New Beardie not doing well

[KBenker]

We got our beardie last weekend. She seemed to do okay for the first 2 days, eating just a couple of crickets - I ordered reptiworms for her and they arrived on Wednesday. We made the mistake of leaving the crickets in the tank, so I have no idea how many she ate. According to my daughter, she ate 3 reptiworms on Wednesday, she's not eating any greens. There is 1 poop in the tank every day. Gave her a bath on Wednesday and again on Friday. She seems alert, but shows absolutely no interest in food. I fed her a total of 10 small reptiworms on Thursday, with my daughter holding her and me "forcing" them into her mouth. We started with a compact bulbs - heat (exo terra 75W) and UVB (ReptiGlo 10.0), but after finding the wonderful tank setup, we went out yesterday to get a tube. I could only find the ReptiGlo 10.0 (24" and purchased the under-counter fixture at Walmart). I've ordered the SunGlo 10.0 and a thermometer, due to arrive Wednesday. I also ordered the supplements from Sticky Tongue Farms, that the breeder recommended, but for some reason they have not arrived yet. We have a 20 gallon tank, repti carpet, a basking rock and a thick branch. I force fed her again yesterday afternoon, after her bath as she still hadn't touched any food at all. Just 5 small reptiworms and a tiny piece of beardie bite. This morning, there was a normal looking piece of poo at the cool end of the tank, but then when I came in the room a bit later, she had either vomited or pooped on her rock - it was what I gave her yesterday, undigested. I just gave her another bath, as she felt cold to the touch (held her against my cheek). I then put her in a small tank with a couple of crickets, still no interest. She's back in her tank basking right now. She appears alert, just won't eat. What am I doing wrong? What do I do?

Diamond is about 6 inches long. I've tried getting in touch with the breeder, but they're away at an expo.

 

[Carnivorouszoo]

I would not force feed at this point, its relocation stress keeping him from eating too well and forcing him may make it worse. Also you need the reptisun, few pet stores carry them so you need to get it online. I got mine on amazon.com for $26 shipped. I would just let him be, also at his size and age do not worry so much about greens, they will eat them when ready. At his age he needs more feeders than greens anyway. Keep offering feeders two-three times a day as many as he will eat in 10-15 minutes.

 

[H31d1]

sorry to hear your having problems.
could you tell us what temp the basking side is and also what are you using to measure the temp?
One of the best UV lights you can get is the reptiSUN 10.0 tube, reptiglows have been known to cause problems.

Hope someone else can give you more answers
best of luck

 

[KBenker]

Thanks, I did mean the ReptiSun 10.0 tube is ordered, but with Monday being a holiday, it won't get here until Wednesday. I've turned off the ReptiGlo and made a safe place outside for Diamond. We're in Reno, NV and temperatures are just under 90 today. Diamond spent 3 hours outside in the sun (with option to go into the shade) and was basking with her mouth open. She did poop on the brick I put in there for her. I also picked up some baby food (squash) and she licked some off my finger. My thermometer will also arrive on Wednesday. She's still showing no interest at all in her reptiworms or crickets.

 

[Carnivorouszoo]

Once you have the reptisun setup and stop taking him out so much he'll settle and start eating better

 

[KBenker]

It's Monday now and Diamond still hasn't eaten any insects (reptiworms or crickets). She will lick just a little baby-food (squash) off my finger, but that's it. How long can this go on?

She is in her new outdoor enclosure for a good 3-4 hours every day, then back in her tank with heat lamp only.

 

[H31d1]

hello again,
what sort of enclosure is your beardy in outside?

looking at one of you comments you said the temp was under 90? what is the basking spot as this needs to be at least 105. its very important so that they can digest their food properly.

how is she doing at the moment?

 

[KBenker]

I hope this works, took a picture of her outdoor enclosure (and one of her). She seems alert and I can get her to eat just a little baby food (chicken & green bean this time) off my finger. Still no interest in crickets/reptiworms. Thermometer will arrive tomorrow.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.271993352829051.83591.100000551661821&l=54bbe69769

 

[KBenker]

It has been around 90 degrees in the shade, in direct sun, it'll be 105-110 degrees

 

[Carnivorouszoo]

They mean what is the surface temp of the basking spot in the cage. All that back and forth one cage to another really slows down them getting over relocation stress so I hope the Reptisun arrives early

 

[KBenker]

Can't believe UPS was this late today - I just received the repti sun 10.0! Anyway, I also got an Accurite thermometer. Now how long do I keep the probe in place for an accurate reading? I layed it on the basking rock for about 30 minutes and got a reading of 145 degrees. But the rock does hold heat. If I hold it slightly above the rock for about 5 minutes, I get 105 degrees. Diamond has been spending part of the day basking or moving onto her branch just off the side of the rock. Gave her a bath, she took a long drink while in there. Still no interest in any insects whatsoever. Took just a tiny bit of baby food off my finger (chicken & squash). How long can she go without eating anything more substantial - just a couple of licks of the baby food - that's all.

 

[kjinxx2]

145 surface temp is way too hot, the surface temp should be 105 for babies. Personally I would leave her be for a few days, don't take her out or anything, offer food still but don't handle her. Relocation stress can last anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks. Don't fret! She'll start eating soon enough.

 

[Carnivorouszoo]

Definitely try a lower wattage bulb cumulative heat radiating back off the rock warms her as well as the heat coming down from the light. I use regular household bulbs. I believe you said you are using an infrared bulb? Beardies need a bright white basking light to simulate the sun as they are daytime critters not nocturnal for which the infrared bulbs are meant.

 

[KBenker]

I use a halogen bulb, added a dimmer so now I'll be able to control the temperature better. The cool side of the tank stayed right around 75 degrees.