1stbeardie4my4yo
Member
We are a first time beardie owner. No other pets as 4yo daughter is very allergic to cats and dogs. She loves bugs and frogs and lizards. So after much reading on allergies and reptiles I decided to take her to petsmart to let the beardie crawl all over her. We brought home a cool little baby that jumped right into her hand from the display and was very active. This little big headed guy was about 5-6 inches when we brought him home April 28th and now is a bit over 9 inches and is 35g. He has been given the best. We currently have 4 differently habitats, 1- 42x24x36 main indoor custom from old rustic tv hutch. 2- 150 gallon rubbermaid trough for sunbathing while we are outside. 3- 10 gallon feeding area/ thunderdome and then 4- 24x24x36 terrarium in the LR for when we need to secure him briefly while socializing with us. There are 7 of us. We minimize handling somewhat due to his age but still want him used to our routines and activity level.
I realize that's alot of movement but it's not a constant thing. For the most part he stays in one place when not bathing or hanging out on my shoulder.
From week 2 this baby has had dubia and crickets. Week 1 was a mix of small crickets and 1-5 mealworms. We quickly decided feeder roaches would be best. He would eat 30-40 1/4" crickets or roaches per day.
Then one day we turned his lights on and he didn't meet me at the door for his meal. Upon further inspection of him I realized he was crawling low and slow on his belly as well as shaking his hand when he walked. Then I realized his entire front left hand/foot from the ankle/wrist was swollen like a ballon. Up until this day anytime I approached his cage he would come to me, probably awaiting food. He would even climb into our hands just as he did at the store. He was very very active and quick to investigate.
For lighting we have arcadia 12% t5 , 6400k t5, and a powersun 100 uvb for his basking spot. All areas have reptile carpet.
I was using calcium with d3 but have switched between no calcium and occasionally calcium without d3.
I took him to Forest Trails vet in Tulsa since the owner was highly recommended. Very first words out of her mouth were "he's beautiful and it looks like gout." WTH!? Took x-rays to rule out MBD, I have copies. Vet said bone density is great and other than swelling he seems to be thriving. She sent me home with meloxicam for 3 days. No change.
On my own I figured out I could be dusting too much. I had noticed his urates were bright white and getting almost chalky when fresh. He used to drink from his water dish the first day or so but that has since ceased. Since coming home he has been given daily soaks simply to get him used to the routine but also hydrate him. He has never drank from his bath however.
On my own I decided to remove calcium and started giving black cherry extract and feeding silkworms. The vet has no idea and now will not even return my calls. I'm reluctant to spend anymore time or money with a vet if it's all just guess work anyway. She admitted she had no idea what it could be and he is too small for bloodwork or I would have had that done. For me, data is everything. So if we could see his calcium levels, uric acid, etc we could at least make an educated guess vs. throwing meds at something. The vets last word was that she took everything to the owner 30+ years vet plus reptile owner himself and he agreed with me to remove calcium for a few days then start back without d3.
Skipped 3 days of calcium then gave 1 tiny dusting since my CA w/o d3 hadn't arrived. Now here we are 4 days later and he is swelling in all feet and legs now. Thing is the day before I gave the minute amount of Ca w/d3 he was dramatically better. More movement and holding himself up when walking, not quite himself, but better.
I sent petsmart corporate a scathing letter. I am pretty pissed that we spent x amount of dollars with them for a supposed product and result and received a reptile with what seems to be genetically predisposed to organ failure. They contacted us and refunded our money and told us consider it an adoption. Gee, thanks.
Not to be a terrible person but what to do? He still eats, not near as much, but does eat. For fruits and veggies he likes kale, grapes, carrots. Currently available feeders are crickets, dubia, bsfl, mealworms, and silkworms.
The arcadia lights are placed using a solarmeter 6.2 to offer gradients from 0-300uw. The basking spot temp is 105-107f, cool side is 85-88f warm side is 95-99f. Temps are checked with an amprobe infrared temp gun.
We feel a bit robbed. Our whole intent was to give the very best we could and that by the time he/she was 6-8 months old then our 4 yo would be able to be more hands-on. So far we are spending all our time explaining why he's not moving or why he's crawling around on his belly and how he may not be with us very long.
