about beardies, and think he is just old and ready to pass, but there has got to be something i can do for him?

Why does he just sleep 24/7!? Doesn't even bother opening his eyes half the time when i pick him up!?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What do you measure his temperatures with? How long has he been lethargic?
Technically, they really can't digest their food with temperatures lower than 95 or so & being in too low of temperatures for prolonged periods of time but not including brumation can contribute to respiratory issues as well as gout. The recommended temperatures for basking are 95-110 with a cool end of around 78-82. Perhaps it is the lighting that he doesn't like when the temperatures are higher? Do you use a bright white light or a colored light?
Are you using a UVB light & if so what type & brand do you use?
How often does he get calcium supplementation & vitamins?
Do you have any pictures of him?

Tracie

 

[Bree]

I am using an exo terra temperature device, although it is quite old...I will replace it on Tuesday.
He is been acting this way for close to a week now.
As for lighting i use the Tight beam sun glo basking spot from exo terra. And the UVB is 10.0 sun glo from exo terra as well.

I literally wet the worms or crickets before rolling them in the calcium power (which is calcium powder w/ D3 by zoo med) and he gets that every day to every other day.

He has been deficating well, however since his rescent new tired self i don't think he has been digesting very well so have been giving him more warm baths, where he always goes.

I will upload some pictures asap.

 

[nikkistorms]

So he is getting calcium EVERYDAY? From what I have read that can cause calcium binding... Hope your big guy gets better. I had one as a baby for almost 6 years and he passed away... Saddest thing ever... Hope that isnt the case with your beardie. Keep us updated! I would check your exp dates on your lights and get the new them. like you said. I wouldnt give so much calcium and maybe take him outside for 30 min after a bath in luke warm water...

 

[Bree]

I bring him outside whenever i can, however this summer has been horrible and its been raining every single day and averaging around 15-20 degrees C...

I bought a new UVB light yesturday...however it was the wrong size, so again, on Tuesday i will be getting a new UVB bulb and basking lights as well, i am going to go with 75 watt for his basking spot and a 100 watt for the other light, that way temps will be upwards of 90 in his enclosure.

And yea, this guy is insanely important to me, i can't bear the thought of him..leaving.

 

[kcarello]

If you are in the u.k., you should get the Arcadia d3 12% uvb tube light, if not then get the Reptisun 10.0 tube uvb. Those are the only two recommended on this site. He needs a basking spot of 95 - 105, with the hot end of the tank 85 - 90ish and the cool end 76-80, the need a temparature gradiant. If he really is important to you, and I believe he is, and you really want him to be around for awhile longer then you should listen to the advise,,we all love and care about dragons and want them all to live as happy and healthy as possible.
Kelly

 

[AHBD]

Hi there...I hope you can get some answers to help your big guy ! One thing to do ASAP is get rid of the crushed walnut. It is notorious for causing impactions. He may be developing one right now, or may have some discomfort at least. Are his b.m.'s regular ? Sorry if I missed that....sometimes I think I've read the thread properly, then I look back and see that it's already been mentioned.

 

[Bree]

Trust me i have tried to get the repti sun, i live in VERY northern Canada and have the one little petstore (that i work at) we cannot find a supplier that will ship them up here, so are stuck with using the alternative...I figure it is better than nothing.

I am definitely going to be replacing all the bulbs on Tuesday when the store is open, i am changing his basking spotlight to 75 watts which will heat that area it at least 90-100 F. And a 100 watt on the other side so it stays no less than 80. (The height is different.) I really hope he doesn't get to stressed out again, last time i made his tank that hot he would just turn black, look totally sunken in, and gap..

Am also changing the UVB stip bulb as i am sure its coming close to its 9 months.

Although i have been reading good reviews on the crushed walnut i was also thinking about changing that out to repti carpet, he just used to love digging holes in the sand and sleeping in there during the night- which is why i had kept it. He is pooping normally, and they all look good, just a little runny- but they have been like that since he was a baby..

 

[kcarello]

You can usually buy one online, the reptisun 10.0 tube. You really need to get rid of the sand / walnut shell...it's like making them live in a litter box!

 

[Bree]

Don't worry, i just removed all the sand, and am trying to find a bulb online from a company that can ship up here.

As soon as i started moving his stuff around he purked up and is running around a bit!!!! OMG maybe i am just freaking out for nothing and he was just being difficult again!...Either way, all the sand is gone, its now lined with paper towel, and lights are being replaced asap!


He just pooped as well, as i let him out of the cage on the floor and hes running around a little being curious again!!

 

[EccentricME]

That's great that he is perking up, and that you are making those changes for him. :mrgreen:

 

[Bree]

It didn't last very long, only a little energy spert, but a very good sign if you ask me! After around 2 minutes he found a corner and went to sleep but still!

 

[Esther19]

Porgress, however small, is still progress.

 

[kcarello]

So happy to hear you made the improvements, and that your little one had a spurt of energy!! Just wait till you get the right uvb light...then you will really see the difference!!!