Needs advice please

[Rheann watts]

hi everyone,
I have a little beardie named Paul who I've had a couple months now (from petco) and according to their suspicions he would be a little over a year old at this point. I knew nothing about beardies when I got Paul and the woman helping me recommended a 10 gallon desert reptile starter kit. Upon more research and his multiple growth spurts I quickly realized he needs much more than that and I'm in I'm the process of getting a 40 gallon tank and a better lighting setup asap. I'm worried because over the last couple of days he has not been acting himself. He threw up about a week ago and had been pooping just fine since then so I wasn't too worried. He started acting even weirder after eating about 7 medium crickets a couple days ago but again he has pooped a couple times since then. He hasn't had much of an appetite since and seems to be feeling ill. Then today I observed him under his basking light and he opened his mouth seemingly very uncomfortably and flared his beard and shook his whole body as if trying to get something out of his throat. I could tell something was wrong. I gave him a bath thinking it was dehydration and he seemed a little better at that point- then with his night light only on (he's usually sleeping comfortably) he is sitting up in a very uncomfortable position making small convulsing motions as if trying to throw up or something he just looks like he feels horrible he is in and out of sleep but I'm so worried he seems fine for some time and then goes back to looking ill. Also his stomach has been looking somewhat droopy almost for the last few days to a week. I'm confused because he has pooped so I'm not sure what else it could be. He has a carpet so I kind of ruled out impaction. Any suggestions?

 

[BeardedHippy]

Hi ,sorry to hear your beardie isnt well. I think most here would recommend taking him to a vets for a checkup. Apparently petco beardies are often not in good shape, they have little clue about reptiles. I would say though, no night light. They need total darkness to sleep right, if its too cold at night use a ceramic heat lamp, however they can manage 20-22C no problem, so unless your house is really cold you probably wont need a heater at all. By all means check out some of the threads on lighting here, its important to get it right.

 

[PatsyB]

Sounds like he may have something stuck in his throat. I would get him to a vet ASAP!

Under my comment are some links to some helpful information on general care and set up. If your bearded dragon is throwing up it's food, the first thing you want to make sure of is that your basking temp is correct. I find it strange that Petco would have a bearded dragon that is a year old. Usually they sell babies and juveniles. A 10 gallon tank is too small for even a baby because it's not getting a proper temperature gradient. He needs a bigger tank right away and also make sure you have a UVB bulb that covers at least 2/3'rds of the tank.

Hope your baby is doing okay this morning.