I realize also that some of my statements and expectations seem selfish and childish. My stance is this, we are a large, busy, active family. My wife and I both have very stressful careers. She at the usps and myself as a telecom technician. We do not have time daily to medicate a pet for life. I'm sorry to say that but I'm just being honest. Feeding, watering, cleaning, building, research... we are all over that. But being life support for some corporations failed breeding program that leaves it's customers holding the bag?..... We're out.
I'm sure I'm going to get attacked or whatever. Please refrain, I will ignore. If you have suggestions I'm all ears.
Thank you.
I realize that's alot of movement but it's not a constant thing. For the most part he stays in one place when not bathing or hanging out on my shoulder.
From week 2 this baby has had dubia and crickets. Week 1 was a mix of small crickets and 1-5 mealworms. We quickly decided feeder roaches would be best. He would eat 30-40 1/4" crickets or roaches per day.
Then one day we turned his lights on and he didn't meet me at the door for his meal. Upon further inspection of him I realized he was crawling low and slow on his belly as well as shaking his hand when he walked. Then I realized his entire front left hand/foot from the ankle/wrist was swollen like a ballon. Up until this day anytime I approached his cage he would come to me, probably awaiting food. He would even climb into our hands just as he did at the store. He was very very active and quick to investigate.
For lighting we have arcadia 12% t5 , 6400k t5, and a powersun 100 uvb for his basking spot. All areas have reptile carpet.
I was using calcium with d3 but have switched between no calcium and occasionally calcium without d3.
I took him to Forest Trails vet in Tulsa since the owner was highly recommended. Very first words out of her mouth were "he's beautiful and it looks like gout." WTH!? Took x-rays to rule out MBD, I have copies. Vet said bone density is great and other than swelling he seems to be thriving. She sent me home with meloxicam for 3 days. No change.
On my own I figured out I could be dusting too much. I had noticed his urates were bright white and getting almost chalky when fresh. He used to drink from his water dish the first day or so but that has since ceased. Since coming home he has been given daily soaks simply to get him used to the routine but also hydrate him. He has never drank from his bath however.
On my own I decided to remove calcium and started giving black cherry extract and feeding silkworms. The vet has no idea and now will not even return my calls. I'm reluctant to spend anymore time or money with a vet if it's all just guess work anyway. She admitted she had no idea what it could be and he is too small for bloodwork or I would have had that done. For me, data is everything. So if we could see his calcium levels, uric acid, etc we could at least make an educated guess vs. throwing meds at something. The vets last word was that she took everything to the owner 30+ years vet plus reptile owner himself and he agreed with me to remove calcium for a few days then start back without d3.
Skipped 3 days of calcium then gave 1 tiny dusting since my CA w/o d3 hadn't arrived. Now here we are 4 days later and he is swelling in all feet and legs now. Thing is the day before I gave the minute amount of Ca w/d3 he was dramatically better. More movement and holding himself up when walking, not quite himself, but better.
I sent petsmart corporate a scathing letter. I am pretty pissed that we spent x amount of dollars with them for a supposed product and result and received a reptile with what seems to be genetically predisposed to organ failure. They contacted us and refunded our money and told us consider it an adoption. Gee, thanks.
Not to be a terrible person but what to do? He still eats, not near as much, but does eat. For fruits and veggies he likes kale, grapes, carrots. Currently available feeders are crickets, dubia, bsfl, mealworms, and silkworms.
The arcadia lights are placed using a solarmeter 6.2 to offer gradients from 0-300uw. The basking spot temp is 105-107f, cool side is 85-88f warm side is 95-99f. Temps are checked with an amprobe infrared temp gun.
We feel a bit robbed. Our whole intent was to give the very best we could and that by the time he/she was 6-8 months old then our 4 yo would be able to be more hands-on. So far we are spending all our time explaining why he's not moving or why he's crawling around on his belly and how he may not be with us very long.
I realize also that some of my statements and expectations seem selfish and childish. My stance is this, we are a large, busy, active family. My wife and I both have very stressful careers. She at the usps and myself as a telecom technician. We do not have time daily to medicate a pet for life. I'm sorry to say that but I'm just being honest. Feeding, watering, cleaning, building, research... we are all over that. But being life support for some corporations failed breeding program that leaves it's customers holding the bag?..... We're out.
I'm sure I'm going to get attacked or whatever. Please refrain, I will ignore. If you have suggestions I'm all ears.
Thank you.