Please help!!!!!

[juanh76]

I'm new to the board because I have an urgent question. I recently acquired 3 very young dragons (4-5" long). the smallest one started acting really funny today.. rolling around and looks disoriented. yesterday he seemed fine and even ate a wax worm (dusted) and some rommaine lettuce. I have a mercury vapor bulb, the hot spots in the tank is kept at about 99 degrees while the cold spots are 77 degrees, basking branch and "bathe" them daily with warm water which they drink they also have several different hiding spots as well. please let me know what I need to do or if this is normal (I would think not). These are my first dragons but not by far my first lizards. the substarte is calcium sand and they have drinking water available at all times. thanks,

Juan
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[dreshany]

Hi, I am sorry you are having troubles. First, where did you get them and what was their care like? Is it possible it could be MBD from lack of calcium and proper UV?
Second, Remove the calci sand immediately. Calci sand causes a huge risk for impaction. Beardies should not be on any loose substrate until they reach at least 12 inches. Paper towel, newspaper, repti carpet, tile are good options.
If it is impaction, it is important to treat quickly. Give them a warm bath (baby temp) and massage the right side of their tummy from armpit to base of tail. I would also get some baby food (turkey, squash or a mix of the two) and feed them that until they pass stool. If it is impaction, you can give them a drop of olive oil or mineral oil to help it pass. Unsweetened apple sauce can also help. Make sure they stay hydrated and like I said please remove the calci sand. I know they say it is "easily digested" just read through some of the posts here and you will see how many beardies suffer because of that gawd awful stuff.

On a side note, your temps are a little low. Basking should be a minimum 100-110 and cool side 80-85.

What are you dusting with? If they are little they need calcium 5x per week and multi vitamin 2-3x per week

Hope some of this helps. Keep us posted

 

[juanh76]

Hey guys, I have tried "bathing the lil dragon in water for 10 min and massaging his belly from front to back (gently). I have done this 3Xs already and nothing. he doesnt seem to be getting better but not really any worse either. as supplements I am using Dragon Dust ICB by T-Rex Sand Fire Super Foods. It has 14-16% calcium and 4000 IU vitamin D-3 as well as vit A etc... I have a 160w Zoo Med powersun mercury vapor bulb (doesnt seem to throw out that much heat). but I do have a heat bulb for the night time (red) that seems to be warmer than it. I dont know what to do for this lil guy he is by far the best colored of the 3 that i have and would hate to lose him especially since my daughter cries when she sees him rolling around like that. he looks completely disoriented please come up with something. the breeder keeps on telling me he is impacted but there has to be something else wrong.

please e-mail me at [email protected]

 

[vickson420]

Hey guys, I have tried "bathing the lil dragon in water for 10 min and massaging his belly from front to back (gently). I have done this 3Xs already and nothing. he doesnt seem to be getting better but not really any worse either. as supplements I am using Dragon Dust ICB by T-Rex Sand Fire Super Foods. It has 14-16% calcium and 4000 IU vitamin D-3 as well as vit A etc... I have a 160w Zoo Med powersun mercury vapor bulb (doesnt seem to throw out that much heat). but I do have a heat bulb for the night time (red) that seems to be warmer than it. I dont know what to do for this lil guy he is by far the best colored of the 3 that i have and would hate to lose him especially since my daughter cries when she sees him rolling around like that. he looks completely disoriented please come up with something. the breeder keeps on telling me he is impacted but there has to be something else wrong.

please e-mail me at [email protected]

Hi
I am sorry to hear about your beardie being ill.First let me say the MVB bukbs are great but with the Powersun it should have been burned in before putting your beardies under it,did you do that?Also with MVB you need to give them a calcium without D3.If you are using a regular flourescent then you need it but not with MVB bulbs.Also I dont really recommend te all in one supplem. like Dragin Dust because its quite easy to over or underdose them.I recommend you start by switching these out to repcal no d3 phosph free for calcium and herptivite for multi.How often were you giving the vitamins?The other possible issue that could be going on here is parasites.If the count is extremely high beardies can go into seizures although I am betting its probably more about the supplements at this point.I would also go get some repta-aid critical care formula to get his system back on track as well this should help regulate things a bit.How close can he get to the Powersun?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What are you using to measure your temps with? A stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?
How large is your tank?
How do his eyes look, are they sunken in or are they bright?
A Powersun 160watt needs to be 16-18 inches away from your dragons, for safety.
I agree, the dragon dust has synthetic vitamin A in it which can become toxic fairly quickly. I suggest using just a plain calcium with D3 in it.
Does he have any appetite at all?

Tracie

 

[Eventide]

The supplements vickson mentioned are what I'd go for. Often, other types of powder have way too much Vit. A for beardies, which is toxic to them in large amounts.

