Very Nervous... Please Help

[diamc]

Good that you've been using the chicken & squash baby food since Friday. Do you happen to have any probiotics on hand that you could give him to help his tummy out?

Great that you got the light all set up. Poor thing, you may want to make another vet appointment. Is he stool still very runny? Does he move around at all?

 

[hiyakayt]

He sounds like the same symptoms my young baby beardie had when he had MBD,
i could be wrong if the vet said that wasnt it.
very puzzling.
but really a mercury vapor bulb is best for basking.

 

[diamc]

I do agree about the MVB's and I've been using the Arcadia ones which are great.

What size tank is he in? I just read back & found out that he is in a 20 gallon so unfortunately, that size tank isn't big enough for a MVB unless you have a lamp stand & can raise it way up and get a safe basking & cool side temp. We recommend using a MVB for a 40 gallon breeder or larger due to their high UVI reading & heat.

 

[hiyakayt]

the light may cause discomfort at night. and a heating pad under the tank would be better for warmth.

 

[diamc]

We actually don't recommend heating pads for a beardie because they sense heat from overhead so if the heat pad gets too hot, they can get burned very badly before they realize it. We have heard of that happening quite a bit actually.

 

[hiyakayt]

well i have a heating pad but its under the glass and by the touch it never gets hot. heating rocks arent good. i also have a carpet for him so its also another thing including the glass between him and the pad

 

[suikajusu]

here are some pictures I took of him 5 seconds ago





and I'll keep the light off at night for sure now

 

[diamc]

Oh poor little thing. The top of his head does look flat, probably from the diarrhea. Does he walk around at all? Did he have his head laying right on the slate tile in the one picture? The way he's holding his legs shows that he's not strong enough to support his body. Make sure he gets a lot of sleep at night, also might be a good idea to cut the light hours back to 10 or even 9 to make sure he gets lots of rest.

and I'll keep the light off at night for sure now

You mean you'll make sure to turn the basking light off now?

Is there another herp vet in your area where you could take him for a 2nd opinion?

 

[hiyakayt]

I hope the experts see these pictures or can upload there own of there enclosures, I can't do anymore with just recommending the MVB bulb and the long UVA looks okay in this picture...Maybe get a branch so he can get closer to the bulbs?
The only thing that concerns me when looking at the little guy you have here is how far apart his arms are from his body almost out like a V and his arms look a lil swollen.
I think he might have MBD but that is just my assumption from what happened to my first poor beardie,
i didn't know better and then it happened so quickly. his body looked like yours with his arms

 

[suikajusu]

yes, I'll turn off the basking light. he just had a poop that was half solid, but it was the same exact color and basically the same consistency as when I fed the babyfood to him. is that a step forwards or backwards?

 

[hiyakayt]

you can keep the colored heat lamp on for now if maybe "diamc" recommends that as a better solution as of right now until you maybe find something else that you prefer. like i have the pad on- but and if you use that put it under the glass and use a carpet so it doesn't burn him. i make sure that its always warm never hot! but i suggest getting a calcium syrup from a vet and the right UVA/UVB bulb. I hope this helps. best of luck. makes me so sad to see a lil one like that.

 

[diamc]

Is the daylight basking bulb a red or white bulb? Are you using 2 strip lights in the tank or is the picture confusing me?

Yes, it's a good sign that his poop was half solid. Typical that it would be the same color as the baby food. I think I would increase the amount of chicken & cut back on the sweet potato as he needs the protein from the meat to help him get stronger.

 

[jacody]

You're great, diamc... keep encouraging her, hard when you have a sick pet, we've all been there..

 

[diamc]

You're great, diamc... keep encouraging her, hard when you have a sick pet, we've all been there..

Thanks, yes, we sure have been there ourselves. Too many times for me with too many pet store rescues so there isn't much I haven't experienced in the 12 yrs I've had reptiles.

 

[jacody]

Oh I know, I've leaned on you myself the past couple years during bumpy times.. good night... 8)