Please help with this dragon.

[scoobaman17]

I have not had dragons in a while, my new girlfriend and I now have a juvenile firehouse red in a 3'wide X 2' deep X 18" high with a uvb tube light in the top and at first the tank had a home depot 50 watt flood lamp for spot heat. He was doing great and eating fine for about two weeks. Then started slowly eating less and less and I figured since it's been so cold and the dragon never leaves the heat it was too cold, so i upgraded to a 100 watt basking light from a LRS two days ago, the little guy still wont eat and looks like he is about to give up, i'm trying to find a reptile vet that doesn't cost more then the reptile for just a visit but i will take him in hopfully tomarrow.

I just took temps and the cold side is at ~92 so i deffenitly know thats too hot but he stays in the heat????? under the lamp. I don't get it......

Also I have all stone tile so no impaction going on. Nothing fed bigger then half his head. I don't want to force feed but I know the vet would know but what should I do??

[Boa Amarali]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

I'm just responding because I feel for ya.
I'm not a dragon or Lizard guy at all.

Hopefully somebody with that experience will help out here !!

It sounds like a Boa when temps are too cold goes off food, then if temps
continue to be too low R.I. ensues

Could this animal; be in early stage or full R.I. ?

Once again Hopefully somebody with that experience will help out here !!

[scoobaman17]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Whats R.I?

[Spo0led]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Are you giving it greens? Im assuming you are but thought I would ask. Also make sure your using UBV 10.0 and UVB bulbs should be changed every 6 months. If its older than that its jsut giving off light.. A basking spot should be between 105-110 degrees but keep a warm section of the cage around 90-95. You might try misting your guy too. They dont need a lot of misting because theyre a desert reptile but mine seems to like it. He just lays there, closes his eyes and stands up so I can get every inch of him.

[Spo0led]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Forgot to mention...UVB cant go through glass or any fine metal screen. Make sure your using a course type screen top or else its not getting the UVB. And most UVB only traves 12-18" so make sure he can climb onto something to get close to it but also not high enough he can get burnt on the hot cage from the heat bulb.

[MSwift]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

respiratory infection and like Larry said it might be similar to boas but i have no experience with dragons myself hopefully it all works out for the best

[scoobaman17]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Plenty of greens. 10.0 uvb. brand new. He just shed fully yesterday. But has barley eaten for the last week, nothing in the last 3-4 days. Also i have given him baths, misting as well. Where is a good place to find reptile vets near me? Torrance ca 90502

[Spo0led]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

hmm.. Have u offered crickets or meal worms? I wouldnt know where to find a vet in your area but im sure any vet would be able to point you in the right direction. Or pet stores might also know.

[scoobaman17]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

When he stopped eating crickets he ate some meal worms, then when he stopped eating them he only ate like a small piece of bock choy a day, then nothing..... He has access to fresh greens every day, small to medium crickets around five in the cage during the day, and a couple of meal worms in the mix of greens still no go. Wave it in front of him still nothing.

[Spo0led]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Just a thought but have you tried putting him and a few crickets in a tub or something where the crickets cant get away? My beardie sometimes is lazy and will only eat them if he can get them without having to move his feet. He will only eat the ones within range of his tongue. If that doesnt work i dont know what to tell you..

[scoobaman17]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

about 2 weeks ago i could feed him by hand. Now even if the food is sitting in front of him he looks away and closes his eyes.

[Spo0led]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Thats weird. I dont know what else to suggest. Hopefully somebody else will have any suggestions. Sorry..i tried.

[Atrayu]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

Brumation/hibernation? To cool of temps can trigger them to stop eating.

[scoobaman17]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

he looks like he is about to die, skinny as a stick it seems. I'm going to see if i can get him in tomorrow to get checked out

[Atrayu]

Re: Please help with this dragon.

So last night while I was at work I did a BUNCH of research on Beardies for u.
Take a look at these articles ,specifically the one on internal parasites focusing on Coccida and also brumation. Coccida being the main one.
Bearded Dragon . org - Bearded Dragon Articles

Mind u there are several pages to each article so don't miss at the bottom where it says to go to page 2,3 etc.
When u bring your beardies to the vet see if u can bring in a fresh stool sample. I know might be hard but look in his enclosure fpr the freshest one.
Agter reading these articles it sounds like ur beardie has some internal parasites.

Bearded Dragon . org - Supportive Care During Treatment for Coccidia and Other Intestinal Parasites