He is going into shed ---- he looks good --- I wouldnt worry about him --- just follow what I posted -- and keep me updated w/ his weight etc
-
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!
Weeks of stressed out dragon
- Thread starter 2Pacalypse
- Start date
- Messages
- 153
I tried using the scale but wasn’t very successful. He doesn’t want to sit still & I had him on a towel which showed it was 2.03 g. In total with him moving it was racing back & forth from 4.46 g to 5.01 g
Tried soaking him & got him to take one lick but still no interest in food. I dread the vet appt tomorrow evening because I know its going to stress him out big time & he is now moving back & forth from UVB to the Bask but I also want to see if the vet can say what’s wrong & why he won’t eat.
what would you do?
Get a bowl zero it out on the scale - put him in it--- get weight -- so he took one lick of water? Watch his weight -- NO ENEMAS at the vet --- get a poop sample take it w/ you---- it has not been long enough to know whether hes losing weight-- I haft to say hes not acting lethargic hes not black bearding and he is basking correct? I would not take him in unless he was doing doing all 3- if hes pooping and hes basking and not acting lethargic and no black bearding I would not take him in --- I spent almost $500 on Hiccup a few years ago because he would not eat --- X-rays blood work - fecal --not losing weight and I dont remember what else force fed him for 2 weeks -- to find out there was NOTHING wrong w/ him --- they go off their food at times - I finally said enough was enough w/ the force feeding I quit and 2 days later or so he started to eat again -- he has not done that since --- there are days he wont eat -- I quit worrying about it cuz I know I have good UVB and good basking temps - he does what he needs to do and when he eats that is good - he doesnt eat salad regularly -- he does like his worms but for the most part he is sustaining his weight -- in fact I had him in to the vet in March and she wanted him to lose about 40 grams - if you want get a check up on him --- it will stress him out but for your piece of mind get a vets opinion --- but it must be a good vet --- do not let them prescribe meds if he does not need them -- it will make him sick when he is more than likely not sick --- if they want to put him on medication then they need to show you the proof there is actually something wrong -- none of this antibiotic stuff for NO infection showing -- parasites / worms if the count is high enough --- they all have them to an extent but the count must be high enough to treat -- parasites will cause them not to eat but usually if its that high there are other symptoms like lethargic behavior poop that smells so bad it make you leave the room and is very runny -- losing weight -- those type of symptoms- it is up to you - you tell the vet NO meds unless there is actually something wrong -- I had taken Hiccup to a vet in town and she wanted to treat for pinworms etc I got the fecal results and posted them to the friend of mine who is a vet tech -- she is very good at reading them she said the count was very low and it was up to me to give the med she prescribed Albon which is pretty harsh - I chose NOT to treat - in the mean time after that I looked for another vet in town - I found a really good reptile vet and took Hiccup to her when it was time to have the next check up - she was VERY THOROUGH she went over everything from diet to what I was using for lighting -- to substrate in the tank --- Hiccups fecal came back negative for the pinworms / parasites -- she was the one I had taken him to for the not eating --- she was at a loss as well at the time - but there was nothing wrong w/ Hiccup - there are vets out there that will give meds just to give meds even tho there is nothing showing anything wrong w/ them --- blood work will tell alot - Xrays are for more calcium defiencey or blockage -etc but it is up to you ----- let me know what you decide
- Messages
- 153
He still black beards but not nearly as often & still glass surfs & head bobs but nothing like it was a few days ago. He won’t eat or drink. Haven’t noticed the head tremor but it was barely noticeable when I saw it & now I’ve covered part of his glass. He stopped pooping for a week. Pooped friday but nothing since. I would love peace of mind but not at stressing him out more.
He is freaking me out because he still is constantly looking up like something but now he zones out & doesn’t acknowledge me at all. He isn’t seeming lethargic. Maybe a bit less active & is using the bask & UVB again. I changed UVB a few days before he stopped eating. Just now wondering if maybe its a bad bulb? I’m going to change it to another in a few & see if that changes anything. He has just been weird for so long & went from bad to worse after I moved the other pets out of the room
- Messages
- 153
Have you ever heard a new bulb not being adequate UVB? I got it from chewy when Its normally from petco. The thing that sux is that I saved his used one as a future backup because it was only like 4 months old & got it mixed up with 2 new ones (ugh) but he is under it & wondering if it was the bulb, how long before the better bulb kicks in?
I really dont want to stress him by going to a vet whom I don’t even know is good with reptiles. All vets say they will see one but I dealt with that with the birds. Just bcuz they give an appointment, doesn’t mean they know crap about that species.
Correct about the vets- go here look for a vet in your area www.arav.org
The new uvb-- bulb will kick in right away-- watch the behavior - see if you can find a reptile vet in your area-- regular vets don't know squat about dragons
- Messages
- 153
The only vet that shows within 30 miles is one Ive used in the past & called last week & they are only doing appointment from your vehicle. How can you check a freaked out dragon correctly from my passenger window & I don’t fancy my baby jumping & running when this place is on a main highway. The lights been on for an hour & a half with no change..darn it
Still hoping tomorrow he will eat something.
