Possible sick Beardy :S

[billzey]

Hey guys, my 1 1/2 year old female beardy has not eaten ANYTHING for over a month now and I'm worried. She stopped eating crickets about 2 weeks before I moved her into a bigger enclosure and stopped eating veggies 1 week after that. Since shes been in the new cage she has eaten nothing. She doesn't seem sick but she just sits up on the highest branch. When I moved her off she just climbs back up. She is not lethargic and she has to jump quite high to get to the branch. Sometimes she seems tired and closes her eyes but other times she looks alert. When I try to feed her she looks at the food and then just loses interest. I've noticed a small weight loss with her shoulder blades and tail base bones becoming more defined. She has no bubbles in her nose or mouth nor any clicking noises when I try to listen to her head. Temps are quite high and humidity is usually low. 10.0 UVB bulb about 30cm away from her basking spot. She is housed with a shingleback of the same size and they didn't pay any attention to each other in the their old cage let alone the monster I have them in now. None of my animals have ever been sick other than now.

Sorry for the long post but any suggestions would be appreciated greatly.

 

[Reptiles4life1]

I had the same case had a beardie and a shingleback in the same cage they both stopped eating and my bearded dragon is getting very skinny you may have to force feed him Just a suggestion Thats what im doing and there both eating well know

 

[billzey]

I had the same case had a beardie and a shingleback in the same cage they both stopped eating and my bearded dragon is getting very skinny you may have to force feed him Just a suggestion Thats what im doing and there both eating well know

The shingleback eats well and the beardy used to even with the shingleback but before they moved cage. So you had to force feed both did you and then they ate well again?

 

[Reptiles4life1]

yes i did force feed them for a while and cause i had them in an indoor cage even with a thermostat UV and ultra violet light i still took them out in the sunf for a good 1/2 hour but if you cant do that just make sure the cage is cleaned regularly and you will find that he will pick up again and start eating buy himself aslong as you keep force feeding until he eats by himself

 

[viciousred]

Thats a bit extreme. Force feeding is very stressful on them and probably not something you should try straight away or without being shown how. Beardys are horrible to force feed.

Has she been getting calcium? What veggies had she been eating? What are the exact temps? when did she last poop?
Taking her out in the sun for 1/2 an hour a day is a great idea, maybe try a warm bath to see if she is a bit backed up.
But seeing as it has been over a month, I'd be getting her to a vet. thats to long if she isnt brumating

 

[billzey]

Ok thanks, how do you force feed without causing distress?

 

[viciousred]

There is no way to force feed without cause distress... Try a bit of strawberry. see if that temps her. But I would be going to the vet before force feeding. She could have an infection, being a female they can get a problem with unfertilised eggs going bad in there bellys. had she been digging alot when she stopped eating?

 

[Reptiles4life1]

i have been shown how to by a very experienced breeder in NSW he was a great mate of steve irwin and he come and helped me with mine and thats what he said to do

 

[Grogshla]

we need lots more info mate.
whats the size of the tank
temperatures
basking spot temp
uvb? what brand? how far is it away from the dragon?
Is the enclosure too cluttered?
Is there enough hides?
Are you using any light at night?

No need to force feed at this stage.

Also give the dragon a warm shoulder deep bath for a good 20 mins every few days

 

[viciousred]

Exactly dear. you were shown how, by someone. its not something you just try on your own... or at all until you know what the problem is.

 

[billzey]

There is no way to force feed without cause distress... Try a bit of strawberry. see if that temps her. But I would be going to the vet before force feeding. She could have an infection, being a female they can get a problem with unfertilised eggs going bad in there bellys. had she been digging alot when she stopped eating?

yea thought so but i'll give it a go anyway.

 

[viciousred]

If you do it wrong you could kill her. Wanna risk that mate?

 

[billzey]

we need lots more info mate.
whats the size of the tank
temperatures
basking spot temp
uvb? what brand? how far is it away from the dragon?
Is the enclosure too cluttered?
Is there enough hides?
Are you using any light at night?

No need to force feed at this stage.

Also give the dragon a warm shoulder deep bath for a good 20 mins every few days

temp : 40 C at highest basking point roughly 30 C at other end

tanks : 4ft long x 3ft deep x 2.5ft high

UVB : 30cm away from basking spot/ordered from reptiledirect.com.au

The enclosure is very spacious with some rocks at one end and a hide at the other and I use no light at night except for the light fixtures that glow in the dark. I will bathe but why?

If you do it wrong you could kill her. Wanna risk that mate?

Sorry that reply was meant for the other guy before I saw your post

 

[viciousred]

the will help hydrate her and loosen up any obstructions in her bowl

 

[billzey]

There is no way to force feed without cause distress... Try a bit of strawberry. see if that temps her. But I would be going to the vet before force feeding. She could have an infection, being a female they can get a problem with unfertilised eggs going bad in there bellys. had she been digging alot when she stopped eating?

I called the vet and its $86 for consultation so I came here first. She has not dug since she laid a clutch of unfertilised eggs a while ago but after that she ate like crazy to regain the weight she lost from laying the eggs

Ok thanks I'll start tomorrow

 

[maddog-1979]

a nice warm bath will help to relax muscles and loosen any obstructions in the bowel, beware if you do this in the bath tub, cos the possible consequences might put you off taking a bath for a while yourself. gently try and feel for any lumps or bumps in the belly. if nothing comes out after a couple of baths go to a vet or reptile place.

if it's not an obstruction of some kind, then a good vet or reptile specialist will be in order