TOOTHLESS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING!!!!!

[BabyToothless]

SUNDAY MORNING 10:44AM
We may just be getting really lucky with our little guy! After another totally sleepless night, we worked on eating this morning. I finally had some success at giving him the baby food. At the next warm bath time, Toothless pooped a ton. I believe the impaction problem cause by feeding him mealworms is now resolved. Between that and the new lighting set up he has improved 100% in the last hour. I will continue to monitor him very carefully and I am still waiting on my mobile vet...but I do see really positive behavior in him. He actually ran to the glass to see his reflection! I almost cried.
I have gone from being completely stupid to knowing much about him in the last few days due in no small part to the folks on this site. Thank you so much.
You, as a collective group, know more then any pet store, and did it to be kind, not to collect the almighty buck off a sale. I commend you.
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My beardie is a baby and fairly new to our home. He is laying in an almost stiff position most if the time and keeps opening his mouth.
He did this same behavior last week and just about the time I started to panic, he was fine again.
Every once in awhile for 5 min maybe he seems normal but then retros back to this behavior.
I have no idea where to even start. I am concerned that his tank is too cold. Its at about 75. I currently have a heating pad under it on low.
What can I do????

Since the addition of the heating pad under his tank, he is starting to move around again some. Can I assume this is a heat issue and what can I do for a permanate fix
Friday Morning:
Well if I didnt feel bad enough, Im now feeling like Im torturing this poor thing. It would be nice if you got the correct info when buying these guys.
Okay, I have a basking light, dont know wattage, they just gave me the one I supposedly needed. Ten gallon tank, no sand. Have the green turf stuff. Have a thermometer but it didnt help me because I was told his tank should be around 70, now of course I know thats really wrong.
Was giving him gut fed crickets(small) and mealworms(already know to stop mealworms) He is not eating or pooping and his stomach seems really fat today. He does have calcium dust. Think I now have a new issue. This is all new since last evening
Kept heating pad on low under tank all night... got up periodically to give him warm baths.
Im heading out to a lizard only store to try and ascertain what I should really have for poor Toothless. If he dies I will feel awful.

This is heart wrenching, please help
Edit postReport this postReply with quote Update on Toothless- still dire- NEW INFO Sat
by BabyToothless » Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:45 pm

Friday 4:41 PM

okay after a load of cash poor Toothless now has the proper hood with a uvb light on one side and 50w basking on the other. He will not eat or drink and is just laying there. I have managed to get the tank to 95 in the last two hours. Now what?
How long can he live without food and water? Should I be giving him water with a syringe or eyedropper? I think Im losing him, please help me
Im sure Im running out of time

Thanks

Saturday...
As you can see he now has the proper lighting on both sides. His tank is at 100 degress on the one side. I have a thermometer in there with him.
He has artificial reptile carpet, a wide large log for basking with hiding at the bottom, should he desire, and a large water dish that he can lay in if he desires.
The UVB is Reptisun 10.0 UVB desert and the basking is Exoterra 50w
I am still having no luck with him eating. I have tried a raspberry which he normally loves, I have tried a couple very small crickets, no interest, I have tried moist baby beardie food, also no interest. He is no longer opening his mouth, Im thinking I need to try and force feed him baby food squash
The only positive thing I have seen is that he moved from the hot side to the cold side of his tank. Tank is ten gallons but he is only about 3 1/2 inches long
I have given him warm baths every 6 hours or so.
nothing seems to be working.....

Saturday 4:44PM
I am finally seeing small changes in poor Toothless... He still does not want food but I did manage to get him to take a very small amount of Squash baby food off my finger. And he is finally tired of laying in one place, he moved. Im taking both of these as very positive and hoping we are finally making progress.

 

[jtran1020]

You need uvb and basking bulb bro

 

[BabyToothless]

I have a basking light, however live in very cold climate....maybe not enough?

 

[2lizards]

That's way too cold. Do you have a uv bulb? Give us a run down of you set up. Are you using a thermometer?

 

[GlueStick]

We are going to need a better insight on the husbandry that you provide:

What size tank is Toothless in?
What are the temperatures within the tank? What is the temp of his basking site? What is the temp of his cool side?
What are you using to measure the temperature within the tank? Stick on thermometers or digital thermometers?
What are you using as a substrate?
What type of UVB do you provide, if any at all? Is it a compact coil or linear fluorescent? What is the brandname? How far away from the UVB is he?
and, what are you feeding Toothless?

If all that you have is a heating pad in the tank then, that is not enough. It is also important to note that bearded dragons have what is called a "third eye" on the top of their heads, which is a heat sensory organ. This means that they can sense heat from above, not below, and whether or not you have the heating pad on high or low, have the potential to burn themselves. If you choose to keep it on low, use this for the cool side at night (if your temps decline past 65F). 75F is WAY too cold for a bearded dragon. You must have a 105-110F basking temp for a juvenile (98-105F for an adult), and a cool side of 80-86F during the day.

