Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok my new guy is an uneasy sleeper. he goes into his hide for bed, but then he moves throughout the night. ive removed all the cricketsbefore bed time so i know thats not the problem. i thought it might be the lights in my room so i turned those off, but idk...this cant be normal.

What are the outside temperatures where you live?? As the outside temperatures and weather can affect our collared friends behaviour.

right now high 65, low 50s. supposed to get up to the 70s. the weather really sucks lately. i cant bring them outside to bask cuz its to cold and bad memories.

Understandable, I wouldn't worry too much about his after the lights go out activities. He did just go through a climate change and is in a new habitat. I notice a definite activity change with my 4 collareds when the temperatures/weather changes. When it hits triples digits boy are they active and when it cools off they cool off.

understandable. when i woke up this mouring he was sleeping on a rock. now its he sleeping with the basking lights on??

Have you checked again for mites since you first washed him when he arrived? Mites are more active at night, and can really be bothersome to the lizard. Just something to keep in mind him being a wild caight.

Look for things such as your guy laying in his water saucer (if you have one) or rubbing his head/ face along a rock/ black specks in water dish as well.

Just a few things to be aware of.
-----
PHEve / Eve

i think theres a bigger problem... hes very inactive right now. he likes to keep his eyes closed, and when their open hes squinting. im kinda worried!! hes been very active since i got him, but now he isnt moving much at all. even with high temps!! idk,i think he deteriorating... im really worried

Can you take him to a vet?

What kind of UVB bulb did you say you are using on him?

i think its a reptiglo 10, i know those are not supposed to be good, and i schedualed an appointment

hes moving but then he stops closes his eyes and rest a bit. i have no clue why hes doing this. he looks like he has no energy what so ever. he even looks like he hasnt been eating in days but he has eaten.

He might have severe parasites. A vet visit is the best idea. Keep us posted.

to check for mites, but hell I have seen first hand in the past season what those dang things are capable of and how the lizard acts when they are present. Everything you say I have seen. Even the first day he arrived and you said he had some old wounds/ sores and things.

Hey I don't claim I know for sure, but I certainly have my suspicions. They are so tiny you would not see them, do the oil thing on the tummy and keep looking with a magnifying glass for any tiny specks to appear. Tell your vet to do a check with oil if you can't.

The collared you have comes from the same region I got a group from and they were loaded. Do You have a magnifying glass??

The reason they are a bit active when arriving (wc collareds) is they were in a large area IF they had mites they are not as bothered as they don't stay in the same place long.
*** BUT.... when we catch them and put them in a small tank they now are in the same spot and with the mites they came with plus whatever mites / eggs have hatched in your cage.

We immediately think... hmmm .... wild caught, they are just failing to survive in captivity , not eating, not basking, lethargic, and they are indeed NOT thiving because something is ZAPPING their energy.

I hope I'm wrong, but PLEASE check and check good. And this is something everyone can remember no matter what the findings are.
-----
PHEve / Eve

i put him in the sink to give him a bath and filld it up with water. he immeddiately started drinking. could be dehydrated?? could be from the mites and parasites???

should i wash the carpet hes on? just to make sure?

gave him a bath seems to a little more lively. i saw brown stuff with a mag. glass, but i wasnt sure if they were mites or not. i gave him a fresh water bow he is in it right now drinking. could he be dehydrated. could it still be a parasite problem?

he has emersed himself in the water bowl.

Hon, what are your temps, basking and cool side?

He sure sounds like what Eve described. He might have mites AND intestinal parasites.

well hes basking right now, but for some reason i have a hard tome getting the basking side up. (seems a little more active). uhh the whole tank seems to be in the 90s. i put him in the larger tank this mourning to cuz its hotter in their see if he would start moving, but, no go. now hes resting again.ive been using a window for auxilary heat. its not raisng the temps to much but its helping

He really needs to have a cool side to retreat to. Make sure that the opposite side from the basking stays in the low 80s. What are you measuring temps with, especially the basking spot? Do you have a temp gun, and digital with a probe that you lay directly on the basking spot, or a stick on thermometer?

i have a probe... need to get a temp gun. i close the blinds a bit.

at a time Guy, your going to drive yourself crazy, believe me. First it sounds as if he was thirsty, :0) let him drink let him have access to a shallow water saucer at all times.

Next mites and internal parasites are TWO different things. I'm leaning towards the mites the fact you confirm my suspicions by saying he has immersed himself in the water is a major sign he is trying to stop the uncomfortable feeling he has, this drowns the mites that are close to the surface of his scales. But this does not kill the ones that are hiding way beneath or the eggs IF indeed he does have mites.

