help! Dragon looking Ill

[shunter]

Hi! My dad bought a bearded dragon a couple of months ago, and at the beginning, he was doing amazingly. He was eating a lot, running around, very active. About a month and a half ago, I fed him some super worms (his favorite), and a few days after that, he became very sluggish, unactive, he wasn't eating, etc. I think he was constipated, but I am not sure. The poo's that he does do, IF he poos after eating, are very liquidy and I really haven't been seeing much. I am afraid that there's something very wrong with him because he hasn't gained any weight at all since I've had him either. He's been eating a little bit more lately, but does not poo as often as he should. My local pet store told me to give him warm baths and that has seemed to help. He also does not shed very often at all.

I'm really not sure what's wrong with him and I'm very worried for his health. There aren't any vet's near me that know anything about reptiles.. So here I am!

- The substrate (I believe that's the word) that I'm using is ground walnut shells.
- I have absolutely no idea how old he is (deffinitely not an adult yet)
- He is in a 40 gallon tank
- He has a 100 watt bulb as well as proper UVB

I've attached a pic ..

if that doesn't work you can go here to see how small he is: http://i47.tinypic.com/w18fnp.jpg

 

[Aleena]

Hi Shunter, that's a cute little guy. Has he been growing at all? You didn't mention a UVB bulb, do you have one of those? If you don't, you need to immediately rectify that, and get a dessert 10.0 or 10% UVB, place it over the basking spot next to the basking light. Is that a 40 breeder?

The walnut shell might be causing a big part of the problem, he might be stopped up and only passing the liquidy stuff. Have you been bathing him regularly? What are your temps directly under the basking bulb and on the cool side? Just some info we need. There are several issues, one being your BD is way too small to be on any kind of particle substrate, and walnut shell is well known to be a high imaction risk. Please post a pic of your setup asap!

 

[Germ]

He looks severely dehydrated, possibly from the diarrhea.

The results of Crushed Walnut Shells
http://mrskingsbioweb.com/beardeddragngrossanatomy.htm

 

[shunter]

Thanks so much for the replies! I haven't noticed any growth whatsoever, only loss of weight. There is a UVB bulb. It is a 40 gallon tank.

The pet store near me sold him to my dad and I basically reccreated the set up he was already in, except I got a much bigger tank as he had barley any room. The girl recommended the same bulb's and told me that the ground walnut shells were the best thing that I could put in his tank and of the "highest quality", and I have learnt now that she was very, very wrong. He always has water in his dish.

I do bathe him regularily. The temperature under the heat lamp is 105 F, and under the cool side it is: 82 or so

Here is the link to the picture of my set up; http://i49.tinypic.com/11j3nva.jpg

 

[Aleena]

I can recommend to remove the walnut shell immediately as well as give your BD a couple nice warm baths, make them about the same temp as they get under the basking light and make sure the lil guy drinks while in there. Great job on the rest of the setup, but it looks like... is that thing on the top right the uvb? Just not familiar with the way that fixture looks is all. Needs to cover the basking spot with the basking light to get the full benefits from it. It could just be that he needs a fecal ran, might have had some of the parasites naturally occurring in their digestive system decide to run rampant, and that's a vet trip, so you might want to see if this other stuff works first and give it a few days.

 

[shunter]

Yes, the thing on the top right is the UVB, and here is a closer picture of the cover that's on it: http://i46.tinypic.com/14489le.jpg

I might look into taking him to a vet because I really don't want him to die, and I'm afraid he might already have impaction.. I will deffinitely be taking the substrate out of there tonight. Do you have a recommendation for something that I can put in it's place?

Do you think there's something wrong with the set up and that's why he isn't shedding? Also, is the set up big enough for him? The temperature for the baths should be about 105 also?

 

[Aleena]

A 40 breeder is plenty large enough. The temp for the bath should be the same temp as what they bask under, yes... or close to. Helps loosen up any tummy troubles. If he's impacted, that would affect growth and digestion. has he been eating much? If you take the baby to the vet, make sure you have them run a fecal. You can lift up the bd's tail and see if the vent site looks swollen, red, or blocked from the outside. I'm worried that the baby can't get very close to the UVB light. And I'm worried that the type of hood you're using is laying the spiral UVB lights in the wrong way, when it's best to point those down. Put the UVB over the basking spot as well, it will help a little at least.

 

[shunter]

I have other lamp shades/hood's? (for lack of a better word) that I can put the UVB bulb in if you think that would help. I'll put them both close together so that he has access to both in a better way.. He wasn't eating for the longest time and recently went after some crickets, but I have yet to see any poo and it's been a few days.

