Lethargic, not eating and droopy eyes!!! HELP!!!

[melodylynn25]

My bearded dragon, Daenerys, is 2 years old. She is in a 50 gallon tank with 100 watt heating and UV. About 2 weeks ago, my UV light went out and, stupidly, thought it would be okay to put a regular light in place. About a week later, I researched and found out that you couldn't do that and got a UV light the next morning. My aunt was taking her out of her tank every day to get natural sunlight while she didn't have the UV light. Ever since, she has been extremely lethargic, not eating, has droopy eyelids, droopy eyebrows, an extremely dark beard, tail and shoulders, and (idk if this is bad or I'm overreacting) a curve upwards in her spine. I just gave her a bath and massaged her huge, bloated looking belly and she barely pooped. I have researched and researched, but couldn't find ANY helpful information. Today was the first time I force fed her a slurry with strawberry, blackberry, collard green, kale, mango and Repashy Superveggie powder too. Does she have MBD???!!! I love her soooo much and it would completely tear me apart is she does. PLEASE HElP US!!! ;(
-Melody & Daenerys

 

[Claudiusx]

Hi there,

Could you post pictures of Daenerys and of your setup?
You can upload pictures to the site here:
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/

What UV light were you using before? And what bulb do you have now?

What are the temperatures in your tank? The basking surface temp and the cool side mainly?

When is the last time she poo'd before just now?
Is it possible that she is gravid?

When she was outside, did she ever get into anything she shouldn't have or was she always well supervised? And, did you make sure she wasn't able to overheat?

-Brandon

 

[Claudiusx]

Moved by Moderator from Website Comments to Beardie ER

 

[melodylynn25]

I posted pictures, did you get them? I was having some trouble, but it said it was successful... I don't know what bulb i had before it broke, but I know it was a Zoo Med one. I lost the box I had of the UV that i have right now but I know it is a 100 watt, as the basking is too. I also have a night basking bulb. Her tank basking temp is at 90 F and her cool side is about 80 F??? Idk... I always give her fresh greens and Zilla omnivore mix. She pooped a lot last night and this morning twice before just now. Her poops seemed normal, just a bit greyer than usual. I actually thought she was because she had symptoms, so i gave her a lay box, but she didn't care about it. Yes, she was always supervised and no, there is not anything she could've eaten or got into.

 

[Claudiusx]

So you uploaded your pictures to the site, now just click on your picture, copy the XIMG code, and then paste that into your reply and it will show up as your picture.

You can turn off the UV bulb also, and take a picture of it, it should have some markings on it. That way we can identify it.

A lot of times, if the spine curves like that, it is due to MBD, but seeing pictures will help.

What are you measuring your temperatures with? Is 90f the basking surface? or is that just the hot side temp?
Good that she poo'd a bunch.

Is she a good salad eater? Does she get live insects? How often?
What does your supplement schedule look like?

How is she acting right now? Still black bearding?

-Brandon

 

[KarrieRee]

Her basking temps need to be 95-110- taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- we need you to.look on the bulb itself it will tell you T 8 or T 5- please get rid of the nite time bulb if it's a colored bulb - they are harmful to the eye s and can cause long term eye damage--- and they disrupt their sleep- that could be the cause for droopy eyes- lethargic could be improper placement of the UVB
Karrie

 

[melodylynn25]

The basking spot currently says it is 87 F, the lights turned off 50 mins ago. My thermometer also is really old and doesn't work that well. The UV light doesn't say T5 or T8. This is the UV light- Exo Terra Repti-Glo 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Tropical Terrarium Lamp. I just talked to an exotics vet and going to drop her off in the morning. She told me to keep her lights on all night to keep her warm.

 

[KarrieRee]

Please shut them off the reptiglo is a horrible light- this is the reason for the droopy eyes lethargic - if your tank is 65 or better at nite that is good - you need to get a digital probe thermometer ASAP-- and this UVB- if you can't find it in your petstore order it from here www.petmountain.com
a 24" fixture zoomed-- a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb they are the best on the market--- around $66 w/ out shipping----
Karrie

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It sounds like your girl isn't warm enough which is one reason she is lethargic. As suggested,
a digital probe or temp gun should really help out. Optimal temperatures are crucial for overall
health & well being.
If you upgrade your UVB lights to one of the mentioned lights, I think she should start to really
perk up a lot for you. The tank size that you have sounds pretty good.
Were you able to get your pictures posted, I am not seeing them yet.
How is she doing this evening?

Tracie

 

[melodylynn25]

Hello,
Last night about 3am she had a very traumatic experience. She kept pacing around in circles, opening her mouth, tensing, and then she would close her eyes and her head would lower really slowly until she would take a sharp breath in and do it all over again. I thought she was trying to poop, so i made her a warm bath. Right as the water touched her foot she started throwing up. I put her on the counter with her head hanging over the sink rim and throw up was just gushing out of her mouth and nose. Then she went limp. I thought she was dead so I had to step away while my aunt picked her up and she moved! We then put her in her tank under her lights but she kept trying to throw up. She would gag really big and then sway her head in the sand, getting sand all in her mouth. I got q tips and every time she gagged, scraped the sand off her tongue. She finally stopped, and I fell asleep next to the tank. I woke up about 7am and she was in the same position and hard as a rock. What I feel right now is nothing I have ever felt. I'm just glad the she was with me for two years. My aunt did some research and she found that there's an unknown bearded dragon disease and they don't show it until they are at dying point. If anyone else has had this problem, just know you are not alone. If anyone is having this problem, get your beardie to a vet ASAP!!! I wish I had brought her sooner. RIP Daenerys <3

 

[KarrieRee]

I am so sorry but it sounds like she had ingested sand -- along w/ her temps not being up to par and the Repti Glo she was really sick -- I had posted last nite not to leave the lights on but at this point turning them off may not have done any good either -- I feel horrible --- it will take some time to heal we have all been thru it at one point or another --- so I know what your feeling--- in time if you want to get another one please go over the lighting w/ us before you purchase another beardie so we can help you get the proper set up for it --- and no more sand -- it is a terrible substrate -- again I am sorry for your baby
Karrie

 

[melodylynn25]

This is her before she passed.
Idk why its not working.... do the pictures show up?

 

[KarrieRee]

No use this https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pic it should post
Karrie

 

[melodylynn25]

Working now??
Idk what is happening with it... -.-

 

[KarrieRee]

No still same -
Karrie