Please Help! Inexperienced owner with sick beardie

[kingofnobbys]

Everything sounds good so far, you're doing an amazing job. If she eats 1-2 ml.s 2-3 X a day to begin with that's reasonable, she's not used to eating much . Baths only 2-3X a week if she's drinking. Honey on the eyes daily.

<<< see this for appropriate volumes to administer by syringe feedings : viewtopic.php?f=45&t=232687
1 to 4 ml volume food / 100g of lizard's body weight. To take 4ml she needs to be at least 100g

you state she's 15g ,so no more 0.6ml per feed ! = 4 x 15/100 .


Is the Reptisun 5.0 a t5 or t8 ? Since it's a weaker bulb than the 10.0 it would be good to mount it under the screen using some wire. I can't tell from the pic [ too dark] if you did. Here's how I did mine with wire through the screen.
.
https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/30028/full

Thanks for the tip, I'll reduce bathing a bit. It's a compact fluorescent lamp so I don't think it's either? But I'm going to run to the store in a bit to get wire to hang it inside the tank and hopefully by the end of the week ill get to petsmart to get a proper thermometer and UVB.

If it's the 13W version , throw it in the bin , she needs to get inside 2 inches of such a weak in W and %UVB compact, it's TOTALLY USELESS TO HER.
See viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235611

IMMEDIATELY invest in a 26W UVB200 to replace it.
This is a much stronger globe in both UVA & UVB and in a reflector dome or hood, gives good clean UV spectrum , and ample UVA & UVB at about 8 inches from the basking spot.

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[AHBD]

Settle down, she already has the 18" Reptisun 10.0 bulb. Already been given info on how to mount it inside as well. And my miistake, the 1-2 ml.'s would be given 2-3 feedings. The baby would stop when she is full, not force feeding.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's great you got your Reptisun 10 now, I'm sure that will help Jenny out a lot for her.
Were you able to get much food into her? It's a good sign she has her eyes open more now, it
sounds like she is feeling better.
It can take up to a couple of weeks for the eyes to really heal up. Continue using the saline
solution & honey to help heal them up.

Let us know how she is doing!
Tracie

 

[jennythebeardie]

Another Jenny update-
Jenny has been doing much much better, again thanks so so much to everyone who has commented! She's been eating on her own for a few weeks now, mostly crickets (her favorite) but also some phoenix worms and I put collard greens out for her daily but she generally has no interest in them. I also keep zoomed juvenile bearded dragon pellets out for her which she surprisingly will pick at when she's hungry, but those are the only thing I've seen her eat that doesn't move (she won't even eat a cricket it it's not moving around). Her eyes still aren't 100% and get a little crusty so I'm continuing to clean them daily but she keeps them open for the most part. It's been wonderful seeing her curious little personality slowly come out as she gets stronger! Right now my main concern is her weight. She's up to 26.5g but to me she still looks too skinny. She's a good eater and usually eats about 12-18 crickets a day. Is there anything I can do to put continue putting weight on her, or should I just give it some more time because she is slowly gaining?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Wow, Jenny is looking much better now! How wonderful.
I'm happy to hear she has been eating on her own now & gaining weight, too.
At least her eyes are improving, it can be a slow process with reptiles & healing.
It sounds like her sweet disposition is coming out also, that's great!
She is young & does need to gain more weight. You can feed her a couple of times
per day, for increased food intake.
Keep up the excellent work with her, I know she must appreciate it deeply.

Tracie

 

[AHBD]

It's good to see her doing so much better, just look how much progress in such a short time. Great job ! You can do as Tracie said, just add another meal time with a few more crickets. You might also try dubia roaches as a feeder insect as well.

Does she drink at all ? If not, try dripping water on her snout. Many dragons will drink that way. Just drip [ or spritz from a spray bottle a very gentle stream] then stop, repeat. Sometimes it takes a good 30 seconds or so until they realize it's a drink if they're not used to it.

 

[jennythebeardie]

It's good to see her doing so much better, just look how much progress in such a short time. Great job ! You can do as Tracie said, just add another meal time with a few more crickets. You might also try dubia roaches as a feeder insect as well.

Does she drink at all ? If not, try dripping water on her snout. Many dragons will drink that way. Just drip [ or spritz from a spray bottle a very gentle stream] then stop, repeat. Sometimes it takes a good 30 seconds or so until they realize it's a drink if they're not used to it.

I've heard of beardie owners having trouble getting their dragons to drink but Jenny is surprisingly really good with that, she'll climb all the way in her water dish on occasion and just chill out :lol: I've been feeding her twice a day but I'll definitely up it to three to try to get her to eat more.