dhammer911
Member
Hey all:
This post is about a neglected dragon who is recovering but not having any BMs. First of all, let me thank all the users on this site. I had planned to get a dragon, and after doing my research, I started looking. To my surprise, I found Burt - a poor guy who as lived (previous owners unsure, but about 4-5 years) in terrible conditions. No lights (heat or UVB), no food, no cleaning, no space, no attention. He was horribly stunted and frankly appeared close to death. It was not what I originally expected, but I couldn't leave him.
Through research on this site, I think I have the right rehab set up: a 40g tank (he's a foot with tail, so I figure this is okay for the time being), a 10.0 tube UVB rigged inside the top screen, 90-100 basking spot (depending on elevation since there's a rock platform), 12/12 light cycle (I go total darkness at night as my home office, where he's kept, stays about 75 at night), tile floor.
Again, based on forum users' advice, I started with 4-6 gut loaded, dusted, large crickets a day to start. Now, about four weeks in, he is on large helpings of greens (collard and mustard) daily, supplemented by 6-8 of the crickets. About once a week, I'll do a protein day where he gets as many as 18 crickets. I supplement Fluker's liquid drops in the greens 3x per week.
His turnaround is amazing. Surprisingly, he has a great disposition, is very active, a great hunter, and has quite the appetite. He really enjoys interaction, particularly his weekly baths.
But my concern is that he has had only 2 BMs since I got him! They looked good, maybe a little runny, but it's the lack of them that has me worried.
I have identified a vet - I'm having to travel fairly far. But I wanted to get a fecal, visual inspection for signs illness or bigger issue (in light of the stunting and years of neglect), as well as potentially calcium testing for MBD. I've been waiting to get the fecal sample. We've been doing daily baths on the warm side to try to ease it out. Nothing.
To be clear, he can easily get himself to 95 and higher, and he never eats later than 2 hours before bedtime. I know some normal adults go a week, and I can't really apply "normal" here. But I'm getting pretty worried. Suggestions? Do I need to get to the vet now?
Thanks everyone!
Dallas and Burt
This post is about a neglected dragon who is recovering but not having any BMs. First of all, let me thank all the users on this site. I had planned to get a dragon, and after doing my research, I started looking. To my surprise, I found Burt - a poor guy who as lived (previous owners unsure, but about 4-5 years) in terrible conditions. No lights (heat or UVB), no food, no cleaning, no space, no attention. He was horribly stunted and frankly appeared close to death. It was not what I originally expected, but I couldn't leave him.
Through research on this site, I think I have the right rehab set up: a 40g tank (he's a foot with tail, so I figure this is okay for the time being), a 10.0 tube UVB rigged inside the top screen, 90-100 basking spot (depending on elevation since there's a rock platform), 12/12 light cycle (I go total darkness at night as my home office, where he's kept, stays about 75 at night), tile floor.
Again, based on forum users' advice, I started with 4-6 gut loaded, dusted, large crickets a day to start. Now, about four weeks in, he is on large helpings of greens (collard and mustard) daily, supplemented by 6-8 of the crickets. About once a week, I'll do a protein day where he gets as many as 18 crickets. I supplement Fluker's liquid drops in the greens 3x per week.
His turnaround is amazing. Surprisingly, he has a great disposition, is very active, a great hunter, and has quite the appetite. He really enjoys interaction, particularly his weekly baths.
But my concern is that he has had only 2 BMs since I got him! They looked good, maybe a little runny, but it's the lack of them that has me worried.
I have identified a vet - I'm having to travel fairly far. But I wanted to get a fecal, visual inspection for signs illness or bigger issue (in light of the stunting and years of neglect), as well as potentially calcium testing for MBD. I've been waiting to get the fecal sample. We've been doing daily baths on the warm side to try to ease it out. Nothing.
To be clear, he can easily get himself to 95 and higher, and he never eats later than 2 hours before bedtime. I know some normal adults go a week, and I can't really apply "normal" here. But I'm getting pretty worried. Suggestions? Do I need to get to the vet now?
Thanks everyone!
Dallas and Burt