When is my beardie gonna die ? :(

[sparkscarz]

Hi. i am a newbie here sorry. i got my beardie about 5 years ago. the original owner said he was about 5 when i got him. he hasn't gotten any bigger since the day i got him. i think hes around 10 ish now. he has is weak days and his hyper active days. he hasn't shed-ed in over 2 years. he doesn't poop everyday but he gets it done at least 3-4 times a week. he is on a well balanced diet. but its not always strict timing because im a college student, i come home at odd hours but he looks as healthy as he acts.im sad to say his environment does change alot. i move him to my moms house every 4 months where she takes care of him for roughly 3 weeks then its back to my house. i dont know if that matters because he takes it pretty well and is somewhat used to it.also during the 4 months hes at my house im gone every weekend so he mostly sleeps for 2 days with no food. i dont know if that affects him. its every weekend so i think hes used to it. he will just be extremely happy to see me on Monday morning and he does get lots of attention during the week days by my gf. im just curious when his time will come? and how will i know if its close? will there be signs or will it just happen?

a couple pics of him

in case embedding doesn't works go here http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkscarz/6586109611/in/photostream/

thanks! :mrgreen:

 

[dragonlover3]

I've heard beardies can live 10 to 12 years if properly taken care of. Is your beardie sick or acting strange? Does he have a chronic or acute problem? What makes you ask that question? Oh by the way, he's beautiful!
Amanda

 

[sparkscarz]

I've heard beardies can live 10 to 12 years if properly taken care of. Is your beardie sick or acting strange? Does he have a chronic or acute problem? What makes you ask that question? Oh by the way, he's beautiful!
Amanda

hey thanks for replying Amanda . and yes i know hes one handsome catch i dont think he is sick or acting strange. hes always been chill. but in the past year hes gotten a lot more lazy,im guessing its from old age? i dont know what a chronic or acute problem is :| and i was just wondering because of his age

 

[dragonlover3]

Oh, I got ya.....Acute illnesses are usually isolated to one bodily area and usually respond to treatment,...... a broken bone, any infection like Pneumonia or Bronchitis or a wound infection are a few. In contrast, Chronic illnesses frequently involve multiple systems and have an uncertain future and often get slowly, progressively worse over a long period of time.....Kidney or Liver disease, Heart problems, Diabetes, and some Fungi are a few. Sorry about that, I'm a nurse and forget my everyday lingo isn't familiar to all. Was just wondering if he was sick, how bad and for how long. He's a senior Beardie and I'm glad he seems to be doing fine other than slowing down and being "lazy". I would expect that from an older Beardie. He's obviously been well taken care of as he looks amazing at 10, I did notice the dark raised spot under his "chin" and the other larger spot on his lower beard area. Wondering how long it's been there and if it's spreading. Very hard to tell from a B&W photo but it could be a fungus or infection if it's spreading. I'm sure you know there is treatment for it. I hope it's nothing..... And he's such a gorgeous guy too!
Amanda

 

[makaveli]

Kinda hard to answer your question, all anybody could do is speculate, but he looks very healthy for a 10 year old BD!!

 

[CaptainVimes]

EDITED TO TRY AND TAKE THE NASTINESS OUT. (Geesh this is going to be hard)

I wouldn't be happy with the fact he is completely left alone ALL WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKEND, To be honest!

That's a hell of a long time for him to go without food, water, cleaning up poop, or attention.

However, that is just my opinion, which is coming from someone who worried absolutely sick about leaving their dragon alone for 8 hours :lol:

As I said, remove my post if you deem it necessary.

 

[sparkscarz]

I wouldn't be happy with the fact he is completely left alone ALL WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKEND, To be honest!

That's a hell of a long time for him to go without food, water, cleaning up poop, or attention!

Why is he alone EVERY WEEKEND? You wouldn't do that to a dog, why should any other pet tolerate it?

I'm sorry, I just can't believe no-one else has said anything about it! He could get seriously ill in 24 hours, never mind 48, and suffer an agonising death.

Imho if you cannot be with him EVERY WEEKEND, I would consider rehoming him to someone who can. I wouldn't be alarmed if it was an occasional thing, but you say it is EVERY WEEKEND, FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND!

Mods, delete my post if necessary, but I can't see why on earth not one other person has seen a problem in him being left alone for 48 hours MINIMUM, EVERY WEEK!?!?!

However, that is just my opinion, which is coming from someone who worried absolutely sick about leaving their dragon alone for 8 hours lol

As I said, remove my post if you deem it necessary.

