Sick baby beardie

[haleygreer]

I was in my local Petco earlier today, checking out the animals, when I noticed a sick-looking hatchling. He couldn't open his eyes or move, so I told one of the workers. The man took him out, then all but threw the baby onto the basking platform, causing him to hit the sides and flip over several times tumbling down to the floor of the enclosure. I came back right before closing to adopt the beardie and try to help, but they said that they were taking him to the vet first thing in the morning. I am going back for a third time tomorrow around noon to pick him up and see what the vet says. All of my supplies are three hours away, so I will have to bring him on that long drive. I have raised a hatchling before (which I still have, and who is now three years old) but I'm not sure about raising a sick hatchling. I don't have a picture yet, but he could barely open either eye and was splayed out flat on the floor of the enclosure. Does anyone have any tips for nursing him back to health?

 

[Sadie]

I was in my local Petco earlier today, checking out the animals, when I noticed a sick-looking hatchling. He couldn't open his eyes or move, so I told one of the workers. The man took him out, then all but threw the baby onto the basking platform, causing him to hit the sides and flip over several times tumbling down to the floor of the enclosure. I came back right before closing to adopt the beardie and try to help, but they said that they were taking him to the vet first thing in the morning. I am going back for a third time tomorrow around noon to pick him up and see what the vet says. All of my supplies are three hours away, so I will have to bring him on that long drive. I have raised a hatchling before (which I still have, and who is now three years old) but I'm not sure about raising a sick hatchling. I don't have a picture yet, but he could barely open either eye and was splayed out flat on the floor of the enclosure. Does anyone have any tips for nursing him back to health?

First I would report this person to peta- or get a hold of the ASPCA- this type of cruelty should be reported- my guess the dragon may not make it--- if you do get him you need to set up a hospital tank like a 10 gallon tote w/ proper uvb-- no coils and a good bright white basking bulb--- if he is going to survive this is crucial- I am going to post a pic of what I am talking about tomorrow morning and go over what you need in terms of lighting

 

[haleygreer]

First I would report this person to peta- or get a hold of the ASPCA- this type of cruelty should be reported- my guess the dragon may not make it--- if you do get him you need to set up a hospital tank like a 10 gallon tote w/ proper uvb-- no coils and a good bright white basking bulb--- if he is going to survive this is crucial- I am going to post a pic of what I am talking about tomorrow morning and go over what you need in terms of lighting

Thank you! I will keep an eye out for that. I'm praying that he makes it. I have a small dubia roach colony... if he is able to eat insects, do you think that the newborn roaches are safe?

 

[Sadie]

Thank you! I will keep an eye out for that. I'm praying that he makes it. I have a small dubia roach colony... if he is able to eat insects, do you think that the newborn roaches are safe?

Yes-- but we need to see if he is gonna survive my guess he could have internal injuries now-- that person has no business working in the petstore and I would report him to management telling them your reporting the store to the ASPCA - this person will continue to do this if he's not reprimanded

 

[Sadie]

I am going to post this in case you need it I would look at getting a hospital tank set up like this you can use a plastic tote for a glass tank 20 gallon you will need a 75 watt bright white basking bulb w/ clamps or a screen to set the basking light on but that screen will need to be set up to the UVB which can be placed length wise across this tank - you want the basking light and UVB either in the middle of the tank or on one end so it looks like this - for UVB either get a 18" hood w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 bulb or a Zoo Med 24" hood w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 - this hood will come w/ a 5.0 bulb of which is similar to the T 8 distance and placement is same -- for the T 8's you want the basking decor directly under the UVB 6-8 inches ---- you can get the 18" fixture from Petco or Pet Smart they carry the 24" fixture I have found most of them do not --- make sure you have a digital probe thermometer to get accurate basking temps -- all this I m posting is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT -- basking temps you want them 105-110 ---- I would get a ceramic heat emitter for him this will keep temps warmer at nite for him which will help w/ the immune system shoot for 80 at nite --- that will need to be placed on the screen and I would get w/ a low wattage bulb the lowest may be 60 watt - your gonna need a dome w/ a ceramic socket --- here are some links to what I am talking about so you can see
this is the 24" fixture that has the 5.0 bulb in it https://www.petmountain.com/product/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-high-output-terrarium-hood
https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en...um-digital-thermometer-14914.html?cgid=500202 THIS IS A MUST
this is the 18" hood can be bought at most Petcos and Petsmarts https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en...reptile-terrarium-hood-14902.html?cgid=500114
this is the dome for the ceramic heat emitter these are very handy at some point you may need it again for winter use I would get a low wattage bulb for this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en....5-inch-deep-dome-lamp-55899.html?cgid=500114
here is the bulb this is a 60 watt --https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/zoo-med-repticare-ceramic-heat-emitter-59814.html?cgid=500202
I am hoping he is still eating on his own if not you may haft to hand feed him either by him licking slurries off the spoon or syringe feeding him - I would look in to getting him some Oxbow Critical Care if that happens -- its really good stuff its thick so you will need to water it down and you will haft to snip the end of the plastic syringe off so it doesnt plug the end but for now lets hope hes still eating on his own ---
Please keep me posted

 

[haleygreer]

