Spike's Health

[Trinidy]

Hello, my name is Trinidy. I have a Bearded Dragon named Spike, He's 11 years old and hasn't eat for a week and a half. My dad and I are trying to give him food every day but he just won't eat, and every day he poops little even thought he hasn't eaten anything so we are weird about him.

 

[Sadie]

Hello, my name is Trinidy. I have a Bearded Dragon named Spike, He's 11 years old and hasn't eat for a week and a half. My dad and I are trying to give him food every day but he just won't eat, and every day he poops little even thought he hasn't eaten anything so we are weird about him.

Have you weighed him to see if he's losing weight? Weigh on a kitchen scale weigh in grams-- are his poops normal or real runny and stinky? He's getting up there in age- is he active basking or lethargic behavior-- what are you using for a UVB and what are his basking temps? How old is the UVB bulb?

 

[Trinidy]

Have you weighed him to see if he's losing weight? Weigh on a kitchen scale weigh in grams-- are his poops normal or real runny and stinky? He's getting up there in age- is he active basking or lethargic behavior-- what are you using for a UVB and what are his basking temps? How old is the UVB bulb?

last time we weight him was on 1-24-2021 and he was 366g. Poops are runny and they don't really smell, he is basking which I'm proud of and he's active in the morning (lights tern on at 8am and tern off at 9pm) but then after noon he's a little tired, he takes naps under his heat lap. For the UVB they never had it before until my dad and I got them from my moms house (I have two Beaded Dragons FYI) they were my mom's pets until she abandum during the fires, her house has was smocked damaged but at lest it didn't burn down. My dad and I got them supplies before we went to get them and that was in October so the UVB is 5 months old. and He's backing temps are 95 Freight and 25% Humidity, the other half of the tank is 66 Freight and 48% Humidity. We took him to the Vet the last month because of he's pores were so bad, and the Vet gave us some medication for him to drink so that might have to do with something. The Vet appointment was on 2/17/2021 so the next week he wasn't eating at all...

 

[Emilia Thuet]

It could be due to the medicine, some beardies have been known to have a decreased appetite when they are on certain medication. What type of medication is it and can you also send in a picture of spike as well as his pores please and tank you. Also how long is he from head to the tip of his tail?

 

[Trinidy]

last time we weight him was on 1-24-2021 and he was 366g. Poops are runny and they don't really smell, he is basking which I'm proud of and he's active in the morning (lights tern on at 8am and tern off at 9pm) but then after noon he's a little tired, he takes naps under his heat lap. For the UVB they never had it before until my dad and I got them from my moms house (I have two Beaded Dragons FYI) they were my mom's pets until she abandum during the fires, her house has was smocked damaged but at lest it didn't burn down. My dad and I got them supplies before we went to get them and that was in October so the UVB is 5 months old. and He's backing temps are 95 Freight and 25% Humidity, the other half of the tank is 66 Freight and 48% Humidity. We took him to the Vet the last month because of he's pores were so bad, and the Vet gave us some medication for him to drink so that might have to do with something. The Vet appointment was on 2/17/2021 so the next week he wasn't eating at all...

And the UVB is the long one (10.0 UVB T5 HO Reptile Terrarium Lamp, 24-watt) and the temp for the heat light is now at 97F and 12% Humid.

 

[Emilia Thuet]

Oh can you also send a picture of his set up (There's probably nothing wrong with it but it can still be helpful)

 

[Trinidy]

It could be due to the medicine, some beardies have been known to have a decreased appetite when they are on certain medication. What type of medication is it and can you also send in a picture of spike as well as his pores please and tank you. Also how long is he from head to the tip of his tail?

My dad has a picture on his phone with the pores in, I'll ask him to send me a picture of it.

 

[Emilia Thuet]

Alright so I would suggest getting him off the sand as soon as possible. That is probably contributing to his clogged pores. To get rid of those give him a good 20 minute soak daily for a week straight and scrub it with a baby toothbrush. You can try to gently squeeze the pores out, if they aren’t coming easily and spike starts to wiggle leave it alone it is not ready to come out yet. You should try to upgrade his tank too, most beardies to be comfortable should have a 75 gallon tank or up (my beardies have 120 gallon tanks). Another thing you can try doing is bringing him closer to his uvb light he may not be getting enough uvb and that could be contributing to him not eating. Though besides that he does look really healthy and at a great weight for his length

 

[Sadie]

And the UVB is the long one (10.0 UVB T5 HO Reptile Terrarium Lamp, 24-watt) and the temp for the heat light is now at 97F and 12% Humid.

