Multiple Problems... Very concerned

[silverblade760]

Hey everyone,

I've had jake for a little more than 6 months now and he's 9 months old. He's about 10-11 inches including the full length of the tail... I have him on romaine lettuce, Kale, and strawberries for veggies/fruit and mealworms for his live food about 4-5 times a week. The problem first started in December. From december to most of january he just slept, he occasionally ate, maybe once a week (MAYBE) other than that he just slept and was very lethargic. He stopped shedding, lost weight, and his bowel movement severely decreased. From Feburary up until about last week he was back to normal. He was eating properly, shedding, and grew a little but. Starting last week, he's back to being lethargic. He hasn't eaten in almost 5 days (He did eat a couple mealworms from my hand yesterday), and he looks like he's losing weight. He shed his body about 2 weeks ago, and his arms are shedding now but due to him not eating the skins not coming off. I mist him with water twice a day because he doesn't drink from a bowl. Does anybody have any suggestions?

30L tank
Reptisun 10.0 (had it since October 5, 2008)
100 watt heat bulb (had it since October 5, 2008)
Tiles on bottom of tank
Cool side temp. = 67
Hot side temp. = 98


The temp. is hard for me to control during the day. I live in Maryland and it's still fairly cold here (currently 43F). My house has and older part and a newer part. I recently moved my bedroom to the older part for more privacy but there's no heat in this part of the house. I have a small space heater i use at night but turn off during the day while im at college. Back in the warmer months his temps were around 105 for heat and 77 for cool side.

 

[jacqui778]

Hi there,

Well, let's correct a few problems first. Lettuce isn't very good for beardies as it offers very little nutritional value. Also, mealworms are very low on nutritional value and the shells are hard to digest, sometimes causing impactions in smaller beardies like yours, and mine (Reggie isn't doing well either). This could be the reason for the decreased bowel movements you mentioned.

For right now, I'd suggest switching to a soft worm, because it doesn't exactly sound like he (or you) is up to hunting down crickets. You can try Phoenix Worms, which are high in calcium and don't require calcium dusting, and are a tasty (I didn't try them, promise) little worm for your beardie. Reggie positively loves them. But, if you are going to try PWs, be careful not to feed them too fast, or they won't be properly chewed and come out undigested in the feces.

Also, to help with weight gain, try Waxworms. These are high in fat and should only be fed maybe 3 or 4 a day, but I can say that after a few weeks, my Reggie is definitely pudgier.

Keep in mind that the shedding skin takes awhile to get to a peeling point. Reggie spent FOREVER with shedding arms and legs, but after baths and gently scrubbing with a soft toothbrush, it peeled. Dragons also aren't very peppy while shedding (psh, try to tell Reggie that) and often will go without eating for a day or two.

I hope this helps. Could you answer the questions below so we can make sure nothing else is wrong with his tank setup?

-- Jacqui


How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What is the sex of your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you bath your dragon? How often?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done?

 

[silverblade760]

hey,

thanks for the help... I did use phoenix worms before meal worms but he stopped eating them (back in december) so i leaned off of them... also the guy i order phoenix worms from keeps them in some kind of bedding thats a little moist and sticks to the worms (i dont want jake eating the bedding). But i can try them again. Also i though romaine lettuce was ok, it's iceburg lettuce you need to stay away from... Here are the rest of the specs.

How old is your dragon? 9 months
How long have you had your dragon? 6 months
How long is your dragon? 10-11 inches
What is the sex of your dragon? male (atleast when i checked he was)
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 30L
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? Tiles
Do you use UVB lights? yes, reptisun 10.0
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? fluorescent tube
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb? 6 months
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 8 inches roughly
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? yes, zoo med 100 watt
What are the basking temps? 107.7 (just adjusted the probe and re-measured)
What is the cool side temp? 68
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? digital/wire & probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? where he sits on the basking spot
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? No
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. mealworms, romaine lettuce, kale, occasional carrots, strawberries
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? Twice, morning and night
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? i do worms and no
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? no
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? no
Do you bath your dragon? How often? once a week
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? mist twice a day
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? no
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? no

 

[jacqui778]

Hello again,

Lettuce in general should be avoided, as it is more water than substance. Try throwing collards in there instead, or squash. Lettuce is really just a stomach-filler that honestly does nothing for your beardie. So while he is getting full, he's not gaining weight or getting nutrients he needs.

Yes, PWs are kept in an odd bedding that does stick to the worms-- my solution is to simply brush as much off as you can, and your dragon will pass the rest. A ReptiSun 10.0 fluor. tube should be changed every 6 months. I think you're due for a new one. :mrgreen: The cool side temperature is a bit low. It should be around 80*. Is there some way you could fix that? Also-- your feeding at night. How long before his lights shut off? Beardies need at least 2 hours of basking to help digest.

I think we've found the problem, as well-- your beardie HAS TO HAVE a significant source of calcium and multivitamins. It is possible that your dragon has developed MBD, or metabolic bone disease from lack of calcium. This often causes lethargic behaviour and can affect eating habits. I would immediately order an ultra-fine calcium powder with D3 and some multi-vits. http://www.petmountain.com/category/417/1/reptile-supplements.html

That link should get you where you need to go. The first two on the page are the best you can buy. Calcium should be 5x a week, multi-vits 2x. Easy-- weekdays and weekends.

I would also attempt to get a fecal done on your dragon, so that we know for sure that he doesn't have parasites.

-- Jacqui

 

[silverblade760]

ok... i'll place the order for the UVB and supplements from pet mountain... thanks for the help

 

[silverblade760]

so should i just sprinkle the supplements on the worms and veggies??

 

[jacqui778]

so should i just sprinkle the supplements on the worms and veggies??

Yes. Although, PWs don't need to be dusted with calcium, as they're high in that already.