Update on the Bearded dragon

[DKGecko]

Well i started notice heavy breathing and his legs were all bent behind him and i new this was Not normal and i didnt want him dying so i started calling people up find out stuff..


well called petsmart but they said they couldnt do anything till friday.. (i wasnt waiting till friday its allrdy been two days)

so i called pet'acular exotics in antioch.. brought the setup to them....
100$ later i got right lighting setup and calcium products for him...

just over night... he looks 150% better. saturday when my 14day contract with petsmart ends im debating if i should take him back get refund... or just try nurse him back to health... sense it is petsmarts fault and the breeders fault... cuz they said he had that one bone disease and it takes month to acure... and ive only had him for 2 week they said he looks to be about month old so hes had this all his life... from not being under the uvb lighting.. so.. my dad thinks should talk petsmart tell them that i bought bearded from them... and im Nursing it back to health and sense my contract ends on saturday... that if it dont make it out it that get my money back anyways cuz it takes 8-10 days from him come back to gether... but hes allrdy looking tons better...

i got him on paper towels and his setups at around 115... and ive been using one them things that u take medice suck it in and then drip it in babys mouth... but using that give him his water... and feeding him the greens from my hand... cuz hes not eating crickets right now... i need get one them Long twesser looking things to pick the crickets up and feed them to him...

but he looks really good not breathing as heavy...

but basically reason why posting this is to see if anyone has any helpful idea's to help me out in any way..

also wats good thing make basking area out of? im using brick right now from our garden.. the guy told me hes suppose be eating 13-14 crickets a day... and my mouth like droped


anyways ne help let me know

 

[Nigel4less]

Crickets to be honest are terrible feeders overall, I would recommend getting some Small Silkworms or butterworms for him. They are more expensive but 10 times healthier for him. Also I dunno if they told you that Beardeds need leafy greens, things like Kale,and Mustard greens are great.

 

[DKGecko]

yea i work in produce department so i bring home kale and mustard greens for him to eat collar greens and such...

 

[LadyGecko]

Well i started notice heavy breathing and his legs were all bent behind him and i new this was Not normal and i didn't want him dying so i started calling people up find out stuff..


well called petsmart but they said they couldn't do anything till Friday.. (i wasn't waiting till Friday its already been two days)

so i called pet'acular exotics in antioch.. brought the setup to them....
100$ later i got right lighting setup and calcium products for him...

just over night... he looks 150% better. Saturday when my 14day contract with petsmart ends I'm debating if i should take him back get refund... or just try nurse him back to health... sense it is petsmarts fault and the breeders fault... cuz they said he had that one bone disease and it takes month to acure... and Ive only had him for 2 week they said he looks to be about month old so hes had this all his life... from not being under the UV lighting.. so.. my dad thinks should talk petsmart tell them that i bought bearded from them... and I'm Nursing it back to health and sense my contract ends on saturday... that if it don't make it out it that get my money back anyways cuz it takes 8-10 days from him come back to gether... but hes already looking tons better...

i got him on paper towels and his setups at around 115... and Ive been using one them things that u take medice suck it in and then drip it in baby's mouth... but using that give him his water... and feeding him the greens from my hand... cuz hes not eating crickets right now... i need get one them Long tweezer looking things to pick the crickets up and feed them to him...

but he looks really good not breathing as heavy...

but basically reason why posting this is to see if anyone has any helpful idea's to help me out in any way..

also whats good thing make basking area out of? I'm using brick right now from our garden.. the guy told me hes suppose be eating 13-14 crickets a day... and my mouth like dropped


anyways ne help let me know

I'm sorry to read that you are having problems with your baby dragon and I am curious as to what the stores reasoning was for waiting until Friday and what are they going to do on Friday that they could not do on the day that you called them?
Did you speak with the store manager??

Heavy breathing can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection and requires a vet visit for treatment asap

As far as what I have read about MBD over the past 10 years

There are a few reasons that MBD can happen in diurnal/sun basking lizards-the first two that come to mind are either-insufficient calcium intake or a problem with metabolizing the calcium that they ingest

The problem with metabolizing calcium can be due to insufficient UV or it can also be a problem that occurs sometimes for completely unknown reasons despite doing all the right things-IE providing the right food/temps/and UV light

If you decide to keep this little one I would again like to suggest a vet trip to also rule out the possible presence of parasites and to determine if there is an underlying cause for the MBD other than just not enough calcium intake or lack of UV lighting
Also-the vet would most likely provide you with liquid calcium to help with the MBD

I do agree that 2 weeks in your care should not make you responsible for the dragons condition but I really think that returning him/her would cause a lot of stress
But that is your call since it was your money that bought him/her

Depending on where you live and what the temps are now-if it is in the high 70's or warmer and sunny -you could bring him out into the sun for some brief direct UV exposure-otherwise-the tube lighting will have to do for now

I noticed that you said that there is a temp of 115 in his/her set up
What size tank and is that measured directly under the basking light ?

You do need a temp gradient within the tank for thermo regulation(as I am sure that you know by now) and overheating him can be just as bad as not warm enough temps as he will dehydrate quickly because of his young age/size
I do think that a vet trip would be a really good idea for this little one or return him asap so that hopefully the store can provide vet care for him/her

What strength UV tube are you using on the tank and how far away from him/her is it placed?
Also-is there a screen or glass in between the tube and your dragon?
All of these things contribute to how much UV that they actually receive from the light

I noticed that you are hand feeding him/her greens but no insects yet
If he/she won't take insects from your hand/tweezers-then you might want to pick up some formula for him as just greens are not enough protein intake for a baby Bearded Dragon

Flukers makes a product called Rept-A-Aid that i have had very good results with using in the past
It is sold in most of the large pet stores
Mix the powder/formula with water according to directions-it comes with a measuring spoon/powdered formula/ a mixing cup and small feeding syringe

Feed small amounts several times per day

You should not try and force open the dragons mouth-he/she should lick the formula dropped onto the nose area and I have found that they like the taste so much that they usually will drink it right out of the syringe once they taste it
Feed slowly and small amounts-for the size of your dragon-I would guess maybe 1/4 of the syringe to start out with and you can slowly increase the amount fed over time


Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck and please just ask if you have any more questions
Good Luck with your Beardie

Sandy

 

[LadyGecko]

PS-the bricks will work fine if they allow your Beardie to get within 12 inches of the UV tube
Driftwood and grape vine wood also work great for basking platforms

Hope this helps
Sandy

 

[LadyGecko]

How is your Beardie doing?

 

[goReptiles]

You still need to provide insects. Because it's a growing reptile, they still need their proteins for growing bones, muscles, and joints.

Here's an article I wrote about bearded dragon diet.

At least you have the right set up now... Research before buying a reptile or any animal, and you'll prevent any mishaps in the furture.

 

[goReptiles]

I wouldn't suggest anything from the outside to put in an enclosure unless you thoroughly cleaned it to get rid of anything that could cause parasites or whatever.

As for a basking area.. Anything that lets the dragon get within 6 inches of the UV. UV light tubes don't emit too far down. Also, they need to be replaced every 4-6 months. You may want to get a UV emitter from zoomed. They produce heat and better UV rays and last longer. They are a bit more pricey though, but worth the money. As for the basking decor, I'd check your pet store for anything with a little height, I've got a mopani wood decor piece in my bearded dragon enclosure, as well as a fake rock upper level that they love.