Ok the T 8 needs to be inside the tank w/ a piece of decor directly under it -- NO cover over the bulb if there is one take it off - I would get your bulb changed out to a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 -- they are the best on the market at this time please -- next I would ditch the sand and get some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut it to the size of the tank --- dand harbors bacteria and can cause impaction -- the medication dries them out make sure hes hydrated - the screen is blocking 30% of the rays and if there is a cover over the bulb even more so --- between the meds he was / is taking and the UVB being blocked is more than likely the cause -- he cannot absorb his calcium w/ out proper UVB--- please move the UVB inside the tank or take the screen off so he can get unobstructed UVB --- how are you taking basking temps? You need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate basking temps-- they need to be 95-110 for a adult dragon - I dont see any guages at all - if his humidity is 12% that is too low -- it needs to be at least 20% and not above 70% --
If you need things to help hang the UVB please let me know I will post some -- I would also look at getting him a bigger tank - he looks to big for the tank hes in
Ok so the UVB is a T 5 it looks like it can stay on the screen but please get a piece of decor directly under it w/ a distance of 8-10 inches-- your screen looks like its a wide hole type ?

 

[Trinidy]

Here a picture of he's pores.

 

[Sadie]

Here a picture of he's pores.

If you soak him in a betadine solution make it look like a weak tea and soak for 15 minutes or so that will loosen them up and like Emily said you can gently squeeze after some good soaks and if they are soft enough they will come out

 

[Sadie]

If you soak him in a betadine solution make it look like a weak tea and soak for 15 minutes or so that will loosen them up and like Emily said you can gently squeeze after some good soaks and if they are soft enough they will come out

Are you sure the UVB is a T 5 the fixture looks to be too short for a T 5 and more of a T 8

 

[Emilia Thuet]

Oh the poor dear, I remember Prometheus’s pores where about as bad as that. Definitely give him long soaks and they are getting much better without there looking to be any infections so that’s really good

 

[Trinidy]

If you soak him in a betadine solution make it look like a weak tea and soak for 15 minutes or so that will loosen them up and like Emily said you can gently squeeze after some good soaks and if they are soft enough they will come out

We look him to the Vet so they can take the pores out. Sorry that I didn't mention that...

 

[Emilia Thuet]

They are still a little clogged though in the original photo you sent. It could be due to the sand or the vet didn’t fully take out the clogged pores. That being said I do suggest giving him baths so the rest of the clogged pores can come out

 

[Trinidy]

Ok the T 8 needs to be inside the tank w/ a piece of decor directly under it -- NO cover over the bulb if there is one take it off - I would get your bulb changed out to a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 -- they are the best on the market at this time please -- next I would ditch the sand and get some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut it to the size of the tank --- dand harbors bacteria and can cause impaction -- the medication dries them out make sure hes hydrated - the screen is blocking 30% of the rays and if there is a cover over the bulb even more so --- between the meds he was / is taking and the UVB being blocked is more than likely the cause -- he cannot absorb his calcium w/ out proper UVB--- please move the UVB inside the tank or take the screen off so he can get unobstructed UVB --- how are you taking basking temps? You need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate basking temps-- they need to be 95-110 for a adult dragon - I dont see any guages at all - if his humidity is 12% that is too low -- it needs to be at least 20% and not above 70% --
If you need things to help hang the UVB please let me know I will post some -- I would also look at getting him a bigger tank - he looks to big for the tank hes in
Ok so the UVB is a T 5 it looks like it can stay on the screen but please get a piece of decor directly under it w/ a distance of 8-10 inches-- your screen looks like its a wide hole type ?

The temp for the heat light lot it's sticker a couple of weeks ago because Spike keep putting hes head on it so it keep falling down into the sand....

 

[Trinidy]

They are still a little clogged though in the original photo you sent. It could be due to the sand or the vet didn’t fully take out the clogged pores. That being said I do suggest giving him baths so the rest of the clogged pores can come out

He sill had some in there after the Vet and yes sand did get stuck in some howls, I'm planning to give him and my other lizard a bath today.

 

[Emilia Thuet]

Ok and it could help a lot if you got him like non-adhesive shelf linear instead of the sand. It would help the chances of his pores getting clogged again, just a little thought

 

[BeardieLover<3]

I like your new profile picture lol

Ok and it could help a lot if you got him like non-adhesive shelf linear instead of the sand. It would help the chances of his pores getting clogged again, just a little thought

 

[Trinidy]

Are you sure the UVB is a T 5 the fixture looks to be too short for a T 5 and more of a T 8

I honestly forgot what kind it was I just went on google and look up the closes one that it looked like the one we have.