Sick Beardie?? Need Help

[xHalkx]

Hi everyone,

My two beardies have started to be very very very odd. They seem to only be sleeping all day, even though the temp in their basking spot is 42C, and that is where they are spending all of their time. They are not eating anything. I have tried hand feeding but they have their eyes closed and seem very disinterested.

This behaviour has been going on for about 3-4 days now and i am starting to get concerned about them not eating. Ideas?

 

[JasonL]

Will need much more info than that... need to know age and history of the dragons, and pics of them both and the enclosure they live in.

 

[Dave]

I've had a few cool days and the lizards have been under there logs/hides etc sleeping.. Upped the wattage of the bulb and it got them going again (are you sure the temps are still that high?)

 

[xHalkx]

Yep i am sure the temps are that high in the basking spot. I checked it as i typed it. I will try and get some photos on today.
As for their history.

They have been in the enclosure since i got them, which was October 07. So they are around about 15-16 months old now.

They have never displayed any of this behaviour before

 

[melgalea]

i havnt had any probs with mine. he is constantly out under the basking lamp. as soon as its turned off he goes to sleep. what substrate are you keeping them on. how many are in the one enclosure.

 

[Bigbird]

I had a similar thing with my two when they were just under a year old (they are almost two now). I went back and forth to the vet as they weren't eating or doing anything really. It turned out that they had gone into winter shut down REALLY early! I had moved them into new enclosures not long before so that may have triggered it, although the temps in their enclosures were fine and I still offered them food every day, but they generally weren't interested in anything until one day in July when they were both out and about and they have been fine ever since, eating well and breeding well too!

My female has been showing the same behaviour for the past week or so (although she is out today ), but I am just leaving her to it and not worrying too much. As long as they are not drastically losing weight or anything I wouldn't worry too much. I know they're not supposed to go into winter shutdown now, but if they have decided they want to, there really isn't that much you can do to change their minds.

If they start showing any other unusual symptoms or are losing weight quite rapidly, then you should take them to a vet. Also, there are other people on here who have had beardies for longer than I have and I'm sure they will also be able to offer some good advice.

 

[Kyro]

If the weather allows,try taking them outside for a couple of hours if possible. I had one of my males start to brumate early last year & I found a few hours out in the sun for a couple of days knocked him out of it. Make sure he has a shaded end so he can get out of the sun if he wants.

 

[xHalkx]

here are the photos

the enclosure is a 4 foot X 2 foot X 2 foot

 

[Kirby]

they dont look at all happy.

dehydrated, thin, empty stomachs

whats your substrate. impaction is possible.

 

[falconboy]

whats your substrate. impaction is possible.

Looks like sand to me. Gasps!

 

[Kirby]

Looks like sand to me. Gasps!

well there's been quite a few people using crushed walnut recently, and depending on the brand it looks identical to that.

double Gasp!

 

[gravitation]

Yep, my bet is impaction.
Go to the vets.

 

[xHalkx]

Hey guys went to the vet today.

Firstly
They are both girls
No impaction
No dehydration

They had an ultrasound to check for any internal issues and none were found. Received a vitamin B shot and a round of worming.

The fecal float showed no sign of issue with the gut and digestion, and no issues with worms.

One of the two has perked up since seeing the vet the other is still a little lethargic.

Vet thinks they will be fine and could find nothing of concern.

Will keep you guys informed.

 

[bowdnboy]

R these the same beardies that you posted about last month asking for help because they were fighting non stop?????

 

[Kirby]

was it a reptile vet? and why vitamin B ???

try give them a bathe, and ask the vet for accidophlis (or needless syringe them some NON dairy yogurt) or ask for an apetite stimulant. that should have been his move.

Hey guys went to the vet today.

Firstly
They are both girls
No impaction
No dehydration

They had an ultrasound to check for any internal issues and none were found. Received a vitamin B shot and a round of worming.

The fecal float showed no sign of issue with the gut and digestion, and no issues with worms.

One of the two has perked up since seeing the vet the other is still a little lethargic.

Vet thinks they will be fine and could find nothing of concern.

Will keep you guys informed.

 

[xHalkx]

yeah these were the same two that were fighting about a month ago.

Told the vet about that too.

They receive regular baths.

The vitamin B was suppost to help boost appetite.

 

[bowdnboy]

If they have been fighting and now theyr not eating etc.... probably stress related if everything else is fine. I'd seperate them into an enclosure of their own and see how u go

 

[Vixen]

Do you provide them with UVA / UVB?

 

[Duke]

Hey guys went to the vet today.

Firstly
They are both girls
No impaction
No dehydration

They had an ultrasound to check for any internal issues and none were found. Received a vitamin B shot and a round of worming.

The fecal float showed no sign of issue with the gut and digestion, and no issues with worms.

One of the two has perked up since seeing the vet the other is still a little lethargic.

Vet thinks they will be fine and could find nothing of concern.

Will keep you guys informed.

yeah these were the same two that were fighting about a month ago.

Told the vet about that too.

They receive regular baths.

The vitamin B was suppost to help boost appetite.

If they're improving, that's great news, but don't assume now that since they're getting better that everything is okay.
You've cured the symptons, but you still need to work out the cause.

Good luck, buddy!

 

[Halky]

Yeah I am happy they are showing signs of improving. I am still trying to work out the cause.

They are in a quite spot with no interferance from children or other animals.

I will continue to monitor and if need be make another trip to the VET next week if the behaviour continues. The only other advice from the VET was keep things the same as when they were perky, which is being done.

Thanks for the help and opions