Cut on tip of tongue?

[KellyRose]

Here is a response I got about the tongue

The tip of the tongue looks discolored, but not necessarily wounded. I wouldn't consider it urgent, but probably worth having the vet take a look while he's there for the next visit. It could be bruised from pushing it against a syringe, and I'd imagine that would heal just like when we accidentally bite our tongues. There are oral cleansers available like MaxiGuard, but I don't know that it would be needed at the moment, but wouldn't hurt. I'd probably defer to the vet's advice.

Thank you!! His energy level is right back up to regular this morning after some hand feeding!! He and I thank you!!
I will send a proper pic/measurements of enclosure a little later for when the new light arrives.
Things are looking up- feeling grateful!

 

[KellyRose]

Thank you!! His energy level is right back up to regular this morning after some hand feeding!! He and I thank you!!
I will send a proper pic/measurements of enclosure a little later for when the new light arrives.
Things are looking up- feeling grateful!

The light tube and fixture are supposed to arrive in the next 24 hours
I have attached an image of his current space so that you may help me with placement. Please let me know if you would like a different visual angle, and I will promptly take another one!

 

[Sadie]

The light tube and fixture are supposed to arrive in the next 24 hours
I have attached an image of his current space so that you may help me with placement. Please let me know if you would like a different visual angle, and I will promptly take another one!

I cant tell if that is a fine mesh screen like a screen door or the wide hole I am thinking its like a screen door --- w/ that being said your gonna need it unobstructed meaning either inside the tank or take part of the screen off -- put your basking decor directly under it 12-15 inches --

 

[Mummabeardy]

Ok please get rid of that ASAP-- those are the worst uvb's-- please get a 24" for a long tube fixture-- a Zoo Med comes w a 5.0 keep it for a back up you want a reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia pro T 5 12% bulb or a sunblaster nano tech 2ft fixture
Look on this website for the Zoo Med and the pro T 5 www.pangeareptiles.com the sunblaster on this site
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html let me know when you get it I will help you ace it in the tank distance and placement will depend on your screen- still waiting to hear back on the tongue-

Whats mounting distance to basking spot w/zoo med reptisun 10.0 T5? Thx in advance..just trying to triple chk!!

 

[KellyRose]

Whats mounting distance to basking spot w/zoo med reptisun 10.0 T5? Thx in advance..just trying to triple chk!!

Here is an image of the top... it was next to impossible to get an image... it seems to be very fine metal wire. The distance from current bulb to basking spot is 43 cm at its furthest, but with a hammock he has the choice of being at 25 cm. The height of the overall viv is 46 cm.

 

[Badwolfe]

personally I'd get him into a bigger enclosure, preferably one that has 3 sides of wood and at least 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. Glass tanks can sometimes make Beardies stressed out and could be one reason for the glass surfing.

Make sure his temps are spot on and you want a T5 style UVB light with a reflector that covers at least 2/3 of the vivariums length. Sounds like you have got a handle on the humidity so that should no longer be a problem as long as you maintain it around 30-40%

The vet should be able to advise you on the tongue situation and it might involve medication. Its quite possible that its sore which could explain why your dragon is not eating but also the stress of the recent treatments could also be another factor. Again your vet will be able to advise

I'd also declutter the tank a little and just make sure that he has hides on both the cold and warm side, something like rock or a log to bask on under the lamp and a climbing branch to allow him to therma-regulate at different heights in the viv. Make sure you measure the temp at the basking spot with a digital thermometer - those stick on dial ones only measure ambiant air temperature and are massively inaccurate. You need to be recording the surface temperature of the basking rock / log not the air.

By the sounds of it you are doing everything you can to improve the husbandry of this dragon and with a little help from the vet you should hopefully have a posivtive outcome.

Good luck with him

 

[KellyRose]

Here is an image of the top... it was next to impossible to get an image... it seems to be very fine metal wire. The distance from current bulb to basking spot is 43 cm at its furthest, but with a hammock he has the choice of being at 25 cm. The height of the overall viv is 46 cm.

I am going to set up the new light now. It is a 24W proT5 12% UV-B

 

[KellyRose]

personally I'd get him into a bigger enclosure, preferably one that has 3 sides of wood and at least 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. Glass tanks can sometimes make Beardies stressed out and could be one reason for the glass surfing.

Make sure his temps are spot on and you want a T5 style UVB light with a reflector that covers at least 2/3 of the vivariums length. Sounds like you have got a handle on the humidity so that should no longer be a problem as long as you maintain it around 30-40%

The vet should be able to advise you on the tongue situation and it might involve medication. Its quite possible that its sore which could explain why your dragon is not eating but also the stress of the recent treatments could also be another factor. Again your vet will be able to advise

I'd also declutter the tank a little and just make sure that he has hides on both the cold and warm side, something like rock or a log to bask on under the lamp and a climbing branch to allow him to therma regulate at different heights in the tank. Make sure you measure the temp at the basking spot with a digital thermometer - those stick on dial ones only measure ambiant air temperature and are massively inaccurate. You need to be recording the surface temperature of the basking spot rock / log not the air.

By the sounds of it you are doing everything you can to improve the husbandry of this dragon and with a little help from the vet you should hopefully have a posivtive outcome.

