What is happening?!

[DragonFire12000]

Um, my beardie is a male named Jake and he is about a foot to 14 inches long. He has been very lethargic lately and he has been loosing a lot of weight and isn't eating very much. He is about 9 months old. He runs into walls a lot and when he is on my arm he likes to try and run off, like he doesn't see that its the end of my arm (luckily I have caught him every time he has tried.) He eats maybe 10-12 large crickets a day, refuses to eat his greens, but LOVES baby food and wax worms. He'll eat about 12-15 wax worms in a sitting and will eat a lot of baby food. I have lost a beardie before, and don't want to go back. He DOES have a UVB light, but my other didn't. He is showing the same signs now, besides the running into random things and running off my arm. My old beardie, Mushu, had bone disease, and lack of a UVB source and calcium deficiency. Mushu lost a lot of weight, started closing his eyes more, and was very lethargic. He poops regularly (it smells HORRIBLE!) and sheds a lot more than Mushu ever did. Since I've had him (three months) he has shed 3 times, but Mushu only shed once in the 4 months I had him. Right now he's cuddled up next to my pudding container right next to me (he had run into that too and decided that he was comfy enough to take a nap)

Please guys, I need help. I don't know whats happening!

 

[GoFast]

How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
How long is your dragon?
What is the sex of your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you bath your dragon? How often?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done?

 

[DragonFire12000]

How old is your dragon? About 9 months
How long have you had your dragon? 2-3 months
How long is your dragon? 12-14 inches
What is the sex of your dragon? Male
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 75 gallon tank
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? slate tiles
Do you use UVB lights? yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? fluorescent tube
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? its a "Zilla" I've never heard of it before, but its all they carried
How old is your UVB bulb? only a week... just got a new one Saturday.
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 6 inches away
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Yes, its a 50 watt
What are the basking temps? 85- 95
What is the cool side temp? 60 - 70
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? wire and probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? The point in his cage where he ussually hangs out on his rock (where its the hottest)
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? Normal rock
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Large crickets, wax worms. When I have his greens (when he refuses to eat) I put mustard greens, Kale, and grapes.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? ussually afternoon and night. He will eat crickets and wax worms in afternoon and will also eat wax worms at night but refuses to eat crickets
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Yes I feed the crickets
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? I use calcium and vitamins it comes all in one. Its the T-Rex brand
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? Almost everyday... still
Do you bath your dragon? How often? yes, every other day
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? no...
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? no
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? no i haven't... just moved into new house and my dad is really short on money so im not able to... but I'm trying to convince him...

=

 

[protiemama]

Sorry about Mushu.
The first obvious thing I see is the temps are way low. What kind of thermometer do you use? Temps should be 100-110 and around 80 on the cool side. Try a 75 watt bulb that may be enough.
Try feeding Phoenis worms instead of wax worms. More calcium, less fat. Order on-line it's cheaper. You can also try silk worms and horn worms. Have you tryed feeding him celantro? It looks a bit like parsley. Most dragons love it. Also try squash and fruit. It moght help.
With the poop smelling, you need to have that checked. You can bring a sample to a reg. vet and have it checked for parasites. It is cheeper than a visit.
Last, it prob won't help the health issues, but give him a bath daily or close to it. That will help to hydrate him and it will make him feel better at least.
I'm prob missing something, but at least that's a start. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Sandy H

 

[DragonFire12000]

Sorry about Mushu.
The first obvious thing I see is the temps are way low. What kind of thermometer do you use? Temps should be 100-110 and around 80 on the cool side. Try a 75 watt bulb that may be enough.
Try feeding Phoenis worms instead of wax worms. More calcium, less fat. Order on-line it's cheaper. You can also try silk worms and horn worms. Have you tryed feeding him celantro? It looks a bit like parsley. Most dragons love it. Also try squash and fruit. It moght help.
With the poop smelling, you need to have that checked. You can bring a sample to a reg. vet and have it checked for parasites. It is cheeper than a visit.
Last, it prob won't help the health issues, but give him a bath daily or close to it. That will help to hydrate him and it will make him feel better at least.
I'm prob missing something, but at least that's a start. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Sandy H

I'll get a 75 watt bulb tomorow... will a regular house hold bulb do? Can you give me a site where I can order the live feeders online?

 

[Seven65]

There's also a good chance that the uvb bulb you have isn't what's needed. See if you can return it and find yourself a ReptiSUN 10.0 floursecent tube.

