Im worried about my beardie and need advice

DIddleDI

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Mushu, 5 years old
Hey, as the title above says I'm very concerned about my little boy. Due to the weather fluctuations here he's been recently treated for a respiratory infection, but last week I started to notice his eyes being droopy and he's lazier than usual. He absolutely does not like greens but we are trying to get him to eat more and due to his lack of eating greens I have already given him a bath and he drank while in it.

He's still doing the puffy breathing, is always in one of his hiding spots (under a log etc.) And due to him barely eating he also almost never poops, his last time was maybe 2 weeks ago again. I do not feel an impaction and he did not do anything in the bath either.

The tank is 150x50x50cm with reptile carpet, UVB bulb is Exoterra 150UVB and his hot side is 35/38c and his cooler is 23/26c

I raised him since birth, around 5 years old and he's always been a bit troublesome with his health but I've never seen the eyes like this before

Hope anyone has some good advice for me here
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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
He only looks this active after I picked him up, other times of the day he is just laying down with either his eyes open or closed
Please get rid of the UVB -- you want a 24" long tube fixture for a 40 + gallon tank -- if your in the UK you can look here for this one they are one of the 3 recommended on this board
Please get this right away place in the tank 12-15 inches directly above your basking decor piece - the bulb your using now is inadequate --
 

DIddleDI

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Mushu, 5 years old
Please get rid of the UVB -- you want a 24" long tube fixture for a 40 + gallon tank -- if your in the UK you can look here for this one they are one of the 3 recommended on this board
Please get this right away place in the tank 12-15 inches directly above your basking decor piece - the bulb your using now is inadequate --
Hey! Thank you so much for getting back to me, I am not in the UK but I just seen the Reptisun 10.0 as alternative, what is the 3rd one? I can't seem to find any other than the 2 we just mentioned. I will immediately get a new bulb setup! I got these bulbs advised by multiple stores so I'm glad you pointed this out to me
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
Hey! Thank you so much for getting back to me, I am not in the UK but I just seen the Reptisun 10.0 as alternative, what is the 3rd one? I can't seem to find any other than the 2 we just mentioned. I will immediately get a new bulb setup! I got these bulbs advised by multiple stores so I'm glad you pointed this out to me
Bad advice is often given by reptile shops and pet stores---- the other one is this one https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
you will need to change the bulb out to either the Reptisun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12% 24 watt bulb
are you in the states?
 

DIddleDI

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Mushu, 5 years old
Bad advice is often given by reptile shops and pet stores---- the other one is this one https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
you will need to change the bulb out to either the Reptisun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12% 24 watt bulb
are you in the states?
Yeah, sadly enough I've come to discover this as well now, despite this store actually having a big range of reptiles and having a pretty good reputation here. I'm from the Netherlands
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
Yeah, sadly enough I've come to discover this as well now, despite this store actually having a big range of reptiles and having a pretty good reputation here. I'm from the Netherlands
I would try and get one of the fixtures off Amazon or try the website I posted for swell - they may carry zoo med fixtures w/ the reptisun 10.0 bulb
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

As Karrie suggested, try to get a long tube bulb by either Arcadia or Reptisun. Wow, you are in the
Netherlands? I can imagine how difficult it must be trying to find Reptile supplies there!
Are you able to order things online?
If you can get some sterile saline solution for his eyes. You can use that once or twice daily to help
flush out his eyes. Those compact/coil bulbs are notorious for emitting low wavelength frequency of
UVB. Plus, they usually aren't bright enough.
Are you using a bright white basking bulb for him also?

Tracie
 

DIddleDI

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Mushu, 5 years old
Hello,

As Karrie suggested, try to get a long tube bulb by either Arcadia or Reptisun. Wow, you are in the
Netherlands? I can imagine how difficult it must be trying to find Reptile supplies there!
Are you able to order things online?
If you can get some sterile saline solution for his eyes. You can use that once or twice daily to help
flush out his eyes. Those compact/coil bulbs are notorious for emitting low wavelength frequency of
UVB. Plus, they usually aren't bright enough.
Are you using a bright white basking bulb for him also?

Tracie
Heya, yeah getting my hands on some things is difficult! I'm using 2 brands of basking lights (depends which one are available) and I already ordered the reptisun 10.0. I will see of I can get some solution for his eyes. I have also been trying to get some food into him as he straight up refuses most if not all, and try to hydrate him. His eyelids have improved a bit over the last 2 days and he was more alert (not lying down, actually eyes open etc.) Than when I posted about this
 

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Last edited:

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
Heya, yeah getting my hands on some things is difficult! I'm using 2 brands of basking lights (depends which one are available) and I already ordered the reptisun 10.0. I will see of I can get some solution for his eyes. I have also been trying to get some food into him as he straight up refuses most if not all, and try to hydrate him. His eyelids have improved a bit over the last 2 days and he was more alert (not lying down, actually eyes open etc.) Than when I posted about this
I have never seen or heard of those brands of bulbs -- they are good as long as they are a clear bright white bulb that have NO yellowish hue to them and will keep temps to what they need to be -- for a adult dragon 95-100 and for a baby 105-110 up to 6 months -- if you can get stuff on line look for Flukers basking bulbs -- Exo Terra Intense or Arcadia Halogen -- I am thinking the coil may have been the cause for the eye issue --
 

DIddleDI

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Mushu, 5 years old
I have never seen or heard of those brands of bulbs -- they are good as long as they are a clear bright white bulb that have NO yellowish hue to them and will keep temps to what they need to be -- for a adult dragon 95-100 and for a baby 105-110 up to 6 months -- if you can get stuff on line look for Flukers basking bulbs -- Exo Terra Intense or Arcadia Halogen -- I am thinking the coil may have been the cause for the eye issue --
I feel so bad for having the wrong lamp for so long 😥 He's had lamps like this since hatch so wouldn't the issue appear sooner if that was the case? I received the new lamps today and will be replaced immediately!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 7 and Blaze is 5
I feel so bad for having the wrong lamp for so long 😥 He's had lamps like this since hatch so wouldn't the issue appear sooner if that was the case? I received the new lamps today and will be replaced immediately!
What lamp are you talking about? The UVB or your basking lamp? What came today?
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

That is great to hear you are using the Reptisun 10 tube, this is a good light. Be sure it is mounted
directly above him at the correct distance for maximum exposure.
How is he doing today?

Tracie
 

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