Good luck with him

THANK YOU. The tank looks cluttery, but there are logs on both cool and warm side to climb on or hide under. I do think he needs a bigger one though. Settling up the new Arcadia T5 now. He had the vet yestetday:
His pnumonia is all gone, he has no intestinal parasites, and he gained weight while healing from my hand feeding. I am so happy; he seems great. He has almost never glass surfed though... idk if I said he was earlier, but the majority of the glass is covered with things to climb on.
Again, I will still look into a bigger/different type of tank. This was just my quick fix upgrade from the smaller glass tank he was in when I adopted him
Thanks again!!
And the tongue WAS a bruise- all better now
(The picture below is him back in his home after the vet visit)

 

[Badwolfe]

THANK YOU. The tank looks cluttery, but there are logs on both cool and warm side to climb on or hide under. I do think he needs a bigger one though. Settling up the new Arcadia T5 now. He had the vet yestetday:
His pnumonia is all gone, he has no intestinal parasites, and he gained weight while healing from my hand feeding. I am so happy; he seems great. He has almost never glass surfed though... idk if I said he was earlier, but the majority of the glass is covered with things to climb on.
Again, I will still look into a bigger/different type of tank. This was just my quick fix upgrade from the smaller glass tank he was in when I adopted him
Thanks again!!
And the tongue WAS a bruise- all better now
(The picture below is him back in his home after the vet visit)

It's a shame there aren't more people like you out there who are prepared to take the time, effort and expense to make sure that their reptiles are kept in the best conditions possible.

Please do consider upgrading to a 4ft enclosed vivarium as soon as possible. This will mean that you will need to upgrade the Arcadia Pro T5 to the 39W version though.

I would also consider getting a good quality thermostat that allows both day and night temperature settings. Here in the UK I use a Habistat one that not only allows me to regulate both the day and night temperatures but also has a timer that allows me to turn the UVB lighting on and off at set times. If you live in the US they are probably not available there but I'm sure there is some sort of US equivalent.

You might also want to consider switching out the basking bulb for a 80w Arcadia deep heat projector in a 4ft viv. If you use a day / night thermostat you can leave this running for the entire 24 hour cycle. These bulbs produce very little visible light but allow much deeper penetration of IR light into your dragon. Typical bulbs dont offer much IR penetration past the skin layer unlike the DHP which do. This will also mean that your dragon will experience much more natural light levels via the Arcadia T5 UVB which again improves conditions for your pet.

Once you have all your environment conditions at optimal level you could even then move on to the more controversial topic of substrate. I personally keep my dragons on a desert blend loose substrate which consists of a mixture of soil, clay and sand. I know over in the US reptile carpet is popular but for me personally its not something I would recommend. Carpet can harbour bacteria from the waste, increase humidity and it has even been known to trap claws resulting in dragons self amputating toes! It also hinders the dragons natural behaviour of digging. The only other thing I will say on substrate is if eventually you did decide to go with loose then please don't use just sand, the Australian outback actually has a high soil / clay content and is not a sand desert. The soil and clay are what actually allow dragons to dig the burrows they love.

 

[Sadie]

Whats mounting distance to basking spot w/zoo med reptisun 10.0 T5? Thx in advance..just trying to triple chk!!

Where is the UVB a fine mesh screen like a screen door it will need to go inside the tank -- 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece -- for a wide hole screen it can sit on top w/ the basking decor piece underneath 8-10 inches --- if your uncertain please post a pic of the screen --
here is some stuff to use to hang w/ its like a Velcro strap cut into strips wrap around the fixture

 

[KellyRose]

UPDATE:

Thank you both, very much, for your help.

Francis has a wonderful bill of health!:
x-rayx => pnuemonia is all gone;
blood work => his vitamin levels are in good order; and
fecal => he has no intestinal parasites =D

He is a solid 24'' long. I have a new enclosure on the way. After research, I got a Zen Habitats 4'x2'x2' enclosure that has 3 sides that are bamboo. I have also ordered the Arcadia 80 watt deep heat bulb/projector.

Badwolfe -- I agree: it is a shame that there are a lot of less-than-optimal pet owners out there. Unfortunately that is the way of the world these days. People like yourself, Sadie, this forumn, and rescue agencies, fight the good fight. Thank you for doing so.

I will delve into the controvertial world of substrate some time after he has settled into his new enclosure. He and I have been on the upward health and home trend for some time now, but we know well enough to take it one step at a time.

 

[Sadie]

UPDATE:

Thank you both, very much, for your help.

Francis has a wonderful bill of health!:
x-rayx => pnuemonia is all gone;
blood work => his vitamin levels are in good order; and
fecal => he has no intestinal parasites =D

He is a solid 24'' long. I have a new enclosure on the way. After research, I got a Zen Habitats 4'x2'x2' enclosure that has 3 sides that are bamboo. I have also ordered the Arcadia 80 watt deep heat bulb/projector.

Badwolfe -- I agree: it is a shame that there are a lot of less-than-optimal pet owners out there. Unfortunately that is the way of the world these days. People like yourself, Sadie, this forumn, and rescue agencies, fight the good fight. Thank you for doing so.

I will delve into the controvertial world of substrate some time after he has settled into his new enclosure. He and I have been on the upward health and home trend for some time now, but we know well enough to take it one step at a time.

He will like his new enclosure -- what UVB are you using? It will need to go inside the tank --- they have certain distance and placement ---

 

[KellyRose]

Hi Sadie
He currently has an Arcadia T5 12% UV-B bulb, hanging INSIDE of the tank.
(Attached = Him sitting 6-8'' underneath it)
I used silver wire to hang it from the mesh top of his current tank. ....He always looks grumpy when I open the enclosure between 1pm and bedtime, when he is most restful
He is super active between 8am and noon.
When the 4'x2'x2' new enclosure arrives on Thursday, I will upgrade the lights again as well.
Please let me know if I am still making mistakes... I have learned a lot, but ALWAYS happy for advice! =D

 

[KellyRose]

Also, he looks super skinny there, but he is 24'' and 756 grams, which the vet said is a lovely size for a beardie in the winter months. (His light cycle is currently at 11 hours of daylight, 13 hours of darkness)