 

[whopper]

im pretty sure its lack of UVB. try to get a ReptiSUN 10.0 floursecent tube or a MVB, the MVB will provide plenty UVB and will also replace the basking bulb. brands recommended are the #1Mega Ray #2Trex.

 

[DragonFire12000]

im pretty sure its lack of UVB. try to get a ReptiSUN 10.0 floursecent tube or a MVB, the MVB will provide plenty UVB and will also replace the basking bulb. brands recommended are the #1Mega Ray #2Trex.

I was recommended the zilla by a really really knowledgeable worker. They said it was the newest and best one. It was also very expensive. He didn't say a thing wrong. Everything he said I agreed with because I learned it from you guys... and I think the box might have said reptiSUN 10.0... but I can't be sure... my dad threw the box away :/

 

[protiemama]

Look on the end of the tube to find the name. Also you can get your next Repti SUN online at petsmountain.com for less than half the pet store price.

Yes, you can use a regular household bulb for heat. As for feeders it depends on where you live. I use Ghanns in Ga. There are great online stores across the country. But if you live in NY and buy from Ca. the shipping will get ya. Post your state and we'll help you find the closest good shipper.

Sandy h

 

[DragonFire12000]

Look on the end of the tube to find the name. Also you can get your next Repti SUN online at petsmountain.com for less than half the pet store price.

Yes, you can use a regular household bulb for heat. As for feeders it depends on where you live. I use Ghanns in Ga. There are great online stores across the country. But if you live in NY and buy from Ca. the shipping will get ya. Post your state and we'll help you find the closest good shipper.

Sandy h

I live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

I also learned from a video from youtube that you can have a calcium dish in their tank... so ever since I have put the calcium dish in there he has been licking at it (he is very curious since its new) and I gave him a nice warm bath and learned they could get eye boogies so for precautions I looked at his eyes, got them damp with a wet was cloth and then wiped them with the wash cloth. He opened his eyes for about 2 minutes then closed them... He seemed very adventurous after he opened his eyes as if he could see more... could he have had eye boogies the were some0what blocking his eyes sight? That would explain the random running into walls and the running off my arm and the closing his eye thing... but then when I put him in his cage again he looked like he didn't know where he was going, he was bumping into walls, he fell of his rock... Can beardies go blind??? I put him down for a nap... so thats what he's doing right now... If beardies could go blind, then I think its highly possible...

 

[protiemama]

OK- you are going to have to give us some info on that bulb. Take it out and see what kind it is. Even if it is a repti SUN it could be a compact. That could be what is hurting his eyes. We can't help further till we know exactly what kind of bulb you are using. Sorry, but it is that important.

Sandy H

 

[DragonFire12000]

OK- you are going to have to give us some info on that bulb. Take it out and see what kind it is. Even if it is a repti SUN it could be a compact. That could be what is hurting his eyes. We can't help further till we know exactly what kind of bulb you are using. Sorry, but it is that important.

Sandy H

The bulb says,
"R-Zilla tm
12 watt - T5 - MP
Desert 50
Reptiles only
Provides uv-a and uv-b"

 

[protiemama]

I'm going to contact Tracie for you. She is our lighting expert. I have never heard of that one. Tracie will get with you as soon as she can.

Sandy H

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry to say, that UVB light is hazardous to your dragon's health & is most likely causing alot of problems right now. This light emits hazardous or low wavelength UVB which is harmful to your dragon's eyes & health. This low wavelength is close to UVC & it is not a favorable wavelength for D3 synthesis, either.
Here is a report talking about that particular light:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm

So, please turn that light off immediately, & just leave a household light bulb on for the basking light right now & let his eyes rest.
You will need to begin hydrating him with water & pedialyte to help him out for a few days.

Tracie

 

[DragonFire12000]

Hello,

Sorry to say, that UVB light is hazardous to your dragon's health & is most likely causing alot of problems right now. This light emits hazardous or low wavelength UVB which is harmful to your dragon's eyes & health. This low wavelength is close to UVC & it is not a favorable wavelength for D3 synthesis, either.
Here is a report talking about that particular light:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm

So, please turn that light off immediately, & just leave a household light bulb on for the basking light right now & let his eyes rest.
You will need to begin hydrating him with water & pedialyte to help him out for a few days.

Tracie

I'm sorry to ask, but what is pedialyte? I am new, remember that, please... I turned the light off and will soon get another UVB light! A reptiSUN 10.0!!