Need help with Rocco....again!

[Roccosmama]

Many of you know Roccos story and know I just finished treating him for coccidia. He didnt have much of an appetite during treatment but now its completely gone. Let me give you a little history first.....when we first got Rocco we took all of the pet stores advice until we finally found this site. So Rocco did not have the best treatment from the start. We had all the wrong lighting, substrate, and were not feeding him correctly. So we have now been on the right track for the last 8 - 10 months. He is about a year and a half old and VERY small. When we took him to the vet in March he was about 15 inches long and only weighed 6.4 ounces. Before his treatment for coccidia he ate lots of greens and a fait amount of crickets every day and superworms about once a week but we were never able to put weight on him. Now he has lost all interest in crickets and he is eating a very small amount of greens every few days. His megaray burned out a few months ago(after only having it about 6 months) so we replaced it with a Reptisun 10.0. And of course we have his heat lamp. I keep checking his temps and they are fine. I dont know what his weight is now but I can physically see he has lost weight. He also has not been basking as much as I think he should be. I have been making him slurrys again just to get him to eat something but even that he is not eating much of. I just dont know what to do for him anymore. Please help!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry little Rocco is having more trouble.
Did you have him on Albon then? Did you give probiotics through the entire treatment & following the treatment?
I would try getting some bee pollen & brewer's yeast, & mixing that with some water or diluted grape or apple juice, daily to see if that will help boost his immune system.
What are his temperatures in the tank currently? Maybe you should try increasing his basking temperatures a few degrees if you can. Do you have a picture of his tank setup too that I can see as well?
How are his urates looking, are they hard, soft, white or discolored?

Tracie

 

[Roccosmama]

Hi Tracie! The vet told us not to give him anything other than the antibiotic while we were treating him. And yes, it was Albon. Since reading your reply to my message I went to the pet store and got some Benebac. How much do I need to give him and how often? His urates are white and pretty soft. I will work on a picture of my setup for you. His basking temps are at about 109 right now. Do you think that needs to be higher?? Thanks for your help!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is Rocco doing today?
Well, Albon is very dehydrating & does destroy the natural gut flora in their little tummies. So, that is most likely what is going on. Great that you found some benebac. Did you get gel or powder?
If you got the gel, you just need a small "pea sized" amount, daily, given with food or alone. It is well tolerated too, so if he likes the flavor it will be easy to get him to eat it. If you got the powder, use roughly 1/8th of a teaspoon mixed with his food or some water.
Just give that daily for a week or two & hopefully that will help him out.
No, those temperatures are fine actually at 109. He sounds like he is well hydrated since his urates are soft & white then.

Let me know how he likes the Benebac & how he is feeling.

Tracie

 

[Roccosmama]

Today was a better day! I purchased the gel benebac and I just put it on the tip of his nose and he licked it all up with no problem. I also got him to eat ALOT of baby food slurries.....close to 2 teaspoons which is alot for him lately. I know that once beardies get older they tend to eat more greens rather than crickets. Do you think this may be why he now wont eat crickets? I have a feeling that right now his loss of appetitie is due to the Albon. Im just worried because he is losing weight and has no appetite. Hopefull we are on the right track with the benebac. I will keep you updated and again, thanks for the help!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great today was a lot better for little Rocco! Wow, he did eat a good amount of food. They do tend to eat less feeders as they get older & more greens & vegetation. The albon is most likely affecting his appetite quite a lot so hopefully the benebac will improve his eating.
Did he seem to like the benebac, or did you mix it with the baby food slurries?


Tracie

 

[Roccosmama]

Just wanted to post an update on Rocco. He is still not eating very well. He has absolutely no interest in crickets. He is still eating lots of baby food though. I just worry about him getting used to the baby food and not wanting to eat anything else. Im thinking about ordering some type of worms for him. Any suggestion on a type and where to order from?? He also is still not basking much. I would love to take him out into the sunshine but he is so skittish (always has been) and I dont want to stress him out. So I guess much hasnt changed. I am still giving him the benebac which he gobbles up with no problem. I dont even have to mix it with anything. He is luck I love him cuz he sure is a pain in the butt! LOL!!
P.S. I wish I could give all of you a HUGE hug for all the help you have given me!! All of you are so wonderful! I would hate to think where my babies would be right now if I hadnt found this site! Soooo a really, really big thank you from myself, Rocco, and Skooter!!