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19-Jan-08, 06:37 AM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-08 Location: Canada | | |
Hello, I've read some other threads regarding similar circumstances, but was hoping for some new suggestions.
My girlfriend has 2 baby beardies, brought home 1 month ago (bred in a pet store), I think they are now about 3 months old. Both were very active/eating/pooping/running, etc, and one still is. However, the other one is now very lethargic, losing weight, not very interested in food...
We have started to feed the little one with a medicine dropper - a mixture of water, electrolytes, and meal replacement powder (which is technically for Crested Geckos). She will lick it off the end of her nose if we dab it there, and seems to "drink" it if we open her mouth and force feed her this way, but does not seem to want to eat on her own. She really tiny - maybe 7cm (snout to vent) She doesn't hold her head up as much anymore, in other words, she seems very weak, and her belly is starting to look caved in.
There is a temperature gradient from about 22 - 42 across the cage, and a brand new UV light. They get offered 1 week old crix every 2-3 days, mealworms, and always have access to fresh chopped veggies (kale etc).
One of the first things you might say is "get her to a vet", but where I live, there really aren't any qualified reptile vets (and when I've gone in the past, they just give you sheets they printed off the internet).
So I was hoping for anymore suggestions anyone might have. I don't have constant access to the internet, so I might not be able to respond to you until tomorrow...
Thanks in advance!
Rob
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19-Jan-08, 10:01 AM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Nov-05 Location: melbourne | | | |
The first thing I would do is separate them, then offer insects every day at that age.
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19-Jan-08, 01:48 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Aug-07 Location: SouthAustralia Gender:  | | | |
They can not digest meal worms at this age...there is a chance of any undigested ..un-chewed to eat there way through your hatchies stomach ...horrid but true!
Little dragons need way more than that.....from day 1 ,4-5 feeds per day ....let them eat till full at each attempt
as you have not fed this way...you need to slowly increase feeds within the next 10 days to increase stomach size.....
you liitle one will need to be force fed at least 3 crickets on the first day... day 2 3 feeds of 2 crickets
day 3 4 feeds of 2 crickets
day 4 4 feeds of 3 crickets etc
increase both your beardies feed ,this will help to retain your bigger beardie growth....hopefully your little ones life.....ensure all feed is coated with calcium per day & in 2 weeks start alternating with vitamins
Not that is is stated in hand books or leafletts...feeding dragons in another tub/tank separately helps with the dominance problems & also any undetected live in the habitat will lead to stress as well.
PM me if you need any further help.... Goodluck!
PS...as they get older you will be able to decrease the feeds.................my adults eat live every 4 days ...unless gravid!
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22-Jan-08, 09:21 AM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jan-08 Location: Canada | | | |
Sorry for the late response. The baby died over the weekend. To clarify a couple of items first though (I worded this poorly) dragonlady - she was feeding them every day, I was just buying 50 every 2-3 days, and they would eat all the crix over this time frame. Also, the baby was separated towards the end.
We came home one night, and it was like one half of the babies body was paralyzed, s/he just kept going around in circles. My gf is trained as an animal health technologist (a nurse for animals), and said the times she's seen stuff like that before (albeit not in reptiles) it indicates some sort of neurological disease or CNS problem.
The other one is doing wonderfully though, so we'll just focus our time on this little rascal.
Thanks again!
Rob
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22-Jan-08, 11:00 AM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Aug-07 Location: SouthAustralia Gender: | | | |
Fair enough.......tears for the little one!
earth worms are a great other live meat for beardies..as woodies at this age!
I breed rabbits,guineas & other animals as well... i generally leave it to the mother to decide what is naturally strongest.....with reptiles we incubate eggs at sub-normal conditions
In the wild mother nature has her choice.....sad,horrid but true ...she weins out the weak &
ones that wouldnt survive!.... its amazing how often this does happen
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