Needing help/advice

[Lornaandlen]

Hi,
New to this site so please bare with.
I have a roughly 3 year old beardie, all been ok in the 2 and half years I've had him, up until recently, went to feed him Morio worms as I normally would and he doesn't seem to be able to extend his tongue, checked mouth and couldn't find anything, so left and just kept checked .. week later nothing changed so took to a reptile specialist but they did not believe there was a reason for concern, expect now the issue is still there he will only try and attempt to eat one worm, even then he just kind of keeps in his mouth and doesn't swallow. He is also pretty inactive at the moment and sleep alot and I'm not really sure what to do!
Any advice would be muchly appreciated

 

[KarrieRee]

Please get a pic of the inside of the mouth and post we can have some more experienced on here look to see what is going on ---- in the mean time post what your using for a UVB and how old it is and where in the tank it is -- basking temps and what they are and how your getting them please
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pic it should post

 

[Lornaandlen]

Wouldn't really let me get decent photo, trying one handed was difficult!!

 

[Lornaandlen]

To be fair his temp set up is all right because already checked all of that, it was a little low but changed it as soon as realised, his UVB bulb is like in the middle of the viv so in-between hot and cold end, could be that the bulb is due changing but that still doesn't explain the tongue situation? Because he wants the food but his tongue doesn't extend much at all so he just gives up?

 

[KarrieRee]

Yeah I am not sure whats going on w/ the tongue thing I am going flag your post to the vet tech and another person on here that can maybe help as well --- the vet tech is usually on late at nite so just to let you know --- the UVB is what bulb T 5 or T 8 ? the difference is the distance above basking decor

 

[Lornaandlen]

Thank you so much for that the bulb is a t5 bulb, I'm still pretty new to keeping reptiles as he is my first reptile and only had him for 2 and half years without any major hiccups!

 

[KarrieRee]

ok make sure you have the basking decor directly under the UVB 12-15 inches --- and change it out approx 1 year I recommend a month prior to ---- post was flagged - so hopefully they will answer soon -

 

[Lornaandlen]

Ah ok will change it around but saying that he's not really using his basking log, he's mainly on the floor of the Viv not doing much which is unusual for him because he normally jumps up and then jumps jumps and then back up again and is fairly active

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is very strange with the tongue. Does he have a full length or full sized tongue, that
you can tell?
How long has this been going on for?
This can affect his ability to be able to strike & get his food. Have you tried hand feeding him
yet? That might make things a bit easier on him.
Which T5 tube bulb brand are you using?
How often are you giving calcium for him? Even at age 3, he does still need calcium a few
times per week. Calcium helps with muscular contractions & neuromuscular functions. So
maybe he might not be getting adequate calcium perhaps.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[Lornaandlen]

Hi,
Yes I'm pretty sure he's got a full size tongue
It's been about a month or so now? Like I said did take him to a reptile shop to get advice and the person there didn't seem to think there was an issue
Yes it has affected his ability to strike and get food and even hand feeding he will only have one worm and then just kind of stores it in his mouth...
The bulb is an arcadia one
Could be that he hasn't been getting enough calcium to be fair, but where he is struggling to eat at the moment is there a way I can get calcium in him?

 

[Lornaandlen]

Also he seems to have alot of saliva and sometimes it's almost a dark red colour have checked what I can in mouth but can't seem to see any signs of wounds or anything

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Is he having any breathing issues so far?
It is very possible he might not be getting adequate UVB. The tube bulb is the Arcadia, is it
a T5 high output 12% or the T8 regular tube? How close is it to him?

Tracie

 

[Lornaandlen]

Hi he seems to have somewhat difficulty catching his breath, but I've had a look at the back of his mouth and he doesn't really look like he has much room for anything to go down?
I'm off to get him a new uvb bulb as we speak going to sort out his set up when I'm home, but is this pearlescent colour thing in his throat normal? I've not noticed it before? Just worrying because he's not eating anything now tried giving him a worm for him to try and eat it then just leave it hanging out of his mouth?

 

[KarrieRee]

What are you using for a UVB? Brand and bulb-- please NO coils-- you need a long tube fixture like a 24" Zoo Med or Sunblaster Nano or a Arcadia Pro T 5 / w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb or a Arcadia 12% bulb - please let me know if you need more help and these bulbs do have certain placement and distance

 

[Lornaandlen]

It was an arcadia t5 bulb not 100% sure which one and can't find out because I'm out at the moment but I'm on route to go and get him a new one now, so will ask a shop worker to help me pick the best one