Silk Back Bearded Dragon

[Studio99]

My stepdaughter bought a Silk Back Bearded Dragon a couple of days ago, We have noticed that its blind as she can't see her food but can hear it, But then it bites its own foot instead of getting the food, we have had to hand feed her. She has also fell off her rock a couple of times because she can not see the end.

We have also noticed that she can not walk or stand, she lays flat on her belly.. She poops normally.
What could be causing these problems she bought her from a pet shop...
She don't want to return it to the shop incase they put it to sleep.

Thanks in advance

Mike

 

[Aleena]

Hi Mike. Taking care of a blind bearded dragon can be quite trying at times. I have an Italian Leatherback that is blind and we hand feed her insects to her, but she has learned her way around her cage and finds her greens okay now that I've got her eating good again. A good tip that I've heard is to use mustard greens because they have a strong smell and the dragon is more likely to find its dish if you do. I've tried this and noticed an increase in food consumption as well. You do want to find out why she is blind though, because if she has some sort of disease that caused it then she needs to be treated. I'm afraid a vet visit should be in order. Walking or standing could be attributed to the blindness or a more serious disease, you definitely want to get her checked out by a vet.

 

[Studio99]

Thank you so much for the reply, My stepdaughter is getting really stressed out over it especially since she has autism and expects everything to be ok.
I will arrange for a vet visit and see what is going on..

 

[Aleena]

Thank you so much for the reply, My stepdaughter is getting really stressed out over it especially since she has autism and expects everything to be ok.
I will arrange for a vet visit and see what is going on..

I certainly hope that there is nothing else going on, but even a blind beardie will usually move some after it has acclimated to its environment. Are you certain it can't walk or stand, or does it just not? Does it have functioning limbs if you move them yourself? Try turning it on its back to see if it will flail them, usually that will work to see, or a bath.

 

[Studio99]

When you hold her she grips hold and when you goto place her back in the Vivarium she still holds on so i think she does move them, She has moved as she fell off her rock as she couldn't see the end, But she don't move like the other one he is quick when the crickets are put in, and stands ok with the silk back its like she slides on her belly as she dont walk on her feet.

 

[Aleena]

When you hold her she grips hold and when you goto place her back in the Vivarium she still holds on so i think she does move them, She has moved as she fell off her rock as she couldn't see the end, But she don't move like the other one he is quick when the crickets are put in, and stands ok with the silk back its like she slides on her belly as she dont walk on her feet.

Then the silk back probably can walk, it just isn't, which can be health related, or again related to the blindness. Has it been in the same environment for at least a week?

 

[Germ]

But she don't move like the other one he is quick when the crickets are put in, and stands ok with the silk back its like she slides on her belly as she dont walk on her feet.

Are you housing them together? Silkbacks also need more specialized care & can not be handled near as much, a little different than regular BDs.

 

[Studio99]

She has only had them since thursday, She bought them both together as they were the last two in the shop and they were house together.. I know nothing about reptiles she has read up on them and stuff, I am more of a dog person LOL She wants me to contact the pet shop when he opens and see what he is going to do, I will ring round for a vet that deals with Reptiles as my vet doesn't deal with exotics..

Thanks for all the help

 

[Germ]

What they do in pet shops & what should be done as pets are entirely 2 different scenarios. Silkbacks need specialized care, as they don't have the protection of the scales. Cohabitation is never a good plan, doubly so, with basically 2 different species & one being very vulnerable to any type of trauma. By the way, Pet Stores are notorious for improper care of their reptiles & offering misinformation because very few are species specific knowledgeable in their care & needs for the long haul. You really have to consider this ...

Found here -- http://www.beardeddragonforum.com/i...co-habitation-a-good-plan.5172/#axzz1xYXbAcv6

 

[Studio99]

HI called the petstore and we have taken her back, the lady in store said they bought it from someone, who brought it back because the baby was allergic to one of the pets and they didn't know which one so sold all their pets, so they sold it on to us.. They are going to take it to the vets to see whats wrong, they said she seemed abit off in the shop so you can imagine how annoyed we were..

