Beardie hardly ever wakes up

[Ruby Sue]

We rescued a bearded dragon who the previous owners claim is 5 months old. The poor thing was in a 10 gallon tank with a male (she's a female or so they say). Her tail is nipped. She's NEVER had live food, only dried crickets. She has MBD or something because her legs shake/spasm when she moves and she hardly moves at all. I'd go as far as to say she can't walk. She scoots, and not much.

We put her in a 20 gallon tank for now with a great UVB and a heat lamp. She is eating some super worms although it's very hard for her to feed. She does do it on her own. We've given her some baths, but we have to hold her head up so she doesn't drown. She finally pooped today (after having her a few days).

My concern is that she is hardly ever awake. I don't think it's brumation because she's so young. But man, she is ALWAYS sleeping or trying to sleep. Please help. This is a rescue, but we're so sad to see her like this and she isn't snapping out of it.

She also has a weird black hole or spot on belly. Never saw one of these...

 

[Sadie]

We rescued a bearded dragon who the previous owners claim is 5 months old. The poor thing was in a 10 gallon tank with a male (she's a female or so they say). Her tail is nipped. She's NEVER had live food, only dried crickets. She has MBD or something because her legs shake/spasm when she moves and she hardly moves at all. I'd go as far as to say she can't walk. She scoots, and not much.

We put her in a 20 gallon tank for now with a great UVB and a heat lamp. She is eating some super worms although it's very hard for her to feed. She does do it on her own. We've given her some baths, but we have to hold her head up so she doesn't drown. She finally pooped today (after having her a few days).

My concern is that she is hardly ever awake. I don't think it's brumation because she's so young. But man, she is ALWAYS sleeping or trying to sleep. Please help. This is a rescue, but we're so sad to see her like this and she isn't snapping out of it.

She also has a weird black hole or spot on belly. Never saw one of these...

Is this a different dragon?

 

[Ruby Sue]

Is this a different dragon?

Yes. We now have two. We have the little red one that is skinny but seems like she's doing much better. Then we have a rescue that is 5 months old. Never had a light besides an infrared. Never handled. No live food. Terrible conditions. Trying to turn it around for her.

She's so sweet, doesn't mind being handled despite her background. She's eating superworms. But seems to be partially paralyzed and wants to sleep almost round the clock.

 

[Sadie]

Yes. We now have two. We have the little red one that is skinny but seems like she's doing much better. Then we have a rescue that is 5 months old. Never had a light besides an infrared. Never handled. No live food. Terrible conditions. Trying to turn it around for her.

She's so sweet, doesn't mind being handled despite her background. She's eating superworms. But seems to be partially paralyzed and wants to sleep almost round the clock.

She may be dehydrated-+ please get some water in her- use a eye dropper or syringe if using a syringe do it VERY SLOWLY--- you don't want her aspirating-- she's weak - make her a salad slurry in a blender collards turnips mustard or kale add a pinch of calcium d 3-- add water feed 1/2 ml feed 3 times / day -- does she have good lighting and basking temps

 

[Ruby Sue]

She may be dehydrated-+ please get some water in her- use a eye dropper or syringe if using a syringe do it VERY SLOWLY--- you don't want her aspirating-- she's weak - make her a salad slurry in a blender collards turnips mustard or kale add a pinch of calcium d 3-- add water feed 1/2 ml feed 3 times / day -- does she have good lighting and basking temps

OK I'll do the slurry for sure. We are giving her water and soaks as well.

 

[Ruby Sue]

OK I'll do the slurry for sure. We are giving her water and soaks as well.

She may be dehydrated-+ please get some water in her- use a eye dropper or syringe if using a syringe do it VERY SLOWLY--- you don't want her aspirating-- she's weak - make her a salad slurry in a blender collards turnips mustard or kale add a pinch of calcium d 3-- add water feed 1/2 ml feed 3 times / day -- does she have good lighting and basking temps

Yes, she has good UVB lighting and perfect basking temps but she tends to hide and not want to bask at all.

 

[Sadie]

OK I'll do the slurry for sure. We are giving her water and soaks as well.

Ok lay off the baths too much stress the watery slurry will also give hydration- keep her warmer over it's a ceramic heat emitter temp around 80 this will help w/ the immune system

 

[Ruby Sue]

Ok lay off the baths too much stress the watery slurry will also give hydration- keep her warmer over it's a ceramic heat emitter temp around 80 this will help w/ the immune system

So should I not use the basking bulb but use a ceramic emitter instead?