OKAY! dude thanks for telling me im a bad beardie owner!. i know this! but i cant help it i hate the fact i have to leave him but i have no choice. but your over exaggerating like come on hes a lizard not a dumb dog that constantly needs love and attention. hes a cold blooded reptile! he don't want all that attention, that's how hes been raised. my beardie is very independent. i think hes very smart and does not need me to survive,he knows where to poop and where to eat and drink. your acting like beardies are stupid,he wasn't born yesterday, he knows how to take care of him self and certainly doesn't need to me baby him. i like to keep him in a "wild life" state of mind that's why i build a 8 foot by 5 foot custom cage for him, it simulates the WILD. i have real trees and plants for fresh air with caves, tunnels,basking spots, climbing areas, pooping spots and running fountain beside the feeding area, where i have a timed homemade cricket dispenser where he literally "hunts" his own food because they hop around every where, and yes he does find them all because hes a BEAST!.Also i have invented a genius lighting system that moves from one end of the cage to other slowly. i think all this makes him feel more like a "bearded dragon" and not as "pet",it taps into his natural instincts. HATE on my parenting all you want but i think this is how all captive beardies should be raised,this way their not SPOILED BRATS like most beardies! my beardie has been living this way for 6 years and hes never been seriously ill and he looks happier and healthier then ever! :mrgreen:

 

[sparkscarz]

Oh, I got ya.....Acute illnesses are usually isolated to one bodily area and usually respond to treatment,...... a broken bone, any infection like Pneumonia or Bronchitis or a wound infection are a few. In contrast, Chronic illnesses frequently involve multiple systems and have an uncertain future and often get slowly, progressively worse over a long period of time.....Kidney or Liver disease, Heart problems, Diabetes, and some Fungi are a few. Sorry about that, I'm a nurse and forget my everyday lingo isn't familiar to all. Was just wondering if he was sick, how bad and for how long. He's a senior Beardie and I'm glad he seems to be doing fine other than slowing down and being "lazy". I would expect that from an older Beardie. He's obviously been well taken care of as he looks amazing at 10, I did notice the dark raised spot under his "chin" and the other larger spot on his lower beard area. Wondering how long it's been there and if it's spreading. Very hard to tell from a B&W photo but it could be a fungus or infection if it's spreading. I'm sure you know there is treatment for it. I hope it's nothing..... And he's such a gorgeous guy too!
Amanda

yes i do take note of all his spots and to my knowledge almost all the spots on him have been there since the day i got him, he used to fight with cage-mate alot soo there some scars from that. but they haven't grown or spread since he came to my care. but he did develop a eye infection on his right eye where he couldnt open it for a while.my vet said to give him eye drops every morning,i did therefore it has been cured other then that hes seems to have no other problems. other then the fact that he is slowing his pace down a bit. but when it come to hunting he still have the stamina and strength as a 5 year old :mrgreen:

 

[hokie28]

I wouldn't be happy with the fact he is completely left alone ALL WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKEND, To be honest!

That's a hell of a long time for him to go without food, water, cleaning up poop, or attention!

Why is he alone EVERY WEEKEND? You wouldn't do that to a dog, why should any other pet tolerate it?

I'm sorry, I just can't believe no-one else has said anything about it! He could get seriously ill in 24 hours, never mind 48, and suffer an agonising death.

Imho if you cannot be with him EVERY WEEKEND, I would consider rehoming him to someone who can. I wouldn't be alarmed if it was an occasional thing, but you say it is EVERY WEEKEND, FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND!

Mods, delete my post if necessary, but I can't see why on earth not one other person has seen a problem in him being left alone for 48 hours MINIMUM, EVERY WEEK!?!?!

However, that is just my opinion, which is coming from someone who worried absolutely sick about leaving their dragon alone for 8 hours lol

As I said, remove my post if you deem it necessary.

OKAY! dude thanks for telling me im a bad beardie owner!. i know this! but i cant help it i hate the fact i have to leave him but i have no choice. but your over exaggerating like come on hes a lizard not a dumb dog that constantly needs love and attention. hes a cold blooded reptile! he don't want all that attention, that's how hes been raised. my beardie is very independent. i think hes very smart and does not need me to survive,he knows where to poop and where to eat and drink. your acting like beardies are stupid,he wasn't born yesterday, he knows how to take care of him self and certainly doesn't need to me baby him. i like to keep him in a "wild life" state of mind that's why i build a 8 foot by 5 foot custom cage for him, it simulates the WILD. i have real trees and plants for fresh air with caves, tunnels,basking spots, climbing areas, pooping spots and running fountain beside the feeding area, where i have a timed homemade cricket dispenser where he literally "hunts" his own food because they hop around every where, and yes he does find them all because hes a BEAST!.Also i have invented a genius lighting system that moves from one end of the cage to other slowly. i think all this makes him feel more like a "bearded dragon" and not as "pet",it taps into his natural instincts. HATE on my parenting all you want but i think this is how all captive beardies should be raised,this way their not SPOILED BRATS like most beardies! my beardie has been living this way for 6 years and hes never been seriously ill and he looks happier and healthier then ever! :mrgreen:

Do you have pictures of his habitat that you created? That sounds really cool. Where in your house do you keep him?

