Today marks his 7th day home. He's not very active (I've only seen him move very little on the basking side) and I've only seen him eat once and it was on the 2nd day and he ate 3 wax worms. No interest in eating anything now and just seems to sorta sit there. I noticed he's very often closing his eyes even in the day time. He is currently shedding and he's 6.5 in long, I was also told he's 6 months old but I think he's way too small. Basking temps are 105 F and UVB are about 80 F. Any ideas what could be going on are much appreciated, not sure if I should be getting worried. This photo was taken after a bath with electrolyte soak before bedtime.
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7th day home, is my dragon sick?
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Ok we need to get some food in him -- its good your keeping him hydrated - so please get some baby food chicken w/ a drop or two of honey in it for sweet - see if you can get him to lick off the spoon or you may haft to force feed him w / a syringe - if that is the case make sure its a watery consistency - add a drop of calcium powder in it and also maybe some baby food squash - you can mix the two together so hes getting greens and protein at the same time - but he needs to eat --- please tell me what your surface basking temps are NO stickons you need a digital probe thermometer -- also the UVB are you using a coil or a long tube fixture? These are extremely important --
Long tube fixture for the UVB. Where can I get the baby food chicken you mentioned and do I need specific honey? And with your knowledge when do you think I should start considering a vet appointment?
What brand and bulb for the UVB please this is critical for placement of it and the distance - what size tank is he in now? I would look at getting him set up in something like this for better care its called a hospital tank - you can get the baby food at the grocery store - get some raw unpasteurized honey one drop into the chicken / baby food squash mixture -- I would look at getting a vet appointment as soon as you can but we need to get the surface basking temps taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 105-110 and UVB set up -- and then I would get if you dont have one a ceramic heat emitter on him for night time -- you want those temps around 80-- you will need a dome w/ a ceramic socket -- that needs to run at night to keep his immune system up -- here is a website to find a reptile vet www.arav.org -- I need Tracie to look at him and advise shes a vet tech mod on here I am going to send her your post -- the tank below is a 20 gallon tote --
He's not improving much. I took him to the original breeder and he told me he believes it's an issue with the housing and that I should move the UVB to the same side as the Heat side. He also said I should forcefully feed the dubia roaches for two days because he believes he'll be hunting on his own by then. If he's not up and running he said to bring him back and they will care for him until he's doing well. He said the joints looked swollen which is a sign of MBD, which I think would make sense since I rarely saw the dragon going to the UVB side of the tank.
If your using a coil uvb they are inadequate - so you haven't set up the hospital tank-- please do so immediately - his joints are swollen could be gout and the only way to diagnose gout is to get a blood test for uric acid levels- dubias are the worst for gout - dragons know what light they need - if your using a coil that could be a reason he's not going to that side- but yes optimal placement for basking is for them to be together - but you want a long tube fixture-- zoo med 24" w/ the bulb that comes w/ it for the hospital tank-- the dragon looks really sick and I don't believe he's going to be up and running in 2 days
Hello,
How is your dragon doing?
He is too small for a blood test but they could do an x-ray to help determine gout if needed.
Have you been able to get him to eat very much?
As Sadie has suggested, UVB lighting is crucial. We recommend using either the Reptisun 10 T5 tube or
the Arcadia D3 12% T5 tube, either one.
He does appear to possibly have metabolic bone disease. Since he is young, you should be able to get that
halted with proper lighting & supplementation.
Tracie
How is your dragon doing?
He is too small for a blood test but they could do an x-ray to help determine gout if needed.
Have you been able to get him to eat very much?
As Sadie has suggested, UVB lighting is crucial. We recommend using either the Reptisun 10 T5 tube or
the Arcadia D3 12% T5 tube, either one.
He does appear to possibly have metabolic bone disease. Since he is young, you should be able to get that
halted with proper lighting & supplementation.
Tracie
Update, I decided it was best if I returned him and let the professionals care for him. I got a new medium sized hypo (8 months old). He is way more active but skittish as it's his first day home. What do you think his diet should consist of? I currently have dubia roaches and wax worms.
Dubias are a good staple- they need to be dusted 5 x per week w/ calcium D 3 - vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week both lightly coated on the insects-- salads every day - make sure your using a good uvb- No coils he will not be able to absorb / synthesize the calcium under a coil- wax worms feed sparingly they are fatty and too many too often can cause liver damage-- super worms horn worms meal worms- are all good treat worms - horn worms are a good hydrating worm - feed the worms every other day or so 1-3- where did you get the baby dragon ?
Got the baby at LLLReptile. This one also came from LLLReptile but looks heaps healthier. At 8 months old I should be giving salads every day a long with dubia roaches?
Yes fresh salads everyday http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale info its outdated- dubias everyday till hes a year old - those insects need to be dusted w/ the supplements I posted above- lightly coated- no powder sugar looking insects -- in order for him to stay healthy he needs to have correct surface basking temps and correct UVB properly placed and distanced for your screen -- this is crucial to the overall health and behavior of the dragon -- I cannot stress this enough -- I dont know anything about LLL reptiles rep - I just hope they arent like Pet Smart and Petco take the dragon back put him in the back room and leave him to die -- box stores are in it for profit and could care less about the dragons health -- I have website's for insects they are a lot cheaper than buying from pet stores etc --- if you need me to post them let me know -- also please go over the husbandry of your tank size and what you have for lighting now-- we can get that tank set up correctly for the dragon
How long should I wait to start taking him out of the cage? He's very skittish and hiding now
Let him adjust to the tank and surroundings -- he needs to acclimate to his tank and everything going on now - its called relocation stress and he needs to learn to trust you -- patience ---- most important is the surface basking temps and the UVB this is going to help him adjust -- so if anything is off its going to take longer and he will start getting sick - you wont see it cuz dragons will hide the illness for as long as they can -- its when they get so bad off they cant hide it and often times its too late --- that is why I have asked for your husbandry --
He has a Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 UVB T5 H0 and a Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp 100W. Cool side is about 80F and hot side is about 103F. He has started eating and hunting very well, I gave him some Collard Greens today and he ate a few pieces but I had to wiggle them around for him to be interested. He seems very healthy but still a bit skittish.
