Lazy baby Beardie named Maxi

by See
(Maryland)

Just got a baby Beardie that is about 5 months I think. He does not eat much and is too lazy to chase crickets. He ate a few meal worms from his dish but I know this should not be his only source if protein. He also ate some of the veggies I set aside mixed with the juvenile Beardie food pellets. He slept in his water dish and has drunk water. When I got him from the pet store I was told that he has been checked by vet twice and he is just a lazy Beardie. When I would visit the pet store before I bought him he was always the one in a corner sleep. Does it sound like he is sick? I do not see mucous in eyes or mouth. He will look at me when he is awake and he jumped from his water dish to his perch to bask under heat lamp. The cool side is about 80 - 85 degrees. Should I take him to the vet or just return him for a more active baby? How can I get him to eat? The person at the pet store said not to even get crickets now because he won't eat them. Just need help so I can do what is best for my new lizard companion. Thanks for any help.

Response:
I would take him to a vet that has experience with reptiles. What's the temps of his basking spot? It should be around 105F to 110F. You need to get a temp gun or have a thermometer to make sure the temps are good. What's the UVB bulb? A good UVB bulb is the Reptisun 10.0 UVB. Does he have a couple of hides, one on the cool side and one on the hot? They need hides to de-stress. Baby beardies need a lot of protein, -they should be eating roughly 50 pinhead crickets per day.

Comments for Lazy baby Beardie named Maxi

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jun 18, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lazy beardie mom
by: See

His cool side during day is 80-85 degrees his hot side is 100-105. He knows about his hides and went exploring this morning. But I do believe he is impacted as he has not gone to the bathroom. I definitely thought all of protein needed to be live. I called the pet store and let them know he is not doing well. I was told that they will buy him back and let the vet see him and once he is better let me buy him back. Although we have gotten attached to the lizard and he is really sweet I am not sure if we should wait around for the vet to get him better or if we should just get a "healthy" baby from the new batch they will get in this week. I am leaning toward getting a new lizard. Especially since we are not even sure how long it will be to get him better. My five year old will not understand why his pet isnt home with him. Now I am sure impaction is not contagious but should I replace or clean everything in my Vivarium for the new lizard?

Response:
What if the pet store doesn't really do anything for the dragon? I would take the lizard to the vet yourself and see what he or she says. If the other issues I wrote about are not addressed then the same thing might potentially happen to the new dragon. You should have the entire set up ready to go before you bring home a new lizard. Correct temps with a good temp gun, -right diet ready (the hard greens: dandelion, turnip, collard.) 50 live pinhead crickets a day for a baby. Bath (soak) every other day for shedding, etc.
Jun 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lazy Beardie mommie part 3
by: See

This morning he was sleep in his water dish. Could it be that the temp is too hot or that he is getting ready to shed/molt?
Jun 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lazy Beardie mommie
by: See

Forgot to say he has the night time heat lamp on 24 hrs a day at 75-100 degrees and the desert UVB light at 150 degrees.


Response:
You need to let the temps go down to room temp at night unless it gets under 65F, -then add a heat coil lamp (no light) to the top of the cage. Is the UVB bulb really at 150F? I doubt that it is. Is it a mercury vapor bulb (they produce heat and UVB)? tempgun.com has good temp measuring devices. The surface temp of the basking spot needs to be around 105F to 110F.
Jun 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Baby Beardie owner
by: See

I have the temp on the warm side about 95 - 100 I am going to get another thermometer to verify. He has two hides that he has not used yet. I think today when I get home I am going to try to feed him crickets to see what he does. I am also going back to the pet store to talk to them and get the other thermometer. I am also going to show him the two hides by placing him in them to see if that helps. He is in a 40 gallon tank. So since I do plan to keep him unless things get worse I probably will take him to the vet. But from what you are saying his behavior is not common. My other concern is he has not used the bathroom since I got him Saturday. Can he remain healthy if he is eating the meal worms, lizard pellets, veggies? Can I give him super worms or silk worms instead of crickets if he won't eat them or will the dried crickets hive him the nutrients he needs? Thanks so much for your help, I truly appreciate it. This is my first lizard and I want him to live a long and healthy life. I love him already.

Response:
It sounds like he might be impacted. Baby beardies and adult dragons need "live" bugs, not dried. The other thing is: how close is he able to get to the bulb (UVB)? The bulb should have had instructions as to the distance the the lizard should be from the bulb to get the most benefit of the light. Do you have a separate bulb for the heat?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Bearded Dragon care tips or stories.