Urgent help needed.

[Hutton2000]

I hope someone can help. I bought a baby bearded dragon from my pet shop 4 weeks ago. He was 12 weeks when I got him and very alert and would run like mad when trying to be handled normal baby behaviour. Last week he started to be a lot more lethargic and sleeping mostly all day. Over the last 2 days he's stopped eating and spent all day under is basking light and at night he would move from his basking spot on his rock to under neath it. Yesterday I went to the pet shop to voice my concerns and they recommended Arcadia dragon fuel to help him to eat again and some superload to give to the insects none of this had any effect when used. Today he didn't move from under his rock when all his lights and heat came on so another trip to the pet shop as I'm getting rather concerned. This time the advised it may be impaction and advised me to buy reptoboost and soak him in that to help hydrate him. As I'm typing this I think he has passed away. His whole set up is spot on His basking spot is a constant 104 degrees Fahrenheit and is thermostat controlled and the rest of the viv is 80 degrees again heated by a ceramic bulb and is on a thermostat. his uv bulb is only 2 months old and wash checked when I bought him as they needed proof it was kicking out the correct uv. When he was in the pet shop they was using desert sand as bedding so I carried on using it. He ate crickets and locusts but didn't bother with the salad all the food he was offered had calcium powder with d2. I'm lost at what to do as iv only had him 4 weeks how am I covered for him dying after only for weeks.

 

[Rattyraven666]

Dessert sand should NEVER be used as a substrate no matter what. It can and will cause impaction. Also I would say that he needs to eat salad. What it could be is internal parasites which they can sometimes get from crickets or from other animals at the pet store if he is still alive I would suggest taking him to a reptile vet asap as his life depends on it. The second you saw something wrong you should have consulted a vet or someone qualified to help you. I am by no means an expert but this is just what I suggest.

 

[EllenD]

Is he still alive? If so I see many things wrong here, and no, a baby Beardie will not eat much if any salad, they usually don't until they are close to a year old, if you have a baby Beardie that eats salad it's a bonus, and that has nothing at all to do with his issues.

When was his last bowel movement? That sand needs removed immediately, no loose substrates for babies at all, only paper towels, Reptile carpet, ceramic tile, non-adhesive shelf liner, etc. He may be severely impacted, which will absolutely cause impactions, which quickly cause no appetite, lethargy, etc. We can help you try to get him to poop, I'd start immediately with a good long soak in warm water, try to get him to swim around a little in the warm water, exercise promotes bowel movements. Also, gently massage his belly on his right side, start under his right armpit and work in circles, gently massaging the whole way down his right side to his vent. Let him in a pretty warm bath for 20 minutes or so and see if he poops.

What UVB bulb/tube do you have (brand/model/wattage) and what is its distance from his basking spot?

While 104 for a basking spot temperature is good for a baby (they usually like it hotter than adults) he may not like it that hot, that could be why he's hiding, but I doubt it, my guess is an inappropriate UVB bulb or impaction from the sand. ...80 degrees is too cold for the hot side of his tank/enclosure, you need a temperature gradient of 95-98 on the hot side, 75-80 on the cool side, and usually babies like a basking spot temperature between 105-110, no hotter...What are you using to measure his temps?

At this point he needs a certified Herp vet immediately if he's still alive, photos would be helpful, of both him and his setup.