New Owner Concerned

[jaffamatt]

About 21 days ago I purchased a small bearded dragon from a local pet store.

He (i assume) is about 7in long. They told me he was about 3 months old.
In the first 5-7 days bringing him home he ate regularly, pooped and even had his first shed. Then his appetite slowed to a crawl then a stop. In the last about 10 days all he has eaten is a few nibbles of blended up squash. He refuses everything else and ignores all live food. Im at a loss. I also vear its causing him calcium deficiency bc he has started shaking his head.

He is very active. Runs around and climbs and watches me when im at my computer (like right now).

How old is your dragon? 2-3 months
How long have you had your dragon? 3 weeks
How long is your dragon? 7in
What is the sex of your dragon? Was told male
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 20 gallon
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? Reptile carpet mat
Do you use UVB lights? yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? FT
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? Reptisun 10.0 HO
How old is your UVB bulb? 3 Weeks
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? Ranges from touching it to 12in away
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Is it a white or colored bulb? 100watt white
What are the basking temps? 105-110
What is the cool side temp? 78-82
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 thermos in tanks and spot check with temp gun.
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? At his basking rock (where he lays)
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? no
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Started with greens and crickets. Have tried everything since he stopped eating (worms, baby food, pellets, ect)
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? Twice. Morn and Evening
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Yes
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? Zoomed and ExoTerra. Dust crickets and mix with blended veggies.
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? Was before he stopped eating
Do you bath your dragon? How often? Twice a week
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? Mist

I also have both his lights on timers for a 12 on/12 off cycle.

 

[MsCarter]

Going over your set up it really sounds like you are doing everything right. Your little guy is active which is really good. The fact that he is not pooping now is the biggest issue in my opinion. When was the last time he went? When he was eating were the insects smaller than the place in between his eyes? These little guys usually will not starve themselves, so keep offering food when he is hungry he will eat. Until than I would really start doing warm baths and keep him well hydrated. Depending on exactly how long it has been it sounds like this little guy needs to use the bathroom.

 

[quyllur]

You indicate your UVB light is a T5HO Reptisun 10.0. Being able to touch it and only being able to get max of 12" away from it, is far to close for such a powerful bulb. He should be able to get within 12" while basking but should also be able to get out of the light when he chooses. I would raise up the bulb considerably as a starting point, and then look to getting a larger/taller enclosure that that light will be more suited to.

 

[CooperDragon]

If it's a T5 with reflector, the optimal output is about 12-14'' above the basking area. If it's a T8 then the optimal distance is about 6-8''. Closer than that can be dangerous as the intensity increases greatly closer to the bulb. I agree that there should be areas away from the bulb that are shady and have little to no UVB to allow for self regulation.

 

[jaffamatt]

It's a t8.

He has a plethora of climbing surfaces that allow varying distances up. He can literally choose any distance from 0-12". I also didn't mention but a built a "hide away cave" in the tank that blocks out all light sources and is completed enclosed to give him secret time (read on the forums they needed a "dragons only clubhouse" to cool and rest.)

I gave him a nice warm soak last nite. He seemed to enjoy it but no poops. It was also suggested to me that 12/12 cycle was to short for UVB needs that i should do at least 16/8 (on/off).

Also read up on black bearding and color changes when ill. He doesn't appear to have any off that. His colors are gorgeous. Belly and neck are nice clean white. Back and head are nice mixes of orange and tan and brown. Reminds me of the colors I saw when visiting the Grand Canyon.

 

[CooperDragon]

That all sounds pretty good then. Do you see any signs of an oncoming shed? That can mess with their appetite and mood quite a bit sometimes. A 12/12 light cycle is OK. I set mine to more around 14/10 in the summer and kind of mirror the seasons a bit in terms of length of daylight but it also factors in with my work schedule etc. Some people use longer daylight cycles to mimic longer days in their natural habitat but I just mirror what is happening where I live and it works. Both methods have their merit but I don't think your current setup would be causing much issue.

 

[SquirtTheDragon]

What was his last meal before he stopped? You can try Flukers Repta-boost to try and increase his appetite. Continue offering him food everyday because eventually he will have to eat. About your UVB FT, It isn't good for them to be able to touch a UV source. Its too much UV for them and can cause eye damage among other things. If it is a T8 tube, I suggest mounting it in the tank and keeping it about 10-12" away from your dragon. Good luck!

EDIT: I just noticed it was a T5 10.0, it can be mounted outside the tank on top of a screen, keeping the same distance away from the basking spot.