Last but not least, should I just put paper towel at the bottom of the tank?

 

[shunter]

Here is a picture of his vent; http://i50.tinypic.com/b94c7.jpg

 

[Aleena]

There are several non particle substrates you can use, paper towels are used by many a breeder for their babies. Speaking of babies, I have to go rescue my young'ns from the mountains. Good luck, the uvb in a more directed fixture would work better than that hood, that was a great idea! Should get a warm bath immediately though, and make sure you see him drink something. If you don't, you can always use a syringe to get him/her some water.

 

[Aleena]

Here is a picture of his vent; http://i50.tinypic.com/b94c7.jpg

The vent looks fine. If it is impaction it's likely not irreversible.

 

[shunter]

I gave him a bath and I used a thermometer to measure the water temperature and it was MUCH hotter than I usually put it at now that I know what temperature it needs to be. He actually pooed during the bath! I was so happy haha. Here's a picture of the poo.. in case anyone can tell me anything from the way it looks: http://i47.tinypic.com/8vn0oj.jpg

I re-did his set up and this is what it looks like now: http://i45.tinypic.com/ofc5s7.jpg (paper towel at the bottom)

And this is what his lights look like now: (black is heat lamp, silver is UVB, the UVB bulb is a 10.0): http://i48.tinypic.com/2a7zqtk.jpg

 

[slices mommy]

I have the same UVB fixture that you were using to begin with but my dome for my heat lamps is a little narrow and a double. I'm not sure about how it all works but I have both of mine right in front of each other instead of side by side. Not sure if your long fixture will fit that way. I was told that both of them have to be right over the top of the basking spot. Also again...I don't know as much as everyone else but the basking spot might need to be a little higher but I would wait for someone else to come back to tell you that one for sure. I use the carpet they sale at the pet store for the bottom some use tile or newspaper or even playground sand. I know that the walnut shells and calcium sand cause impaction. I hope he feels better after his giant poo poo

 

[shunter]

I moved them so they were over to his basking side, right side by side so they covered most of the same area. I was also told that the basking spot needs to be a little higher but like you, I am unsure. He deffinitely looked like he felt MUCH better after that, I was very happy that he finally pooed! It had been over a week.

 

[slices mommy]

I've had mine since April and i'm STILL learning with the help from everyone on here. I don't trust anyone at Pet stores anymore. They are all on a ego trip and think they know everything. I literally had one tell me what I needed to take care of a snake but....when I asked to hold one she pulled the tank out and stepped back and said she isn't going to touch them. Germ has helped me with everything i've ever had a question about. Your baby will definantly get much better with everyone's help. Your doing a great job.

 

[shunter]

There is a woman at the pet store that I go to that is a lot like that, except she calls herself an expert and has clearly been giving very bad advice! Thanks so much, everyone here is deffinitely my go to people now you guy have answered questions better and quicker than anyone that I know.

 

[slices mommy]

I was just reading all the pets you have...what a zoo lol I haven't tried to figure out how to do that on mine yet. You should post pics under the other pets...well when beardie is feeling better. 300 fish??? I have like 20 lol

 

[Germ]

The height that is necessary for your basking spot, depends on your lighting. I would try to get the basking spot within 8" - 10" of the UVB bulb. It is nice that you are using the expanded metal for the screen, blocks very little UVB because it is so coarse. Once this is achieved then you may have to play with your Heat bulb type, wattage &\or distance. I recommend bumping the heat to 110F, particularly while it is ill, measured directly at the basking spot with an accurate reliable thermometer. I recommend a digital thermometer with a sensor\probe for that type of full screen setup.

Your lighting hours are also important, it should have the lights consistently on 12-14 hours a day, off for the rest. I have found that a 12\12 lighting schedule works best, a timer is invaluable to keep the Day\Night schedule consistent, On\Off at the same time of the day, everyday.

You have been given some very good advice on this thread. I agree with Aleena, at the very least, taking a fresh stool sample into a qualified Vet for a Fecal count to check for Parasites & medicate if necessary.

Good Luck

 

[shunter]

The lighting might be a problem because I think his lights are on for much longer than that, so I will buy a timer tonight to get his lighting schedule on point. Also, I'll buy a digital thermometer and a higher watt light bulb to get the temperature up.

Thank you to everyone for all of your wonderful advice! and I'll eventually post all of the picture of my other animals in the other threads

 

[slices mommy]

I don't think anyone has mentioned but Germ told me to buy a halogen flood light and it works wonders and they are cheaper....go to Walmart