I'd get the little guy to a vet ASAP to see what's actually wrong--could be many different things, at this point.

 

[juanh76]

Ok guys thanks for trying to help...he/she is still alive but it depends what you call living. When i give it a bath it rolls around almost in a seizure (water temp is the same as tank apprx 100 degrees) I am using a zoo med digital thermometer witha wire and sensor at the end (sorry not too savvy with the terms yet). I just started using jump start today as i feel there is no other choice since it has eaten in 4 days. he did poop once but that is about it and that was 2 days ago. the other 2 beadies look great and are getting bigger. I wrapped the wire buld casing for the mercury vapor bulb with aluminum foil and that has increased the temp in the hot spot to 107 and they can get to within 10" from the bulb on the basking log which I place him on (the others go there by themselves). he eventually falls off the damn log but I always make sure he is on there 2hrs in the morning and another hour in the late afternoon after the bath. His head is usually tilted as if he is either listening to the ground or looking up at something on an angle. To tell you the truth this is one resilient lil bastard as I was sure he would be dead the day I saw him acting funny. any more advice, please.

Juan
[email protected]

 

[juanh76]

I meant to say has NOT eaten in 4days. and sorry for the astericks i didnt know that would be considered a curse, lol. I meant to say he is a resilient lil fatherless guy, lol.

Juan

 

[dreshany]

That is a little hot for bathing. Bath temps should be between 83-95. My little guy will freak out if the bathing temp is above 95. Should be just above luke warm (think baby bath temp). I would take him to the vet, because it sounds like he is going down hill pretty fast. I would have him checked for worms/parasites/bacteria and looked at for MBD even though you are supplementing and have proper lighting (it's worth a shot). How big was the poop? Were there urates as well?
You can leave him in the bath for longer than 10 mins. I sometimes put Perry in very shallow water (just below his elbow) and adjust his basking light above and let him soak for 30-60 mins. Just add small amounts of warm water to adjust the temp. Watch him carefully though, if he is that weak he may not be able to hold his head above the water. You could prop him on paper towel so his head is supported.
I would also pick up some pedialyte and unsweetened applesauce. This may be easier on his digestive system and help keep him hydrated. When Perry was not eating and bottomed out I gave him a bit of jumpstart (you can buy in pet stores) and it helped get him through the crisis. You can feed him that up to three times a day.
This may be a little drastic, but to get Perry through the night when he was really ill I heated up a sock filled with rice and just kept him with me. Every two hours I would try and give him a few drops of pedialyte. He got through the night and made a small improvement. I would definitely get a fecal done ASAP. Maybe push the applesauce to try and get him to poop again. Good luck

 

[juanh76]

O'K. I gave him another bath today for about 20 min and he pooped, it looks like all the other poops that his siblings have so.... he is still extremely lathargic and I force fed him a lil more jump start mixed with some water (just a lil). I am in Staten Island N.Y so if anyone knows of a reptile vet ova hea please let me know.

 

[vickson420]

O'K. I gave him another bath today for about 20 min and he pooped, it looks like all the other poops that his siblings have so.... he is still extremely lathargic and I force fed him a lil more jump start mixed with some water (just a lil). I am in Staten Island N.Y so if anyone knows of a reptile vet ova hea please let me know.

How far are you willing to travel?
Also have you checked herpvetconnection.com?Are you doing a babyfood slurry with him also?I really do agree though you need to get him to the vet.

 

[juanh76]

I'm not really willing to travel to california or anything but within 1.5hrs would be resonable. No I havent been doing any baby food slurrys. I will be leaving for the military drill tomorrow for 2 days so i hope he holds up.

Juan

 

[vickson420]

I am only asking because I live on Long Island which isnt too far and we have several pretty goods herp vets here also theres at least 2 I am aware of in Manhatten.Did you check out that website I gave you?So you have to go away for @ days?Do you have someone able to give him special care while your gone?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh please don't leave your dragon alone when he is not doing well. Can you find someone to care for him while you are gone, otherwise, he most likely will not make it.
How is he doing today? Were you able to get any jumpstart into him along with some babyfood?

Tracie

 

[juanh76]

Guys, it is the Army what will I tell them? "I cant make it in today because of a sick dragon in my living room". J/K though my wife is home and already gave her instructions although I am pretty sure she is not going to do it correctly. it is for 2 days if it wont make it then I am sure there is nothing I could've done for it. I think it will make it as like I said before he seems to be a resilient lil inappropriate word removed by moderatorand i have given him the jumpstart 2Xs today mixed with a lil water. I will get back to you guys with an update as soon as I get back.

Juan