lethargic bearded dragon please help, urgent!!

[Absolutely_Mad]

I have three baby bearded dragons, two are fine but the other has it's eyes closed and is not moving at all. When he does wake up he is extremely lethargic, he does not open his eyes fully and usually falls back to sleep He doesn't eat often, although he use to eat vigorously. The uvb lighting is a 2.0 (not compact) and i am getting a new globe soon (higher intensity) would it help? i have a basking spot of 32 on most days (too low?) and i feed them small crickets. He is now half as big as the others although they were all equal a little under 2 weeks ago. could he be intimidated by the larger beardies? I am really worried about the little fella and would appreciate any feedback - thanks Lawrence

 

[Lollypop]

Hi. OK - the UV for beardies has to be minimum 5.0, so urgently need to change that or get them out in the sun.
Heat for beardy babies needs to be 40-44C at the basking spot, so u need to urgently change your bulb to a higher wattage to get those temps up.
With the little sick one - get him under heat asap!!!
Don't worry about intimidation atm - with your heat & uv he's just the weaker one & therefore first to show the effect.
If u have any queries on the above, let us know

 

[Absolutely_Mad]

i have put him out in the sun twice in the last two days for about 10 minutes a time. should i be worried if when i have them at a warmer temperature they gape their mouths and would a 10.0 uv be too much ( i have a 6 foot 10.0 uv ...well actually it is a 12% arcadia uv) can i put him under that for a while? or would it damage him?

 

[Chris1]

everything Lollypop said regarding UVB and heat, but u also need to seperate him from the others (possibly permanently) and get some food into him.

if hes already lethargic hes not gonna get better without food and fluids, and the bigger ones could do some serious damage to him.

get some chicken and veg babyfood, add a bit of water, get a plastic syringe from the chemist and start putting drops on his nose for him to lap up.
a small pinch of calcium in the mix would also be a good idea.

he needs ur help or hes not gonna make it,...

oh, and the gaping is fine.

and as long as the 12% arcadia globe is one that outputs UVB its fine, the sun gives off way more and doesnt damage them.

 

[Lollypop]

How big is your enclosure?
The 12% arcadia apparently has a really good reputation, so perfect. Make sure they can get within 16-30cm of it, use a branch e.g.
When they gape that's their way of sweating - they'll move if it's way too hot, that's why it's important to have the cool area at about the 28C mark. I also like to have a water bowl in the enclosure for this reason So depending on the size of your tank they should have room to get to a cooler area.
For the uv to be effective naturally from the sun, apparently should be at least 1hr/day for at least 3 days a wk minimum.
Please increase the temps - eastern beardies can cope with a lower temp, but the central's can't.

 

[Absolutely_Mad]

would it be okay the way i have been feeding him on bad days, i have gotten a serynge and let him drink from it and while he drinks i squeezed some meal worm innards into his mouth... it sounds gruesome but its for his health i will place him in a tub under the larger uv or would a compact 6.o exo terra uv be better?

 

[Lollypop]

Chris made a very good point re seperating him.
Look, at the moment, heat will be the biggest factor, uv the 2nd.
Get him in his own little area with a good strong light giving off lots of heat. Personally, I wouldn't feed him at all this arvo. Tomorrow however, try live feeders once he's warm, if still not interested, do as Chris suggested - if he still looks really lethargic, pop him in the water bowl so his vent (bum) is in the water so he's soaking it up that way. Leave him til the arvo then try the live feeders again, if still not interested, do as Chris suggested. Continue until he's taking live feeders & pepped up.
The compact uv (remember minimum 5.0) will be more precise, set it up at the basking spot so he's getting both at the same time.
Skip the mealies, no matter how squashed - without proper heat & with his lethargy, he'll not digest them.

 

[Absolutely_Mad]

Great news ^^ he is a lot more active and i have put the uv and the light in, it is 31 outside the basking spot and he is trying to go after the crickets in the tank ill try to upload some pics to show you so you guys can see if he needs to be separated

 

[Absolutely_Mad]

he is the one on the left in both the photos ^^ he looks smaller in person or...lizard thanks for the help Chris and Lollypop he is basking now hope he is better tomorrow ill keep you informed.

 

[Lollypop]

Do u mean the one on the left or the right looking at the pic?
If I may say, your water bowl needs to be low enuf for them to get in & out of, & shallow enuf so they don't drown.
Are u also offering them any veg/fruit?
Heat makes a huge difference hey!!

 

[Absolutely_Mad]

sorry i meant right i give them rocket although i am all out at the moment. i have had problems with heat as i am not sure of how much heat to give each species and I'm trying to get a lot of research done oh yeah what uv would you recommend for eastern water dragons?

 

[JAS101]

how far is the uv and basking light away from the highest point that the beardies can get to ?
are u running a thermostat and a temp gauge on/for the basking light?
id be carefull of the water bowl as i dont think they could getout of that if the get into trouble in it .