PUT HIM ON WHITE PAPER TOWELS until you cna be sure if he has them. You will see small black specks/ red specks, and can even see white/ brownish spots.

-----
PHEve / Eve

ok i went to the vet, and he did not find any mites on Stevie II.Either he didn't have any, he didn't see them, or i did such a good job cleaning him that they are gone. I brought him and my female into the vet as a comparison and to make sure she wasn't infected.The lizard was doing ok he was actually alert and running around the room even though it was about 74 degrees in there. the doctor found nothing wrong externally, but he wasn't sure about internally. only way to find out is a fecal exam. he didn't poop today so that didn't help. we did talk about temps tho. he wants me to maintain a wide variety of temperatures. I told him i keep it at about the 90s. he said that was to narrow. hot side should be in the 90s and let the cool side get to the 80s, so that the lizard has a choice of temps to choose from. we also talk about psychobiology of the lizard. the scratching at the glass can be harmful, so make a visual barrier for them. He didnt like how skinny he was, and wanted me to beef him up.everything you guys have told me he told me. t make sure they have plenty of water, cuz they will get thirsty as i found out today. so we found no solution to the problem, but i will make some adjustments. the only way to know for sure, is a fecal exam. so what od i do now? anyone have any ideas from what i prescibed. was it to hot for him, was he dehydrated? little frustrating. i gotta bring in some poo now to find out. well thats it/

I do think you have the overal temps too hot. When you measure the basking temps, lay that probe directly on the basking spot, wait thirty minutes, and see what it says. The BEST advice (as per Eve and Nick, who have both been keeping and breeding collareds for years) is to keep it around 110. That will mean that the basking END will be in the 90s. Then you need to make sure that the temps stay in the low 80s at the other end.

Cover 2/3 of the tank with some kind of visula block, like cheap tank background. If he is wild caught, then he is probably staying stressed with the openness of the tank. He will feel more secure if he can only see you from one side of the tank.

Staying overheated will cause dehydration. He might have worms, but you need to fix the temps now, and do get that fecal to the vet when you can.

Keep us posted!

Collaredsguy, when I say cover the tank, I mean cover the sides, NOT the top. Just wanted to make that clear.

gotcha!! i have a cheap background i can use. uhh i read somewhere that you can use like solid blue adhesive plastic or something, just to obstruct their view. i forgot what it was, but something solid so that they realize their boundaries. however the vet told me the window thing was not a bad thing, but he also recommended a background. so yah i will focus on the temps. for some reason i am having trouble getting temp ranges in this 30 gallon tank the whole tank seems to remain at about 90. im using a 100 watt bulb maybe thats making it too hot. maybe i should downgrade to 75 watt. it easier to do in the 40 gallon tank, but i end up with a dark side on the tank. maybe i should use a generic light bulb for that. instead im using a 100 watt to light that cool side. that making the big tank all around 96 degrees. im going to make that change. also the vet RECOMMENDS UVA-UVB!!!! i think they all do but just wanted to add that in. he says no one know how much they need or don't but he says it best to provide it for them any way. so yeah temp changes are first, then poop examination. And Eve he says i should keep him quarantined until we know for sure he is disease free!! all the stuff he said you guys have told me so you know your stuff. thanks!!!

You can use those engery saver bulbs for light only. They don't produce heat, but do provide extra light. Just don't get a UVB bulb that LOOKs like an energy saver.

Keep us posted! I know he will feel better with fluids and a cool side to the tank.

just browsing through the forum here...

i see you have recommended a digital thermometer with probe a number of times. those are fine, they have their uses, but you certainly don't have to wait 30 minutes to get a basking temp, or any surface temp.

we have worked hard for a number of years to bring the cost of Temp Guns down, and the most popular Temp Gun model in the hobby is just $25. with a Temp Gun, you can get that surface temp in all of 2 seconds, significantly less 30 minutes : )

have you used a Temp Gun?
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Yes, I always recommend temp guns, but when I advise people on this forum and on others, they baulk at even $25. I use a temp gun and love it, but for people that watch their pennies, the digital with probe is better than the stick on strip, don't you think? My goal is to get them to get at least something better than the stick on thermometers.

I also know that this poster has a digtal with probe already.

So will I get store credit if I keep telling people about your temp guns?

i really want to get a temp gun, its just that right nowive spent alot lately on my reptiles, and my ma is a little furstrated with it all,considering how much she spends on dogs. she hates the bugs, she hates the lights, but she loves the lizards, so its like their great but i hate all this stuff you have for them. ive been going to expos and returning with crickets and scoprions, and roaches and they freak out!! my roaches are great by them way... their really cool!!. so yeah i was thinking maybe ill get one for 25 or 50, but i have limited funds, for so much stuff. from wanting more collareds, to wanting a new baby tegu ( liking those more than ackies ) my eyes are bigger than my wallet in terms of herping and everything else for that matter. but i gotta take care of what i have before i get something new. maybe i should get a temp gun before new collareds and a new tegu.

Collaredsguy, there is a little bit of you in all of us! I'm mulling over some very similar things!

I do think you should work on getting your new guy healthy before you get another lizard. How is he, BTW?

uhh he looks ok, i wasnt able to watch him today, but he was in his hide when i got home and resting and sunning himself. he could have eaten the crixs i put in for him but im not sure. ill watch him closer tommorow. when he woke up he looked alot better.

Okay Rosebuds have to set ya straight, I have to say I do not know anyone here who baulks over 25.00 for a temp gun.

*** MANY of us have had them for a long time, and absolutely love them. Nothing like them, they are soooooooooo well worth it. I believe MOST keepers here use them.

-----
PHEve / Eve

Yeah, but his parents are baulking. I wish everyone would get one. I've just found that some people who think they've already put out lots of cash on a pet won't fork out 25 more. I would rather give them another option than have them keep using the strips!

Okay, from now on I will use my best persuasive skills to push for temp guns.

I still think I should get free Megarays and temp guns for all the ones that I sell!

well i bet their worth it, i just dont know what i want to spend the money on, reptiles or stuff for reptiles. my mom kinda spots me money even though she shouldnt. she loves the reptiles. loves my little female because shes so personable. not to fond of the new guy, but thats only cuz stevie 1 was very colorful and pretty. he had a brighter throat. I told her i can get another male just like him. told her i wanted another pair!! throughing the idea out there. She likes animals so wouldnt turn them out, but its alot of room. we have alot of dogs at our house cuz my granparents had health issues, so i think the idea of more animals for my parents is crazy. mY grandma was a breeder, so thats alot of dogs. they can barely stand the crickets and roaches, especially when i told them i cant feed the roaches their too big, i m going to try and breed them and feed the offspring. didnt go to well with the folks!! however i might as well get the temp gun, cuz the reptiles will always be around (so will the temp guns) Once im done with this semester of college ill see if i can get a good job and buy all reptiles and goodies i want but maybe ill order one of the temp guns in the mean time. whats the best one for reptiles? i know three versions exist and version three is the best one, but do i need that verson? or should go with the cheaper version instead?

Wow, this post keeps going and going and going like the energizer bunny. Thought I would throw my 2cents worth on the subject of Temp Guns. I've been checking a few models out on Amazon.com, we do alot of shopping through that site and they have many models at different prices. I definately need one, so much easier and more accurate than the digital ones with the probe.

On a side note involving your lizards 'tude or lack there of, we were hit with some strange weather yesterday. The temperatures dropped off from 100 degrees down to the mid 50's. I live in SoCal if you are wondering, well anyways I'm rambling now, so back to my point. Well anyways with the noticeable temperature shift and weather shift my lizards weren't too enthusiastic today. When the temperature's reach the 100's again they'll be bouncing around their cages again.

cool... so you left them outside? they just had to hack it i guess right? and your right this post is pretty long!!! mainly cuz i was freaking out thursday, cuz i thought my lizard was in bad shape. btw hes drinking from his water bow right now. maybe we could start a new post on temp guns, however maybe thats not neccesary?

Hrm, no I have never left my collareds outside I don't think I would even with the most secure outdoor enclosure and in the most optimum conditions. It's just that I find the outside temperatures and pressures will affect my collareds behaviour indoors.

I just wanna see what happens when we max out the space for a thread!

i wonder if it will bend back the other way!! lets see!! by the way got home and the basking sight temp was about 101. still not warm enough but still a good temp.

That is a good temp. What is the cool side temp?

well the side that his hide is in is 96 the oppisite side is about 91 and falling so.... yeah, maybe ill switch his hide to that side.

Why is the cool side so hot???? One end of the tank needs to be in the low 80s! He needs to be able to get out of the 90 degree heat if he wants to.

i do not know? wouldnt it be cooler inside the hide? maybe i should photoraph the set up so you can see. keep in mind that hes in a 30 gallon tank. ill take a polaroid or something scan it and post it. wouldnt the shaded spots be 10 dgrees cooler than the rest of the air, or does that only apply for outside.

No, the overall air on the cool end should be in the low to mid 80s or he cannot thermoregulate. Just imagine of you are out in the sun and it feels good for awhile, but then you start to get hot. What do you do? You either go in the shade or go into an air conditioned house. In the wild, collareds can find cooler spots when they get too hot. We Must provide that kind of temp gradient for them in captivity.

You can do it in a 30 gal tank. How tall is that tank and how long?

then i guess im going to have to downgrade to a 75 watt bulb cuz the 100 watt is making it too hot. the 75 has an ambient temp of about 85 degrees. im not sure i can do aything else. heres a photo:

its a 30 gallon long tank with a 100 watt bulb. the lighting fixture came with the tank. when i first got my two origional collareds my parents who trusted the sales people at petsmart got a bearded dragon enclosure, or atleast what was being sold as one. for some reason collareds and beardies are considered similar. it was a birthday present so I had no input into any of the purchase. sorry for the poor quality its a polaroid. maybe i should invest in a good camera also.

Okay, I think I see the problem. You will do better to move the basking spot to one end. Don't put it in the middle. Where is your basking spot? Yes, I can see that that tank is much too shallow for a 100 watt. Move the basking spot to one end and use a 75 watt bulb. Lay that probe right on the basking spot and lets see if that helps.

Here are some pics of my vivs. The first one is Talulah's viv. Notice the two lamps on top? The one right over the wedge shaped rock is the UVB. It is a 100 watt MVB. That spot is between 110-112 degrees. Notice that it is way over to one side of the tank. The other lamp has a regular energy saver bulb. The temps where her hide is are in the low 80s because the heat is on the other side.

Here is my Desert Iguana viv, or the temporary one. Notice that I have the 100 watt Mercury Vapor UVB at one end along with another lamp. Their basking temps need to be slightly higher, so their basking log is higher, but the other end of the tank is in the mid 80s. When the outside temps drop, I turn on that second light with a 40 watt regular household bulb that produces a little more heat

You need to move your basking light to one end. That will create the temperature gradient that he needs. You might need to get a separate spot if that strip has both bulbs in the middle. Does this make sense?

yeah totally thats how i have my larger tank. and the strip has the lights at one end of the tank. i have a heat light, then a night light which im not gonna use cuz the vet told me to let the night temps drop to about 70 because in their native enviroment the temps would drop 30 degrees. in the middle is the uvb bulb. could the uvb be causing extra heat? it does get pretty hot. i made the bulb change i moved the basking sight to one end, and the cool side is now 85 and the basking spot is 100.6, and the hot side is 94.6

Yay! Its getting better! You'll get there, and he will be happier.

My vivs look crappy right now, but they are functional. I ordered some backgrounds and am drying some muscadine vine. But, like I said they have a healthy temp gradient.

im curious why you use tile? wouldt tile get too cold on the cold end. seems sand would be warmer at night, and on cooler days? do you use tile in all your vivs. im guessing to prevent impaction.

Yes, I use tile in all of them. I have treated too many impacted animals. It actually warms up just fine. It doesn't get any cooler than sand. And, many of these lizards really don't live on sand in the wild. They stay on rocky crags and only the females go down to sand to lay eggs. Besides, the tile is so much easier to keep clean and to disinfect.

I am thinking about having one area with sand in the DI and collared vivs when I rearrange critters. I am getting a few more collareds next week, and they will all live in a bigger viv. The Desert Iggies are also being upgraded to this tank:

The beardies are moving into a 5x2x2.

yeah i was looking at some pictures of oklahoma on one of the habitat websites that eve has links to, and they( C.collaris collaris) live in like grassy, rocky, outcroppings. that would explain the green, as oppose to some who are more tannish and sandy collored. ive been trying to provide more live vegitation but i dont have the room for that.to many rocks i think. ill take a pick of my big tank show whats going on in there.

Start a new thread, though.I have to shift my screen over now! LOL!

thought about starting a new post but was to lazy and used my old one. could he be really dehydrated? is that why he was acting so lethargic. hes acting that way right now while drinking. however hes alert, cuz his eyes are nice and open. seems like hes really enjoying drinking that water. he pooped on the rock(not taking this sample in) so idk could he have been dehydrated. he has been drinking non stop for like a half hour. he took a break but then went right back to it. could that explain his skinny tail, and his lose skin? will he fill out with hydration?