 

[MsCarter]

I agree with squirtthedragon,I would try the repa-boost it's great stuff for increasing their appitite. If she hasn't pooped yet it sounds like she's a little impacted. At this point I would continue with the warm baths and massage her little belly while she's in the warm water to help loosen things up. You can also use a little bit of baby food (prunes or Apple work well) and add just a few drops of olive oil to it and syringe feed it the her if she won't take it on her own. This really helps me when my dragon is having trouble going. I personally think if you take the above advice that others have given regarding the UVB lighting and try these things to help her poop she will feel much better and begin eating well again.

 

[jaffamatt]

I agree with squirtthedragon,I would try the repa-boost it's great stuff for increasing their appitite. If she hasn't pooped yet it sounds like she's a little impacted. At this point I would continue with the warm baths and massage her little belly while she's in the warm water to help loosen things up. You can also use a little bit of baby food (prunes or Apple work well) and add just a few drops of olive oil to it and syringe feed it the her if she won't take it on her own. This really helps me when my dragon is having trouble going. I personally think if you take the above advice that others have given regarding the UVB lighting and try these things to help her poop she will feel much better and begin eating well again.

Yeah, Ive already re-arranged the tank to move all the climbing surfaces away from the light.

We also just got done with a warm soak and belly rubs. I tried to persuade him to eat some baby food but to no avail. Ive watched videos of people force feeding but im so scared ill hurt him.

I just ordered some of the repa-boost and will have it tomorrow. I paid more for rush delivery than i did the stuff itself bc im so frustrated with the situation (mostly at myself). Its only been 3 weeks since i began this adventure but i feel like a new parent who is now responsible for this tiny life and that my failures will cost him.

 

[MsCarter]

Don't be so hard on yourself it sounds like you are really trying. Honestly the things you are doing aren't horrible you nearly have everything perfect. Sometimes these little guys just face issues (just like we do) and require a little extra love and care. You say your little guy is still active alert and overall appears healthy so your baby should be fine
Poop can reveal a lot about these guys, it can show us how well hydrated they are, if the temps are good, and even serves as a good indicter of the possibility of parasites. That is another reason why I think getting this little guy to finally go will help to eliminate other possible concerns.

I understand you feeling a little uneasy about force feeding. If you just ever so gently pinch the middle on your babies beard this will force a tiny section in the corner of his mouth to open. You can drip a very small amount in at a time this way. This method will take longer but it may also help you to feel more comfortable. Only drip a small amount in his mouth at a time regardless of the method you use. Too much can cause them to accidentally breathe some in.

 

[SquirtTheDragon]

If she is impacted, as mrscarter said, fill a small pipette full of olive oil and drip it on your beardie's snout. if your beardie doesn't lick it off, open it's mouth and give it 5-6 drops. Another good laxative is pure canned pumpkin (Not to be confused with sugar filled pumpkin), it should say 100% pure. Try and feed it to it or force feed it a little. If the Repta-boost doesn't increase it's appetite within a few days, you should consider using Critical care (http://goo.gl/ZxeeXg). I shortened the url because it was a really long link. Critical care is quite a bit stronger so it should be in less quantities than the Repta-boost. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[jaffamatt]

Well I got the repa-boost and olive oil and canned pumpkin.

He fought me so much to get him to take a bit of them. Im sitting here in tears because not only did i feel terrible by forcing him but now he acts like he is scared of me now and in the last few hours have developed black streaks on his belly and under his mouth.

I feel deep down this isnt going to turn out well. What was i thinking?

I want to thank yall for all your help and advice and concern.

 

[SquirtTheDragon]

They will be a little scared for a while, don't worry. It will help him in the long run, he just doesn't realize it. The meds will help him within a few days hopefully. Good luck!

 

[MsCarter]

No problem at all, that is what we are all here for.
I know exactly how you feel (I've been forcing my little girl to take parasite medicine) it's no fun! But just remind yourself that you are doing what is best. Once this is all behind him and you, it won't take long to rebuild any broken trust he may have. Try this for another day or so and as previously stated if there is still no poo and he's still not eating it's time to think about critical care and a possible vet appointment. As a baby they really shouldn't go too long without food. The right vet wI'll not only help him go to the bathroom but they can also test for parasites and preform a full body exam to make sure everything is good with your guy.
Best of luck to you and your little guy. Keep us updated and let us know if you have any further questions/concerns

 

[jaffamatt]

I want to thank everyone again for not only your help but for not condemning new owners over mistakes.

Hope was got yesterday as my little guy (Hanzo) didn't fight me to feed him and even chased down a cricket or 2.

Unfortunately this was false hope as he passed away during the night.

I think after some time I'll try again tho this time I'm going to find a breeder and avoid the box pet store.

Thanks again