Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im taking care of a Beardie from work, that I may end up adopting, either way,I need to provide him the best care possible until I can get him into the vet. He'sjust a baby, barely bigger than the palm of my hand. He seems kind of skinny to me, but judging from thepictued on this site, thats the way they come when theyre young. I think he may have an infection of some sort. He lost his appetite (why I took him) and since then Ive been feeding him a mixture of spinach baby food, emergency reptile food, and an Electrolyte supplement for reps. Since thne, hes fattened up and moves around some, but not much unless I disturb him, although he does it more everytime I feed him (im doing it three times a day). Any tips on things to do, look for, etc... I've done my homework, did I miss anything?

Try to avoid the spinach, it is a high oxalate food (binds calcium and block absorbtion of it... which he really needs now) and should only be used in minimum with other greens. baby food chicken, green beans, squash, sweet potatoe are all good food sources for a dragon in rehab.

Also there are some supplement that you can get from a Vet, Emeraid, benebac and a few others have not only the nutrients they need but natural appetite stimulators and immune system builders.

If he has a bacteria or parasites, only a vet doing a fecal can tell that. But feeding him and keeping him warm with proper heat can also build his own immune system to help fight anything going on in him.

Good luck with him, and thank you for caring, I am sure he appreciates it

Good to know about the spinach. I had him on that to clear his system out, I read that it helps cure them of constipation, which would be necessary for the stool sample. I only asked for the one jar during the store run at work, so thats what im stuck with. Ill brobably shell out the 50 cents for a jar of chicken in the morning. Im mixing the baby food with repta-aid, and some concentrated electrolytes. Anything else i should know?

Sound good what your doing and planning.... do try to entice him to eat on his own by offering a small bowl with a few 2 week old cricktes in it where he can see them, but them not get out.

Pet Authority that PetSmart carries makes a product called Acidophiliz that is great for their tummies and also helps stimulate their appetite with natural things. We use it anytime we notice any little ones slowing down or not felling well.

Actually, Im in charge of the reptile department at Petco. Normally I dont like the store, but I recently started there after I learned that they really are a pretty decent company.
The little guy I was watching, very sadly didnt make it through. Ive got a few others, Im going to take under my wing however, a few others with injured feet. Somehow half our stock wound up with injured feet in a strange way, they were swollen, and the beardies were draging them, now they seem to be ok, just a little crooked, Ive refixed the climbing logs in their tank in case they were rolling it on themselves, and giving them calcium supplements. They hunt for themselves fine. Im going to put them up for adoption, and probably adopt one myself. Any tips on these guys?
PS: Youve been so very helpful, thank you, and Im sure the little guy I was watching would thank you for helping me keep him comfortable for a while.

with the processing of calcium in their system most likely. All the calcium in the world given to them will not help if they do not have the D3 to process it, actually it can hurt creating a buildup in the blood which settles to their lowest point (toes)...... either through a UVB light where they can make it internally themselves, liquid D3 or through D3 dusted in their food.... but they need in it some form, I think the best way is through UVB lights.

Gout can cause this also, but you usually do not see that in babies unless they have gone without fluids and dehydrated or its genetic and that is rare.

Regular Gout= urir acid crystals that settel in the toes/fingers

False gout= calcium sediments settling in the toes

Wow, thank you so much. I will pull a UVB lamp from the shelves first thing in the morning. Youve been such a great help.