Sick baby, tried Repti-Aid by Fluker's

[Lisa79]

:study: I have three bearded dragons. I have noticed over the past two days, my baby has become more and more, well not himself. I have my lighting right, temps, I've been doing this a while. I have suspected dehydration so I've soaked him and today I forced his little mouth open (gently) and got in almost a whole cc. The only thing I have been doing differently than with my other dragons, when I feed the baby dusted crickets, I clear out his tank so he can divebomb as usual and the crickets cant hide in the wood and what not. I left his things out overnight and he slept in his empty tank. Sad huh? I feel like a complete jerk. The next morning I put evrything back and moved things a bit but he has not jazzed up at all and only has been getting worse. I guess what I'm asking is such a senseless thing as in changing a decoration, make him wither away? Also after treating him I moved his tank from my sons room into mine. He likes to show off his reptile friends to kids that come over. I'm trying to eliminate stress but at the same time, there I go again, switching up his environment. Am I doing the right thing? I guess time will tell, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. This just seems to be sudden onset and agressively getting worse. Im OCD'ing over this I'm sure, but that's what we do when someone we love is sick. I'm sick over it. -L

 

[diamc]

Making even the smallest change can make a difference causing them to stress over it. But, just to be sure that's all that it is, could you fill us in on your setup? What brand & type of UVB are you using? What is the distance to the UVB? What type of thermometer and what are the temps? What substrate is on the bottom of his viv? Has he had a poop lately? Was it runny and/or quite smelly? Getting a fecal check done would be a good idea just in case. How old is he? How often are you dusting with calcium and vitamins? Is he in view of any of the other beardies? What do you feed besides crickets?

 

[Lisa79]

20 gallon tank with metal lid, small Zoo Med under tank heater he sleeps there at night. A aquarium type reptile UVA/UVB 10% UVA nd 5% UVB.... and a smaller 7% UVB compact. I love to bring out the beautiful colors in my beardies. I have a clamp heat lamp I use as well for basking. Only 50 watts. Half of the tank stays between 90 to 99 degrees while the other half is 80. With lights off gets down to 68-70, but again he sleeps near his pad. He has a driftwood log a rock to bask on and a fake rock he can cruise over or hide in. Oh and two fake flowers and some leaves and a typical background. He still hasn't figured out he can't climb it :?
About food... I always offer veggies, he only really shows interest in Bok Choy or kale so I bought some beardie bites but just forced him to try a small mushy piece today then soaked him. He seemed wiped out from the "day at the spa" so I started to worry obsessively and went to the local pet store and bougt the Flukers Aid. Good thing is he didn't seem too mad about the beardie bites or the Flukers. I moved him in my room and yes there are two other dragons in there, but they are set up along one wall and cannot see eachother. When I got my female, eventhough she is way smaller than my male he bobbed his head all day nose bumped the glass and she would waved away right , then left , like "wax on, wax off" (Karate Kid) As cute as that show was I love my dragons and my male is so handsome I dont want him messing up his little snout
They do interact under very watchful hands and eyes, and they lick eachother then she zips around and he just watches. Maybe someday they will mate.... a year or so. Now the baby is never around the other two like this, for one, hes too new and if he had an illness, I wouldn't want it to spread and I am very aware of nipping and injuries. I am happy to say not a nick on any of my lizards. My 6 yr old leopard gecko has her original tail and is book cover model material, so are my beardies. My poor baby though..... went from zippy, healthy high strung baby to lethargy in a matter of 2 days.

 

[Lisa79]

Oh...SUBSTRATE... Zoo Med calci sand. No problem with feces yet, so I know it is not impaction. I have had him for a month and a half almost.

 

[Buggsy]

Ok it sounds as if you are going abit overboard with the UVB also. Too much can be just as dangerous as too little, one UVB bulb (the reptiSUNs and Arcadia if in the UK are the only recommended strips, other brands seem to be unreliable with the out put and many of us will tell you our bad experiences with them)

For the same reason, compacts are dangerous, this should be switched off immdiatly.

How big is he, or how old is he? A 20Gal tank is only good for small babies, and a 40gal breeder is the minimum for an adult, but the bigger the better in this case. I think this may be the reason for your temps. The basking spot should be 105-110 for babies and 100-105 for adults, and 75-80 on the cool side. At the min your baby cannot thermoregulate properly, and may well be very dehydrated as you susspect.