I am going to post this in case you need it I would look at getting a hospital tank set up like this you can use a plastic tote for a glass tank 20 gallon you will need a 75 watt bright white basking bulb w/ clamps or a screen to set the basking light on but that screen will need to be set up to the UVB which can be placed length wise across this tank - you want the basking light and UVB either in the middle of the tank or on one end so it looks like this - for UVB either get a 18" hood w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 bulb or a Zoo Med 24" hood w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 - this hood will come w/ a 5.0 bulb of which is similar to the T 8 distance and placement is same -- for the T 8's you want the basking decor directly under the UVB 6-8 inches ---- you can get the 18" fixture from Petco or Pet Smart they carry the 24" fixture I have found most of them do not --- make sure you have a digital probe thermometer to get accurate basking temps -- all this I m posting is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT -- basking temps you want them 105-110 ---- I would get a ceramic heat emitter for him this will keep temps warmer at nite for him which will help w/ the immune system shoot for 80 at nite --- that will need to be placed on the screen and I would get w/ a low wattage bulb the lowest may be 60 watt - your gonna need a dome w/ a ceramic socket --- here are some links to what I am talking about so you can see
this is the 24" fixture that has the 5.0 bulb in it https://www.petmountain.com/product/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-high-output-terrarium-hood
https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en...um-digital-thermometer-14914.html?cgid=500202 THIS IS A MUST
this is the 18" hood can be bought at most Petcos and Petsmarts https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en...reptile-terrarium-hood-14902.html?cgid=500114
this is the dome for the ceramic heat emitter these are very handy at some point you may need it again for winter use I would get a low wattage bulb for this https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/en....5-inch-deep-dome-lamp-55899.html?cgid=500114
here is the bulb this is a 60 watt --https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/zoo-med-repticare-ceramic-heat-emitter-59814.html?cgid=500202
I am hoping he is still eating on his own if not you may haft to hand feed him either by him licking slurries off the spoon or syringe feeding him - I would look in to getting him some Oxbow Critical Care if that happens -- its really good stuff its thick so you will need to water it down and you will haft to snip the end of the plastic syringe off so it doesnt plug the end but for now lets hope hes still eating on his own ---
Please keep me posted

I cannot tell you how helpful your response has been, thank you so much! I will be setting this up right away. I went back to the Petco earlier today around noon but the beardie was still at the vet, so I went back again about an hour ago just before closing and they told me that he was there, in the back. I spoke to an employee who hadn't been there yesterday and told him what I saw about the other worker dropping the beardie. He honestly didn't seem to care but updated me on how the beardie had received a vitamin shot from the vet and a prescription of supplements for them to give to him. Since they say he is in the back of the store, I can only assume that he is separated from the rest; this is good because I was told that being smaller, he may not have been getting enough to eat. Now he'll be alone and hopefully be able to eat. I was told tonight that they can't adopt out animals that are under observation. I'm still not giving up though, and am going to return to the store about every day or two to gauge his progress. I did buy some new pedialyte, along with a container each of butternut squash, sweet potato, and chicken baby food. I am also going to get all of these supplies that you suggested so that I can be ready at all times for critical care. I will be continuing to update with all that I know. I will also be working on getting contact with the management and letting them know what I saw. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the beardie today but from what I was told he was pretty food-motivated yesterday. "We can't give up on those unable to fight for themselves".

 

[Sadie]

I cannot tell you how helpful your response has been, thank you so much! I will be setting this up right away. I went back to the Petco earlier today around noon but the beardie was still at the vet, so I went back again about an hour ago just before closing and they told me that he was there, in the back. I spoke to an employee who hadn't been there yesterday and told him what I saw about the other worker dropping the beardie. He honestly didn't seem to care but updated me on how the beardie had received a vitamin shot from the vet and a prescription of supplements for them to give to him. Since they say he is in the back of the store, I can only assume that he is separated from the rest; this is good because I was told that being smaller, he may not have been getting enough to eat. Now he'll be alone and hopefully be able to eat. I was told tonight that they can't adopt out animals that are under observation. I'm still not giving up though, and am going to return to the store about every day or two to gauge his progress. I did buy some new pedialyte, along with a container each of butternut squash, sweet potato, and chicken baby food. I am also going to get all of these supplies that you suggested so that I can be ready at all times for critical care. I will be continuing to update with all that I know. I will also be working on getting contact with the management and letting them know what I saw. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the beardie today but from what I was told he was pretty food-motivated yesterday. "We can't give up on those unable to fight for themselves".

I agree you need to find out how long he will in in their care- I have heard that when they put them in the back it's to let them die but that hopefully is not true-- you need to keep pestering them-- keep me posted and let me know if you need more help

 

[haleygreer]

UPDATE. Hello! So, I have been calling the pet store about every day or two, and the beardie has been steadily improving. I'm pretty sure that this can be attributed to one employee in particular who cares about the animals there. I called again just now, and that one employee happily told me that the beardie actually started going after crickets again, and is being hand-fed to ensure he gets back up to weight. Sounded confident that the beardie will make it. Still gonna be checking up and making sure that he gets better, but everything is looking up!

 

[Sadie]

UPDATE. Hello! So, I have been calling the pet store about every day or two, and the beardie has been steadily improving. I'm pretty sure that this can be attributed to one employee in particular who cares about the animals there. I called again just now, and that one employee happily told me that the beardie actually started going after crickets again, and is being hand-fed to ensure he gets back up to weight. Sounded confident that the beardie will make it. Still gonna be checking up and making sure that he gets better, but everything is looking up!

Good glad to get the update ---- hopefully you wont haft to set up that hospital tank and he can go right into a reg tank --- just make sure you have the correct UVB digital probe and a bright white basking bulb-- I will help you set that UVB up just let me know when you get it the dragon

 

[haleygreer]

Of course! Thank you so much for all of your help and advice--I'm so glad that I came across this forum. Will continue to update!