 

[Sadie]

Yes, she has good UVB lighting and perfect basking temps but she tends to hide and not want to bask at all.

That's not good- as bad as shape she's in it's possible her organs maybe shutting down - I am not a vet but it's a possibility-

 

[Sadie]

So should I not use the basking bulb but use a ceramic emitter instead?

No this is for overnight temps-- you want her basking if you put her under the lights what does she do

 

[Ruby Sue]

Well, she can't move very well so say it's on a log, she'd stay there permanently. Now that we switched her terrarium and gave her reptile carpet, she can at least get some traction on the carpet and move herself. Not well, but she can move. If we put her under the light/heat, she'll seek shade and hide under the log.

 

[Sadie]

Well, she can't move very well so say it's on a log, she'd stay there permanently. Now that we switched her terrarium and gave her reptile carpet, she can at least get some traction on the carpet and move herself. Not well, but she can move. If we put her under the light/heat, she'll seek shade and hide under the log.

What are the basking temps? They may be too warm-- she has mbd- it sounds like if your temps are 105-110 drop them to 95-100 get the uvb next to the basking bulb she needs both- what uvb bulb?

 

[Ruby Sue]

Her bulbs are Zoo Med basking 75 watt bulb and her uvb is Repti Sun 10.0. Her basking temp is 94 degrees.

 

[Ruby Sue]

I've been watching a ton of videos on MBD. I agree it looks like she has it but why do you think she's always sleeping or trying to sleep. I just can't keep her awake. She's eating and drinking and the bulbs are right. I'm not finding anything on such a sleepy dragon. Her weight is 71 grams and she's 5 months old. We've had her a few days.

 

[Sadie]

I've been watching a ton of videos on MBD. I agree it looks like she has it but why do you think she's always sleeping or trying to sleep. I just can't keep her awake. She's eating and drinking and the bulbs are right. I'm not finding anything on such a sleepy dragon. Her weight is 71 grams and she's 5 months old. We've had her a few days.

She's weak from not eating get some food in her place her under the basking bulbs and watch her behavior- she may be dying does she have good color? No grey that would not be good- last pic she had color

 

[Sadie]

Her bulbs are Zoo Med basking 75 watt bulb and her uvb is Repti Sun 10.0. Her basking temp is 94 degrees.

T 5 or T 8

 

[Ruby Sue]

She definitely has color. I'm not sure about the t5 or t8. Which should it be? What are signs they're dying? Can you please tell me?

 

[Sadie]

She definitely has color. I'm not sure about the t5 or t8. Which should it be? What are signs they're dying? Can you please tell me?

Please look on the bulb itself it will tell you ----- look for the T 5 or T 8 for a long tube fixture that is what your using correct? NO coils ----
SIGNS THAT A BEARDED DRAGON IS DYING

• Their skin looks grey or dull looking – but they are not shedding.
• They become lethargic, uninterested and unresponsive – but they are not in brumation.
• They will stop eating.
• The eyes appear sunken or droopy.
• They may spend more time in the cool end.
• If they are attempting to move they will may drag themselves along – This can be distressing to witness.
• They appear to have “given up”.
• Their breathing will become very shallow.

 

[Ruby Sue]

Please look on the bulb itself it will tell you ----- look for the T 5 or T 8 for a long tube fixture that is what your using correct? NO coils ----
SIGNS THAT A BEARDED DRAGON IS DYING

• Their skin looks grey or dull looking – but they are not shedding.
• They become lethargic, uninterested and unresponsive – but they are not in brumation.
• They will stop eating.
• The eyes appear sunken or droopy.
• They may spend more time in the cool end.
• If they are attempting to move they will may drag themselves along – This can be distressing to witness.
• They appear to have “given up”.
• Their breathing will become very shallow.

Oh no. She has a lot of those symptoms. Not all, but a lot of them. OK the bulb is not a coil. It's Reptisun 10.0 UVB but doesn't say anything about being t5 or t8. We just checked the box.

 

[Sadie]

Oh no. She has a lot of those symptoms. Not all, but a lot of them. OK the bulb is not a coil. It's Reptisun 10.0 UVB but doesn't say anything about being t5 or t8. We just checked the box.

look on the bulb its going to be in small print and it should say on the box post a pic of the box and or the bulb is it a Reptisun ?