Again, undretank heating can be dangerous, they sense heat through a third eye on the top of thei heads, and so cannot move if they are getting too hot if the heat source is below them. Lots 0f beardies have got thermal burns from these heaters shorting out, and they just sit there and burn.

You say you have calci sand, but havent seen any probs. Please please please remove it. If you really want sand, please use washed kids play sand. Calci sand is not digestable dispite what the company says. It solidifyes in the gut, and may take months to get bad enough to fully impact them. You have only had him 1.5 months, but it dosnt mean the risk is not there. It also needs to be replace every week as it is like a litter box.

Sorry if this seems like a long list, but i wanted to make sure i got through everything. At the min it may be just relocation stress, but it may well be the start of another, more serious matter.

 

[Lisa79]

Thank you for your input, truly. I'm very sad, sitting next to him right now trying to keep him alive. No good herp vets and no vets on Labor Day. I believe I can pull this off. I'm a nurse for Pete's sake. I am in need of some fast advice. If anyone can help yes... I'm posting my tele (916)923-9231. My name is Lisa. Please Help :!:

 

[Jiffy]

Sorry that the baby is not doing well. I can't offer any help, but can at least bump this up so hopefully others will see it and someone can help.

 

[beardie parents]

I know it's late in the day, but, I suggest that you take him out in the sun. That will help. Also, turn off the coil uvb. It seems that you have a coil uvb and that does more harm than no uvb.

 

[beardie parents]

I just noticed the undertank heating pad. He could be dehydrated. Put him in some warm (NOT hot) water. This is a quick way to get him/her some water, also, you can try to get some water into him via mouth.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Everyone has provided great advice. How is your baby doing?
Did you turn off the coil/compact light?
What are you measuring the temps with, a stick on type of thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun? The overhead heating combined with underbelly heating will overheat him, in general & dehydrate him.
Please do remove the calcisand, just to be sure he is not impacted. Just use paper towels for now.
How do his eyes look? Are they sunken in or are they bright? Is his beard darkened at all? Is he very lethargic or is he responsive somewhat?
You can IM me on my windows MSN which is on my profile to the side. Just add me on your list, & I am on tonight, if you would like.

Tracie

 

[Lisa79]

Touch and go all day. Have not taken my eyes off of him. He has been soaking in Pedialyte and water solution with a light over him. He's still breathing! All day! So as upset and nervous as I am, I have a little glimmer of hope for him. A breeder was actually kind enough, on a holiday to talk to me on the phone, look at some pics, and would have even let me drive to her house to show her. I'm appreciative of eveyone's advice. I do not own a coil heater. I have a digital probe thermometer on the bottom of the tank and a regular ambient air therm. in mid of the tank. I removed sand, layed down a sand colored pillow case I can do without and am getting ready to attempt to feed him a little something and move him into his tank to wish for a good night and a good tomorrow morning. I did lay out in the sun with him today during one of his Pedialite soaks and just kept my eyes on him. He seems wiped out, but like I said, glimmer of hope here. If he makes it through tonight I will go to a vet, of course but for know I have to use my knowledge as a healthcare professional and advice from other beardie owners and just hope. I am definitely going to buy a infrared point and shoot thermometer just as soon as I can. A friend of mine had one, it seemed to be right on, wherever you pointed it. I called him today, although he gave it to his son, he told me to look online. They are almost impossible to find at Petsmart and co. So any insight as to where exactly I can get this gadget, please, let me know. Thank you again for your concern. I'll let you know how tonight goes...... :shock: Lisa

 

[simboney7]

Please let us know how your baby is doing. I just saw your post and I will be praying for you.

 

[Lisa79]

Baby Buzz is doing better. He lived through the night, I got my setup straight while hes basically in Baby ICU. I won't leave my house more than 5 minutes. He ate a little bit of chicken baby food and ive been talking a lot to another member on messenger and got some advice from a breeder. If he is doing better later, I'm going to take him down to Petsmart just to weigh him, and got a contact number to a good vet just 20 miles from here. Herp vets are not easy to find, huh? Thank You for your concern. Thank you for the prayer and concern. I'll update soon. -Lisa

 

[Drache613]

Hello Lisa,

I am happy to hear that Buzz made it through the night!
So you got some clear pedialyte then for him, that is great. Try to work on the oral fluids with him as well just for an overall hydration combination between bathing & oral hydration.
Please keep us posted on him.

Tracie

 

[diamc]

Lisa, that's good that he ate a little baby food for you. That's great that you have a herp vet so close to you. Please update us again when you can. We're all pulling for him.