Thank you! Will let ya know how he is doing
That is ridiculous about the vet --- where are you? My vet is now doing walk ins and seeing animals like they should -- he will start showing change in a day or two -- give it time -- if the bulb was expired that is my guess for the NOT eating --- they wont eat w/ out proper UVB rays
Hi; u are a great owner especially because u used the correct heat lamp( zoomed) & the correct reptisun 10.0 T5 for UVB. Most people kill/hurt and injure dragons because they don’t give uvb or the correct uvb. So u r doing great. Bu; the temp is way too high/hot for him; it needs to be 95-98 not higher when they turn 8-9mnths old the temp should be 95-97maximum not higher with a digital thermometer is the most accurate. U ordered the right Uvb that’s great, jist make sure u replace the uvb every 6Mnths. However; he does need a hideaway to get away form uvb as needed so get a hammock and place a soft terry cloth over it so underneath is shade and a soft fleece blanket under they like to lay on soft stuff. Keep the heat and uvb on for 10-12 hours in the winter more like 10 & in the summer 12-14; more like 14. At night no lights they like quiet and pure dark. If temp drops below 70 in the winter then use a ceramic heat emitter which emits heat but no light. STOP the mealworms it impacts them. Do crickets & Dubia roaches only as proteins; they are the best and a fresh plate of greens and veggies everyday. The proteins: U should feed him 2-3 times a day since he’s young and dust in calcium powder every other day once per day only. It’s called REPCAL from Petco. Then on a non calcium day U sprinkle herptivite it’s a vitamin powder once per day/week. Mustard greens, collard greens, dandelions, yellow squash, butternut squash, green beans & snap peas are the best everyday ones. For fruit blueberries, mangoes and papayas a few times a week as treats I’m addition to the greens/veggies. If he wants out of his cage till he calms down that’s good get a light like a powersun light and get a holder and a soft big pillow or cat bed and place the light 14-16 inches away and let him lounge outside of his cage under the light for 2-4 hours or soo; I do that too when they want out and mine looks out the window thats there entertainment is movement Amd greenery and even watching Tv they love.
Also a Beardie needs 2 hours of basking before it’s first feeding and the last feeding lights need to remain on for 2hoiurs. It takes a Beardie 2 hours to digest his food.
- Messages
- 153
So I got a reminder for the vet that Ive been waiting 6 1/2 weeks to get in & they do a vehicle appointment too. Im in west Newton 15089 PA & all covid crap has been lifted except masks so I called my old vet that popped up in the link you sent & they take your pet into the building without the parent allowed in. I made an appointment with them for NEXT Wednesday & wondering if thats what you would do?
The UVB change hasn’t changed anything. Wont eat & staring at the ceiling in a trance with head bobbing & black beard for almost 2 hours. I try petting or leaning in & talking but he ducks when I pet but otherwise stays zoned out.
Sounds like AdenoVirus which is deadly and very contagious. Read about it
- Messages
- 153
I will look it up now. Thank you!
I didn't even think of that - you can get a test for that to see if he has it--- call your vet and ask for one - let me know please
- Messages
- 153
This doesn’t look like stargazing to me & none of the articles mentioned the head bob, foot stomping or black bearding while staring at a spot. I also read that any dragon stressed or ill from other causes will probably test positive for Adenovirus because its being shed at those times?
Says it tested by flushing the cloa something, do you know what that means? I heard enemas are a big NO at a vets office
This is him staring at the spot again, does it look like stargazing?
Attachments
- Messages
- 153
He isn’t exactly stargazing like pics showed & none mentioned the black beard/head bobbing while doing it. He looks with one up at the ceiling but then zones kinda straight ahead or higher up on the front.
Read that the test is done by swabbing poop but he isn’t pooping. The vet can flush him but that sounds like an enema?
No that is normal -- his beard is not black either-- usually adenovirus shows up.in real young dragons--- give him till next week just keep offering food and keep track of his weight- zero your scale out w/bowl on it put him in bowl get weight
NO ENEMAS! I thought they tested by blood - I am gonna ask Tracie she's doing research on the adenovirus and what causes it
But a black beard means he’s majorly stressed out. Have u lowered the temp? Raise the basking light or lower the basking platform. Also; place a colorful palm tree wall paper inside the tank or outside on two sides of the tank and on the back part of tank too unless he can see a tv or has a back window to look out of; just make sure blinds are a bit downward so sun doesn’t blaze him even hotter. His reflection stresses all Beardies out. Always leave one full side of the tank available for the Beardie to look out or two sides depending on your set up. Trapping him like a prison cell will destroy him. My tank is open in the front to bask and watch tv and in the back to lounge at a lessor temp & look out the window at all the greenery. Here’s a pic.
Attachments
- Messages
- 153
I changed from a zoo med bask bulb to a house bulb & temps wont go higher than 94
The 75 zoo med bulb stays at 104
I’ve played around with highering & lowering, changing bulbs from 50 to 100 & have never been able to get an ideal range.
will leave it at the 94 for now & see if that make him stop black bearding.
he is in an enclosed PVC now & thats when he stopped eating (6 days ago)