 

[dragonlover3]

Wow, that viv sounds awesome! Got a pic to share?
Amanda

 

[reddragon087]

I kind of do have to agree that leaving him alone on the weekend with no food is a bad decision.
He does need your undivided attention just as a child would and I'm not trying to sound harsh when
I say this but even you know you cannot provide that for him so maybe the best option would be to
find a better housing placement for him.

 

[Monotov]

Well you just have to think of your beardie as in your total care. Yes he isn't like a dog but he is now a domestic animal LIKE a dog. Also, not ALL dogs require love and attention 24/7/. Some dogs like to be on their own, as long as they have a bowl of food and water, and the same goes for cats. If the dogs or cats were living on their own as strays then they just know naturally how to take care of themselves, just as a wild beardie could take care of himself. But because you have a beardie in a tank that makes him a domestic animal which means he is under your responsibility and care. He can't go hunt for his food or his own water. Would it hurt to at least stop by once a day and give him at least veggies or worms or some roaches/crickets? I would have to agree if you can't take care of him for 48 hours straight I would look into re homing him. Not feeding him or giving him water for 48 hours straight could decrease his life.

Just my 2 cents.

Beautiful dragon btw.

 

[CaptainVimes]

EDITED TO REMOVE ATTACK ON ANOTHER MEMBER, LEFT IN GENUINE QUESTIONS.

OKAY! dude thanks for telling me im a bad beardie owner!. i know this! but i cant help it i hate the fact i have to leave him but i have no choice. but your over exaggerating like come on hes a lizard not a dumb dog that constantly needs love and attention. hes a cold blooded reptile! he don't want all that attention, that's how hes been raised. my beardie is very independent. i think hes very smart and does not need me to survive,he knows where to poop and where to eat and drink. your acting like beardies are stupid,he wasn't born yesterday, he knows how to take care of him self and certainly doesn't need to me baby him. i like to keep him in a "wild life" state of mind that's why i build a 8 foot by 5 foot custom cage for him, it simulates the WILD. i have real trees and plants for fresh air with caves, tunnels,basking spots, climbing areas, pooping spots and running fountain beside the feeding area, where i have a timed homemade cricket dispenser where he literally "hunts" his own food because they hop around every where, and yes he does find them all because hes a BEAST!.Also i have invented a genius lighting system that moves from one end of the cage to other slowly. i think all this makes him feel more like a "bearded dragon" and not as "pet",it taps into his natural instincts. HATE on my parenting all you want but i think this is how all captive beardies should be raised,this way their not SPOILED BRATS like most beardies! my beardie has been living this way for 6 years and hes never been seriously ill and he looks happier and healthier then ever

I would be VERY interested to see the setup, especially as it sounds so fantastical!

How did you get your lights to simulate the sun going over every day?

What did you make your home-made cricket keeper out of?

Plus, I did not make out that a beardie is a dumb animal, and dogs are NOT DUMB either!

As for the running fountain, this is actually a hazard, as your beardie could drown in it, plus it must be kicking out a LOT OF HUMIDITY. How do you keep it dry in there?

 

[randommonks]

There is more than one way to care for a bearded dragon. There are several people, maybe not ones that belong to this forum, that would feed an adult every other day. You can raise and care for your dragon one way, but I don't think that gives you the right to automatically assume that your way is the best way. OP sounds like he's had this dragon for 5 years now, with no ill effects of the way that he's kept him. OP's dragon looks very healthy.

To answer your original question, there's really no way to tell. Best way to keep him healthy would be a vet visit yearly, for a blood test and fecal check. Lots of time, a beardie will become lethargic and stop eating.

 

[Jess]

Agreed... Leaving a beardie every weekend may not be ideal, but it's not going to kill him either. An adult can easily go 2 or 3 days without food: Dudley didn't eat for 3 months when he brumated, and when he is being stubborn he can go a week + with out wanting to eat. As long as you load up his dishes with salad and some bugs before you leave, he is fine.

Reptiles don't really "crave" attention either. Most of mine would rather be left alone. Dud does enjoy baths and exploring, but he isn't crushed if he doesn't get out every day.

As for the original question, just keep taking care of him and don't dwell on the fact that he is getting older. Many of my pets are really getting up there in years, but you would never be able to tell! I have a gecko who is 15 years old, and I've heard of beardies reaching 17!