Hi I have a bearded dragon and he's about a year old. He is doing this weird thing with his head. It's almost like he's nodding his head yes. It's not like when they see a female it's just like if you or I were to nod yes. He hasn't ate in about a week and a half. When he tried to eat a meal worm he can't keep it in his mouth. Any help would be much appreciated.
-
Hello guest! Are you a Bearded Dragon enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Beardie enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your dragons and enclosures and have a great time with other Bearded Dragon enthusiasts. Sign up today!
Please help!!!
- Thread starter Djcam
- Start date
Sounds like he's head bobbing, is he black bearding too? He could be seeing his reflection in the glass of the tank.
Can you give us information about your set up? A picture would help of your set up and your beardie.
Can you give us information about your set up? A picture would help of your set up and your beardie.
Tessa
Juvenile Dragon
- Messages
- 176
Has he been living on sand his whole life?
No I just switched him like 4 days ago. This started before I switched him.
Can you take a closer picture of his head and his legs?
First thing you need to do is measure the temps in the spot that he is sitting. He's not sitting on the glass so that temp is irrelevant. Temps should be 105-1-7 degrees right in the basking area. It's hard to tell from the picture but what are you using for UVB?
First thing you need to do is measure the temps in the spot that he is sitting. He's not sitting on the glass so that temp is irrelevant. Temps should be 105-1-7 degrees right in the basking area. It's hard to tell from the picture but what are you using for UVB?
BeardsAreForLizards
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 13
- Location
- Ohio
The tube lighting for ubv is the BEST thing to get, i have the zoo med one that came in a kit (Hood and tube bulb) and it cost me like $60. Otherwise the reptisun bulbs that have uvb and uva combined are nice also (In the 60-70$ range as well).
BeardsAreForLizards
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 13
- Location
- Ohio
and by the looks of your tank you wouldn't need a 10.0 bulb, a 5.0 would work seeing how it's not a big tank. Just as a suggestion
BeardsAreForLizards
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 13
- Location
- Ohio
But my thoughts about the head bobbing/ black beard is that he is getting angry or feels threatened by something (Might not be your case but that is generally what those things mean). A quick examination by a vet never hurts
What Beardsareforlizards said! A tube style UVB is most recommended by people that know what they are talking about. I'm guessing the pet store sold you a compact florescent light.
I asked for a better photo of your beardie because I suspect that he's got more going on than the black bearding. From this angle there looks like something going on around his eyes and snout. Also, his leg looks bent funny. I'm thinking that a vet visit would be good to rule out anything serious like MBD.
I asked for a better photo of your beardie because I suspect that he's got more going on than the black bearding. From this angle there looks like something going on around his eyes and snout. Also, his leg looks bent funny. I'm thinking that a vet visit would be good to rule out anything serious like MBD.
Yea I do have the compact one. It came in a kit when I got it. I'll send a picture in a few I'm not home yet. I was concerned about his legs too. He doesn't use them much. Nothing in his tank has ever fell on him or anything. And what is mbd? I appreciate all the help.
- Messages
- 5,574
MBD is Metabolic Bone Disease
How long have you had him? Is he curved like that all the time? What does his jaw line look like? can you take a picture from the side of his head in particular..
It comes from insufficient diet, low calcium, Vit D3 issues, insufficient UVB lighting..
You may want to have him checked by a reptile vet to see if he is in need of supplements or something to give him a boost in vit etc..
You also may want to remove the crushed walnut shell substrate as it really isn't that digestible and given that he may have some other health issues the last thing you need to add to it would be impactions.. And mealworms are very hard to digest as the shells contain chitlin.. a better choice would be superworms or other feeders..When has he pooped??
just my 2 cents
How long have you had him? Is he curved like that all the time? What does his jaw line look like? can you take a picture from the side of his head in particular..
It comes from insufficient diet, low calcium, Vit D3 issues, insufficient UVB lighting..
You may want to have him checked by a reptile vet to see if he is in need of supplements or something to give him a boost in vit etc..
You also may want to remove the crushed walnut shell substrate as it really isn't that digestible and given that he may have some other health issues the last thing you need to add to it would be impactions.. And mealworms are very hard to digest as the shells contain chitlin.. a better choice would be superworms or other feeders..When has he pooped??
just my 2 cents
What they said^^^^
MBD is a bone disease. It is treatable and reptiles that get treatment can go on to live long lives. However, you can't reverse the damage already done. Giving proper UVB and fixing the diet and giving calcium supplements will help strengthen the bones back up.
I would take him to an exotic vet for a check over and they can start him on calcium shots. In the meantime get some calcium with D3 and dust his food with it. Get him some reptiworms or they are called calci worms or phoenix worms or get some hornworms or silk worms. I would give him a nice warm bath to help with the shed on his front legs. Make sure the water is lukewarm, not to hot, not to cold. Drip a little bit of water on the tip of his nose and let him drink it off as much as he wants. That will help with hydration. Also get a better UVB light. There is a link in our signatures that gives some good advise for newbies.
MBD is a bone disease. It is treatable and reptiles that get treatment can go on to live long lives. However, you can't reverse the damage already done. Giving proper UVB and fixing the diet and giving calcium supplements will help strengthen the bones back up.
I would take him to an exotic vet for a check over and they can start him on calcium shots. In the meantime get some calcium with D3 and dust his food with it. Get him some reptiworms or they are called calci worms or phoenix worms or get some hornworms or silk worms. I would give him a nice warm bath to help with the shed on his front legs. Make sure the water is lukewarm, not to hot, not to cold. Drip a little bit of water on the tip of his nose and let him drink it off as much as he wants. That will help with hydration. Also get a better UVB light. There is a link in our signatures that gives some good advise for newbies.
ballpythoncrazy
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 10
He probably sees his reflection and thinks it's another beardie! Mine used to do this too
