lethargic, sleeps excessively,...UPDATE

[HolliePocket]

I bought my 4 year old bearded dragon off of craigslist a month ago and she has been acting fine and healthy until the past few days. She sleeps from 5 in the afternoon until noon or so the next day, basically when I wake her up. She hasn't "gone" for a few days now, and I've been giving her warm baths and rubbing her stomach in a downward motion to try and get things started. She doesn't seem to have much muscle strength. Her regular diet consists of calcium sprayed mealworms, peas, carrots, green beans, corn (which I don't let her have too much she just loves the stuff, I just throw 2-3 kernels in, cucumber, a cut up grape, sometimes melon& cantaloupe or apple. She doesn't like green/red pepper. I was able to get her crickets today which I dusted in calcium powder, the pet store is just far away so the mealworms are the easier option, but if the mealworms are what are making her sick then I will put up with the noise the crickets make and walk an hour to the pet store and back. Maybe her cage is too warm? She usually wants out, but she usually just wants to hang out with me or my friends. Her thermometers say it's about 95 usually in her tank. I have to continually try and regulate the temps though because her basking light that I bought her I believe is way too strong, I was just going off of what the storekeeper gave me. I asked for a bulb that would only turn the heat up about 10 degrees, but this one gets up past 100 so I'm constantly turning it off and on. She does have a uvb bulb as well that's on all day. I have also been dripping cool water down her mouth so she will drink because I never witness her drinking. Her body is also very cold, even after being under her basking lamp. She likes to hide in dark cooler areas, or hang out under my fluorescent desk lamp. If I'm doing something completely wrong please just let me know! I don't care if it's harsh criticism as long as it's somehow productive and I know what to do for her! I would take her to a vet, but there are no vets in this small town that know about lizards/snakes/etc. I would walk to any vet to get her checked out, but pretty sure that's a very cold trip Sagura' doesn't feel like taking!

She's going downhill fast, I'm getting everything today, a UVB light tube, fixture for it, please tell me anything else I need! UVA? Particular vitamins? New Calcium powder?? I don't want to lose her!!! She's my cuddlebug, she takes naps with me and everything!!! Am I feeding her anything I shouldn't?? PLEASE RESPOND FAST BEFORE I GO TO THE PET STORE WHEN IT OPENS!!!!!

 

[HolliePocket]

Oh, she also has that lizard carpet stuff, no sand! No heat rock either so she doesn't burn herself!

 

[MALIBUSMOM]

what typ of uvb are u using?

 

[HolliePocket]

26w reptiglow 10.0 UVB "Desert Terrarium Lamp" from EXO TERRA
it is right next to the basking lamp where she usually spends most of her day. She has a shallow tank as well.

 

[munchkins9802]

get RID of that light and get a REPTI SUN 10.0 TUBE from petmountain.com. I think you will see a change

 

[jortiz9758]

Get rid of that compact coil UVB bulb as suggested...It's garbage. Pick up a Fluorescent tube and you will see a good change.
You can also use a regular household bulb for heat in the correct wattage (depends on the size of the tank)You do not need a "Reptile Bulb"... How big is the tank he is in, and how are you measuring the temps?

This is the bulb you want: http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html

 

[HolliePocket]

Will do, I don't think she had any uvb bulb before I bought her. She's in the 30 gallon tank she came in, but I'm in the process of trying to get/make a 100 gallon tank for her. I've got two thermometers and one is on each side, there's a little strip one too, but that one probably isn't the most accurate thing. The digital ones in the town I live in are 80 dollars. =/ I know you can get them for $15 at walmart, but the walmart in my town doesn't sell very much, just cheap beer, milk, cereal, dog/cat food, and clothes.

 

[HolliePocket]

Could someone explain why the compact coil bulbs are bad? I'm not arguing, I just want to be able to understand thoroughly.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Well, most of the compact/coil lights tend to have poor UVB emissions. There have been some in the last couple of years which produce low wavelength UVB which is the hazardous levels & it does not allow for sufficient D3 synthesis as well which can, over time, contribute to metabolic bone disease.
The compact/coil lights honestly, are not really strong enough for a reptile such as the Bearded Dragon which has very high UVB requirements because of their thick armor of scales.
I can go into more detail, if you would like. That is just a basic explanation.

Tracie

 

[jortiz9758]

Go Tracie! Its your Birthday.We gonna party like..........ok enough of that. :mrgreen:
Yes ..what Tracie said. :study:

 

[munchkins9802]

holly I got my digital probe one (not as good as accurite) at petsmart for $10. the strip and stick on thermometers can be as much ass 20 degrees off so if he is feeling cold I am guessing the cage isnt as warm as you think it is.


Compact lights can actually be harmful to your beardie as they dont put out right amt of uvb (I forget if too much or too little--ask tracie DRACHE613) But common symptoms of light problems: are closing eyes, lethargic, and lack of appetitie

 

[HolliePocket]

Yeh, I live in a small town, there is no petsmart, there is a petstore but they are the only one with those kind of supplies, so they basically get to sell most of their items at whatever price they want because the other store is a, fish supply store/dog grooming salon.

 

[HolliePocket]

She's getting one this weekend, any suggestions until then? I'm getting her organic applesauce, organic prune baby food, and olive oil today to try and help her "go".

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How are things going today? The organic applesauce, prune baby food & olive oil should help. Only a drop or two of olive oil is plenty. Let us know how she is doing.
I hope you were able to find a good thermometer, as well.

Tracie

 

[HolliePocket]

No, might get a like a bbq thermometer, or have my boyfriend who is bringing up her light this weekend, grab one before he heads up. Should I just throw out the repti-glo or wait to get rid of it until I get her light this upcoming weekend?? Thank you for all of your responses, it's been very helpful. She hasn't gone yet, but she did fart really loudly. Haha She loves baby food too.