Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, here is the problem. On the 4th I shipped an 8 week old dragon to North Carolina. He arrived next morning. Didn't seem much interested in eating, etc. He had been eating on pre killed crix which is what I use here also greens and pellets. Well the buyer had followed my instructions and yet he still wasn't eating. She went out to the pet store a couple days later and they sold her some live crix... problem is they were 3/4" and he ate 14 and started showing signs of Partial Paralysis and Hind Leg Extension the following day. I told her to move him to the basking area and keep him well hydrated, etc. She did as I said and he pooped, then pooped again the next morning.. she also gave him several baths during this time. Then he was acting fine and running around etc. but he still is not eating anything! He is laying around and not moving today. I am baffled, temps are right (After I had her change them to correct temps the 2nd day she had him) Everything seems fine, except this dragon is refusing to eat. Crickets are crawling all over him and he is showing no interest at all. The huge meal and the 3/4" crix were fed around the 7th. He pooped several times during the day or so after his way too big meal. He hasn't eaten anything since the 7th. I asked if she had gotten him into the vet and she said "no". I don't know what else to suggest.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

are you shore he is not eatting? i had the same problem he ate alot the first day etc. after he pooped he did not eat for a couple of days. but count the cricket and just keep a eye on all the crickets.

I don't have him..... He is at his owner's house. She has had nothing but problems from the day this guy arrived on the 5th. This is the first baby I have ever sold that has quit eating completely or had as many problems as she has had with him. I think the intial problem was the temps, but now I am at a loss!

>>are you shore he is not eatting? i had the same problem he ate alot the first day etc. after he pooped he did not eat for a couple of days. but count the cricket and just keep a eye on all the crickets.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

This guy has been through alot. He could very well have a high Coccidia count due to his stress level and a host of other problems by now.
She also needs to make sure she is keeping him hydrated.
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TheClassyLizard

This baby has been moved in his enviroment, over ate, had pressure on the spinal nerve, has probably been stressed out to the max with all of it, a prime formula for a parasite bloom and I would be real surprised if he did not at minimun have bacteral infections and or coccidia from the heavy food load those few days..... HE need to have a fecal taken to a vet.

Another thing that may help, his insides may be inflamed from this and he does not KNOW he is hungry, whenever they have "bad tummies" we always give them acidophliz and they always have been better that night or the next day.

Another member here thought they were losing a baby two night ago when he ate a lot and the acidophiliz had him back to normal within a very short time! I will leave it up to him if he wants to disclose who he is.

Thank you Cheri! I told her to get him to a vet and was amazed when she said she hadn't in her email to me tonight.

Can I forward what you wrote to her? A second opinion about needing to see a vet might do the trick!

>>This baby has been moved in his enviroment, over ate, had pressure on the spinal nerve, has probably been stressed out to the max with all of it, a prime formula for a parasite bloom and I would be real surprised if he did not at minimun have bacteral infections and or coccidia from the heavy food load those few days..... HE need to have a fecal taken to a vet.
>>
>>Another thing that may help, his insides may be inflamed from this and he does not KNOW he is hungry, whenever they have "bad tummies" we always give them acidophliz and they always have been better that night or the next day.
>>
>>Another member here thought they were losing a baby two night ago when he ate a lot and the acidophiliz had him back to normal within a very short time! I will leave it up to him if he wants to disclose who he is.
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

to throw into the formula, so far she has about 5 things that any one can cause a baby dragon to have coccidia blooms with... which can (and will) put them totally off food..just think about it

1. Shipped
2. New Enviroment
3. Wrong temps
4. Fed wrong size prey
5. Pressure on spine enough to cause leg paralysis
6. Backed up so much in food and impaction he poo's for several days, which tells me the food rotted in there.

ANY ONE of those will cause 'em

Like I said, if he does not have coccidia and/or bacteria, it would be a small miracle

parazap (supposed to remove parasites and increase hunger) tea or my favorite chicken veggie babyfood. Many times they will lick it off the end of their nose, but even if they don't syringe feeding is easy.
You may also try wax worms or mealies. A change in food offerings may stimulate the appetite. Perhaps the baby is no longer interested in crickets because they gave him a tummy ache (among other things).
Also, make sure she removes any uneaten crickets at night. I have lost a baby before due to too many crickets - they ate him!

Best of luck!
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Photos

It was pointed out that I forgot to include that any mealies fed shoued be the white ones (or freshly shed). I do not like to use mealies unless I have no choice. But please, if you use them, pick out the white ones.
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Photos

n/p
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I had written to her and told her to get him to the vet and like I said I was amazed when she said she hadn't done so. I then wrote to her with what Cheri had to say and we shall see what happens now. I KNOW as a fact that he was a healthy little piggy when he left here and I also believe that the combination of all these different things that have gone wrong has brought this on.

Just wanted to say THANKS
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

She made an appointment.....

Email.....
"Lisa, I have a vet appointment at 3:30 today. The local vet who treats reptiles is not in today. This one is in a neighboring town. I will hunt the acidophliz. How do I get it in him? He did eat 1 small cricket this morning while we were eating breakfast. I put 2 more in but he has been ignoring them. Thanks for info and research."

I will let you all know what I find out this evening

>>I had written to her and told her to get him to the vet and like I said I was amazed when she said she hadn't done so. I then wrote to her with what Cheri had to say and we shall see what happens now. I KNOW as a fact that he was a healthy little piggy when he left here and I also believe that the combination of all these different things that have gone wrong has brought this on.
>>
>>Just wanted to say THANKS
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>>Lisa
>>www.beginnersbasics.com
>>
>>
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

it has been updated with adminestering info.

Mat Price

i will bet if she gets some in him he will start eating like a champ

as long as she gets all the other stuff right along with it i should add.
all the probiotics in the world ain;t gonna help if they don;t have good temps ect.

Mat

The new owner needs to get the right sized crickets or if she can't get any, cut the big ones in half. Since the dragon is used to eating pre killed insects he probably will eat slightly twitchy ones. Also, having a bunch of crickets running around the cage could also be stressing him out.

Getting a fecal done is a good thing to start. Next all living crickets in his enclosure should be removed. Leave finally chopped greens in there and make sure he remains well hydrated (baths, several mistings a day etc.) At the next meal time, drop only a single proper sized cricket in with him and wait till he either eats it or it is obvious he won't eat it at all. Leave the fresh greens in though as he may still nibble on those during the day.