This sounds as if this may be a simple heating/lighting fix, and/or UVB/calcium issue. Please remember that reptiles are ectothermic animals, which means that they depend on their environment by means of regulating and maintaining their body temperature and metabolism. We as humans, mammals, are an endothermic animal - the complete opposite in most respects. Our energy is dependent on the heat generated from our much faster metabolism and therefore do not depend entirely on thermoregulatory behaviors like ectothermic species, such as reptiles, birds, and fish do.

-Glue

 

[CrymsonStarite]

GlueStick, don't you mean Toothless?

Just to point out the error.

And it's WAYY too cold. One time the light burnt out during winter in my tank, and he got very sluggish. First thing to handle is heat.

 

[GlueStick]

GlueStick, don't you mean Toothless?

Just to point out the error.

And it's WAYY too cold. One time the light burnt out during winter in my tank, and he got very sluggish. First thing to handle is heat.

Ha, yes, Toothless. That's embarrassing. Thanks for pointing that out =P
I just corrected that. Don't take it personally - just helped someone with a dragon named Ozzy and copy and pasted that portion over =)

And yes, the heat, like I've mentioned. Prolonged cool temperatures can also invite unwelcomed upper respiratory infections, so heat is definitely the primary problem here.

 

[GlueStick]

Friday Morning:
Well if I didnt feel bad enough, Im now feeling like Im torturing this poor thing. It would be nice if you got the correct info when buying these guys.
Okay, I have a basking light, dont know wattage, they just gave me the one I supposedly needed. Ten gallon tank, no sand. Have the green turf stuff. Have a thermometer but it didnt help me because I was told his tank should be around 70, now of course I know thats really wrong.
Was giving him gut fed crickets(small) and mealworms(already know to stop mealworms) He is not eating or pooping and his stomach seems really fat today. He does have calcium dust. Think I now have a new issue. This is all new since last evening
Kept heating pad on low under tank all night... got up periodically to give him warm baths.
Im heading out to a lizard only store to try and ascertain what I should really have for poor Toothless. If he dies I will feel awful.

Sometimes pet stores can be manipulative or just uninformative, so it is important that you educate yourself. Being that you have a 10 gallon tank, it is very important that you KNOW what wattage the bulb is (it is written on the bulb) and continue to use the thermometer. What are the temperatures now?? for both the hot side and the cool side?

And you did not mention if you have a UVB light. The relationship between his behavior and the environment you provide can play a HUGE role in the symptoms he provides. Without the appropriate heat or presence of a UVB can be causing the issue.

You mention that you now have a new issue? What are you referring to?

-Glue

 

[BabyToothless]

Glue I posted all new info on an updated thread....

BabyT

 

[GlueStick]

Why would you...?
What is the link?

 

[Gail]

Here is a very good care sheet, good luck with your little guy.
http://beardeddragoncaresheet.weebly.com/index.html

 

[MissT]

Ok, first off what kind of thermometer are you using? You need a digital with probe to get accurate readings and make sure thetemps are spot on- if you are using a stick on therm the temps could be anything from 50-90F!!!!
Next, I see you didn't mention a uv. You will need one asap... You can get them from www.petmountain.com and buy a fixture at a hardware store.

Hope toothless feels better soon

 

[amazon]

You obviously love this guy a great deal -
I hope so much you can get things sorted.
My love and prayers are with you and Toothless.
x x x x x x x x x

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The Reptisun 10 bulb that you have is it a tube bulb or a compact/coil light for him? How close is it to him? Do you have the basking light directly beside the UVB light at one end of the tank for him?
How is he doing today?
I am sorry you were misled in the care of your baby...this is a frequent thing at the pet stores.


Tracie

 

[BabyToothless]

Hi Tracie...
Thanks so very much to you and everyone for their advice. It was much needed and appreciated! The UVB bulb is in a hood at one side, its not really a tube. Its several tubes twisted, if that makes sense. The basking is in a direct spot light holder to give him as much heat as possible. Both bulbs are about 6 to 8 inches above where he keeps laying. But tonight I changed the basking light to a 75watt as Im having a hard time getting his hot side above 90...
I have made tiny progress with him. This afternoon I got him to eat a very small amount of baby food off my finger and he's less inclined to allow me to pick him up now. This I consider a good sign with him. He never was big on being held. And I guess he's really closer to 6 inches, I wasnt including his tail.
I have a call into my mobile vet to see if she can come see him. I live in the middle of nowhere, literally, and take care of my mother who has cancer. I dont get out much!
I feel like a fool for not researching my little guy better so he was not going through all of this suffering at my hands. Ill keep posting updates.
One last question, I read that as long as my house stays above 60 at night I should turn off his lights for sleeping. Is that true? And just the basking? Just the UVB? Both? It doesnt say and I fear I'll cause him yet more harm.
Thank you again for all of the well wishes and advice!

Carol