Thank you for all your replies

 

[Aleena]

HI called the petstore and we have taken her back, the lady in store said they bought it from someone, who brought it back because the baby was allergic to one of the pets and they didn't know which one so sold all their pets, so they sold it on to us.. They are going to take it to the vets to see whats wrong, they said she seemed abit off in the shop so you can imagine how annoyed we were..

Thank you for all your replies

You're welcome. I'm sorry you had to take her back!

 

[Studio99]

Hi she took her back to the petshop and they are taking her to the vets..
She bought a different one which is moving around and climbing as normal.
They have both been out running around the living room, when all of a sudden the smaller one ran over to the larger one jumped on its back and sat there then ran off again, the larger one ended up with a black neck for a few minutes after, We been told by a specialist at pets at home that these are male and female, The larger one being the female.. I have added pictures of them both together as well as the temp stats..

Both Together

Cool Side

Basking side

 

[Germ]

Some people just do not want to take good advice ...

What they do in pet shops & what should be done as pets are entirely 2 different scenarios. By the way, Pet Stores are notorious for improper care of their reptiles & offering misinformation because very few are species specific knowledgeable in their care & needs for the long haul. You really have to consider this ...

Found here -- http://www.beardeddragonforum.com/i...co-habitation-a-good-plan.5172/#axzz1xYXbAcv6

On top of that, never ever should you put 2 different sized BDs together. Your temps are much too low, cool side should be in the 27C-30C vicinity. Hot sides should be in the ranges of 43C-44C for a juvenile & 38C-41C for an adult.

They are both already showing signs of aggression &\or breeding behavior. This is a seriously bad situation all the way around!!!

A couple of links that you may find helpful along with the one above.
Basic BD Care Sheet - A Place To Start

TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED: A REALITY CHECK

Beautiful Dragons Nutrition Chart

Get them into separate enclosures asap, PLEASE!!! Before it is too late & serious Issues\problems evolve.

 

[ThDude]

listen to Germ, we have seen to many beaded dragons die in situations like this. not only that, but having a male and female isasking for trubble. if they mated you would have 15-17 little guys running around, its also hard on a BD to carry clutches at a young age.

the bigger one CAN and WILL try to eat the smaller one. to a BD if its smaller then it is and it moves, they will eat it.

the temps are low as Germ stated as well, i hope you have a UVB bulb on the tank too.

I myself have Asperger's and i fell in love with the bearded dragons. its hard for me to think about losing a Bearded dragon, if mine died i would be very upset. so i would hate to see anything happen to your childs BD and them be very upset about it.

 

[Germ]

having a male and female isasking for trubble. if they mated you would have 15-17 little guys running around, its also hard on a BD to carry clutches at a young age.

More like 20-30 if collected & incubated properly .

We been told by a specialist at pets at home that these are male and female, The larger one being the female..

A quote as an FYI on so called Chain Store Reptile Specialists, authored by one of them that tells the truth ...

I also work at a pet store and hate what is done there sometimes. I am told by corporate that it is OK to do things the wrong way because we are only a holding facility. Animals are on the wrong substrate, being fed a bare minimum diet and housed with way to many cage mates. I'm told to worry more about appearance than to educate the public on the proper care of the animals. Fortunately I'm no kid and could careless what corporate has to say and tell the customer what they need to hear. Our store is number one in our district for animal sale, because people come to learn the truth about animal care and appreciate the honesty.

I am certified as a reptile specialist, because I took a test that cared more about how to put turtle food on the shelf in the correct place than how to properly feed the reptiles. I take the time to research every reptile we get into the store so I have at least the basic information about it. I am by no means an expert on reptiles other than snakes. I get a lot of my knowledge from forums like this. I see who is knowledgeable on the forums and listen to what they have told me.