Lacking energy and strength

[pigmonkey]

My mom takes care of my bearded dragon lizard while I am away at college, and now that I'm home I am very concerned that he's not healthy at all. He seems to lack energy, as he no longer chases after and eats crickets. They have been living in his tank for days now unnoticed. He seems to have trouble lifting his own weight, as well. I feed him Romaine Lettuce, and I noticed yesterday that he tried twice to lift his head up enough to strike at a piece, but shook and struggled and just collapsed. Although he ate most of the lettuce I put out, I believe he threw some of it up in the corner of his tank. I feel so horrible for the lack of care he's been getting. I've been spending some time with him out of the tank, and also soaking him in shallow warm water, as that was recommended to me before, and he seems to enjoy it.

Here is as much information as I can think to give you:
- He is fed daily, every morning: just a little plate of small pieces of Romaine Lettuce.
- He does get crickets every other week or so, but that is it in terms of additional food.
- We have calcium powder, but I have a good feeling my mom never uses it. I put some on his food today.
- His tank is bedded with pellets (I'm not sure of a more appropriate word)
- He has a heat lamp and a 15W Florescent Repti-Glo UV bulb. I realized that the UV bulb is at least 4 years old right now, unless my mom replaced it without mentioning it.

I will be happy to provide any additional information or descriptions if need be. Thank you for taking the time to help.

 

[kimmie]

My mom takes care of my bearded dragon lizard while I am away at college, and now that I'm home I am very concerned that he's not healthy at all. He seems to lack energy, as he no longer chases after and eats crickets. They have been living in his tank for days now unnoticed. He seems to have trouble lifting his own weight, as well. I feed him Romaine Lettuce, and I noticed yesterday that he tried twice to lift his head up enough to strike at a piece, but shook and struggled and just collapsed. Although he ate most of the lettuce I put out, I believe he threw some of it up in the corner of his tank. I feel so horrible for the lack of care he's been getting. I've been spending some time with him out of the tank, and also soaking him in shallow warm water, as that was recommended to me before, and he seems to enjoy it.

Here is as much information as I can think to give you:
- He is fed daily, every morning: just a little plate of small pieces of Romaine Lettuce.
- He does get crickets every other week or so, but that is it in terms of additional food.
- We have calcium powder, but I have a good feeling my mom never uses it. I put some on his food today.
- His tank is bedded with pellets (I'm not sure of a more appropriate word)
- He has a heat lamp and a 15W Florescent Repti-Glo UV bulb. I realized that the UV bulb is at least 4 years old right now, unless my mom replaced it without mentioning it.

I will be happy to provide any additional information or descriptions if need be. Thank you for taking the time to help.

WOW so many things I see wrong even as a newbie myself.

Romaine lettuce - get rid of it, it's not nutritional at all. Here's a list of nutritional items http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html
He should be having crickets daily (or some other form of protein) - how old is he? DEFINITELY needs dusting with calcium as well
Get rid of the pellets as well, use paper towels, non sticking shelf liner, tiles, newspaper
Get rid of the Repti-Glo bulb and get a ReptiSun 10. tube style bulb ALONG with a basking bulb.

Hopefully others will chime in as well.

 

[javeroy]

If your UV light is 4 years old, it's a good possibility he's developed metabolic bone disease. It's also called 'jelly legs' and it's when the lack of UV causes the lizard to be unable to create his own vitamin D. This in turn causes him to stop absorbing calcium which leads to a softening of the bones. The only thing I could helpfully say is to get a new light stat, but I don't know what is available in your area. Everything I've read on this site is that the ReptiSun's are the best light to go with. If you don't have those in your pet store, I don't know what the second best one is. Maybe someone else could help out?

Javinder

 

[Buggsy]

the only recommended UVB bulb atm is the reptiSUN, which are far cheaper online at www.petmountain.com (or if in the UK www.livefood.co.uk and the arcadia 12% bulb are actually a bit better)

It seems as if he is in desperate need of UVB and calcium, so when you get the new bulb, mount it inside, about 6-8" from his basking spot, and try and get some liquid calcium. Tracie (screen name drache) sells it and is very knowledgeable in this field.

Again remove the pellets, they will be harboring bacteria and pose an impaction risk. just use kitchen towels for now.

What temps are in the cage, and what are you using to measure them??

I would give him a bath tonight and see if he is perhaps a bit dehydrated too. It seems like there is alot to do, but he may well get better yet!

 

[pigmonkey]

Thanks for all the quick replies. This is overall pretty alarming to me, as most of what I do now I learned from the previous owner. Perhaps I should have done my own research on the side as well.

I just called my local pet store and they do in fact carry ReptiSun, so I will be heading out to pick one up. A quick question though: Is there a difference between a UVB bulb and a Fluorescent Bulb? The Pet Mountain site seems to have two completely different categories. Also, would you recommend a 5.0 or 10.0 UVB Bulb? I can only imagine that is some measure of strength.

 

[kimmie]

I think those that specify they are UVB put out those rays, whereas a regular flourescent won't (but I'm not definitely sure).

I'd say get the ReptiSun 10.0 as that's whats been recommended. You'll want a regular house bulb as well for basking.

Hey we all come here to learn and hopefully fix problems we learn about from what we learn here! All the info I was told at the petstore where I got Angus, well they told me wrong. As long as we fix those problems and take care of our beardies, it's all good!

 

[Nasubi77]

Just to clarify (because this aspect seemed ambiguous to me in the answers you have gotten so far), you want the Reptisun 10.0 fluorescent tube and NOT the compact coil.

Some of the pet stores that carry the Reptisun only carry the compact coil and not the fluorescent tube, so you might have to order it online. I know I have never personally seen the tube in any pet store. I don't go to pet stores that often, but when I do I always look and they never have it. It is the only recommended brand and there is no "second best".

Alternatively, you could use a Mercury Vapor UVB. You can find the Powersun in most stores and that would be fine. It puts out heat and UVB and actually a higher quality UVB than the fluorescent.

Do you have a digital therm to measure your temps?

 

[Buggsy]

I would use a MVB atm due to the issues they've had recently, as the OP has experienced issues withMBD she needs a reliable bulb and not one that may exasperate the issue, but in the furture when everything is sorted the stronger UVB may help.

Yes indeed the 5.0 or 10.0 is a measure of the % UVB released, though im not sure a % of what! as they are desert baskers the stronger the better, so 10.0% is safe, but there is such a thing as too much, so just keep to the 1 bulb!