Drunk/unsteady Beardies

[Darren86]

I need advice!

I have 2 young beardies, about 6-7 weeks old. I noticed today after getting home from work that they both have unsteady movements. One in particular is bad and rolls when picked up, and has its head constantly pointed down.

I did a search on here and found numerous reasons such as overheating, calcium deficiency, calcium overdose, dry inner ear and lack of UVB.

The cage has a basking spot of 38 and cool end in the high 20's, a UVB 10 3ft fluro , they have been recieving vitamin and calcium dusted crickets and are misted at least twice daily and given barhs every few days. After reading as many relevant threads as i could find I have given them both some calcium powder mixed in water, as the pharmacy didn't have sandoz liquid calcium and the pet shop had no liquid calcium misters either. I have also moved them into a simple click clack in our coolest room, with a MVB bulb to ensure UVB incase the fluro was a dud. I also took Kirby's advice from another thread and put a drop of oil in their ears incase of the middle ear drying out.

My question is.... Is there anything else I should/can be doing to help these little guys. There are no vets up here that I know of that are trully reptile vets, and it being night time and a pub hol tomorrow I don't like my chances of getting in anytime soon.

Any help would be much appreciated
Darren

 

[CarpetPythons.com.au]

You will find that the major cause for those effects are the lack of adequate UVb and vitamins in their diet. There is a product on the market called Solar drops, it is manufactured by T-Rex. It is liquid vitamin D3 and a few drops a day over a period of time will clear it up.
Good luck.

 

[Darren86]

Thank you, I will see if the shops up here stock it, either tomorrow if they are open, or wednesday.

 

[lizardjasper]

I have a friend who breeds beardies, and some of the babies get this too. It stops once they have their first shed. Put them in the sink with half a centermeter of warm water, leave them for a few minutes, then dry them off and just see if that helps. Also, maybe take them out into the sun for a little while tomorrow!

 

[Darren86]

Yeah, good point I have seen some shedding but certainly not a full one yet

 

[Kyro]

It sounds like the ear is too dry which buggers up their balance, keep up with the oil & mist a couple of times a day & they should come good

 

[Darren86]

Thanks heaps Kyro

 

[Jasspa]

I know it may sound like an obvious thing, but whilst they lack that bit of control, make sure you don't have a water bowl in with them. If they get into the water bowl they won't know to keep their head pointing up...

 

[falconboy]

I know its within acceptable limits, and I'm sure plenty do, but I wouldn't keep such young ones with such a hot hot spot, particularly if theres any chance the thermostat isn't accurate, and especially if symptoms could be signs of overheating and/or if they haven't quite got the hang of having a bath when they are hot. A drop of a few degrees won't hurt, even if its just for a while. My 2c anyway.

 

[JAS101]

It sounds like the ear is too dry which buggers up their balance, keep up with the oil & mist a couple of times a day & they should come good

yup sure duz , when my beardies were small my girl had/did the same thing - wanting to roll over and over , act like she was drunk . and it turned out to be dry ear . after a few mistings she came good .

 

[CarpetPythons.com.au]

Can somebody back up this dry ear condition with some references? Medical or scientific?

 

[hawkesbury reptiles]

Can somebody back up this dry ear condition with some references? Medical or scientific?

Yes... I have never heard of this before....:?

kelly

 

[JasonL]

Heating / food ratios are out causing hypocalcemia, living in Cairns this is easy done I guess, naturally Bearded Dragons are subjected to plenty of cold weather (during nights or rain periods). I only heat my juvies about 3 / 4 days a week and never have such problems.

 

[JasonL]

Can somebody back up this dry ear condition with some references? Medical or scientific?

largely a furffy I think, how can an ear dry out of a creature that survives in a desert and is being raised up on the coast where the humidity is at least twice what it's used to. Maybe some vets thought it up being a balance problem ect.....

 

[Darren86]

So what do I do? should I cut out their heat? but being a MVB it will also cut out UVB

 

[Darren86]

I'll put them outside for the rest of the day, temp is in high 20's but is really overcast so they will still get UVB but no heat. see if the helps.

 

[AUSGECKO]

Are you sure its a murcury vapour globe? I would expect a MVP to produce a higher basking temp than just 38c.

 

[Darren86]

I have put them under a MVB now. they were originally under a normal spot light with a UVB tube. exo-terra 10. they are not under a Exo-terra Solar Glo

 

[Darren86]

sorry, typo. they are NOW under an Exo-terra Solar Glo 125W MVB

 

[falconboy]

sorry, typo. they are NOW under an Exo-terra Solar Glo 125W MVB

Far out, how hot is the hot spot? :shock: