Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, we have a small beardie that we picked up at the reptile show in Raleigh a few weeks ago. He hasn't gotten much bigger, but I haven't worried to much about that. However now he is thrashing around like he's having seizures or something, or a weird breakdance... what is wrong with him?? The stools look normal.

Jeff
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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

The temps hot and cool areas
Substate your using
Whats he eating, size crickets
What supplements

Also I am emailing you with some other information

Well, we had him in a tank with another older beardie, but it didn't seem to me that he was eating too much, so I seperated them last night. He is on repticarpet, with a basking temp of about 98 degrees, hide temp around 80... he's eating mealies mostly..

Jeff
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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

perhaps he's impacted from the mealies? i believe they have too much chitlin (their shell) for sucha small beardie to comfortably digest.

cheri?
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python (mr snake),0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake (CK),1.1.0 leopard gecko (sebastian and vilma),0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa (luce),1.1.1 bearded dragon (kaipo, dulce, and kellen), 1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (adam and eve)

if he is under 5-6 months, take him off the mealies, they can not digest the chitin in the shelling and it can impact them causing pressure on the spine and what appears as shaking/seizures.

If you can find some Acidolphiliz Digestive tract conditions, get some in him. PetSmart there carries I beleive. If not, get some fluids in him with an eye dropper and give him some warms soaks to move them out of him.

I have also emailed you some additional information about your area... Do you have a vet there? If not I can recommend one

I know of a few herp vets here in the area, but I haven't had the cause to see him yet. Yes, I would say he is very young... so we will get him off the mealies today. I have some jump start lying around, so we will start him on that. I will try to get a pic of him to you guys in just a moment.

Jeff
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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

I'm no photographer, but these should help you see what size he is.

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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

definatly be sure that he is hydrated, pedialyte is your best option for this, if he continues this "shaking" i would get him to a good vet, hes too young to risk anything, its never too soon to see a vet, just my opinion. in the meantime keep him hydrated, off mealies, offer small crickets and if he doesnt eat those there are other options to help him get going.
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reiko
photos

are you supplementing with calcium with D3? uvb lighting? what size crickets are you feeding? what is your setup like? how old/large is the dragon?
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reiko
photos

The mealies he eats are gutloaded and dusted with Reptivite. He gets infrared heat and UVB during the day... He's very small, maybe 2 inches...

Jeff
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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

no more mealies, especially for a dragon that size, he needs his basking temp up from 105-115 surface temperature, and needs to be eating pin heads if he is only 2 inches long or 1/4 inch providing they are no bigger then the space between his eyes, thats a very small dragon. he also needs to be kept hydrated, get some water or pedialyte into him via dropper. has he been poooping regularily?
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reiko
photos

i agree with what reiko has said he definitly looks dehydrated by the folds of skin on his back. keep him hydrated and you said you were dusting with reptivite. Im not 100percent certain but doesn't reptivite contain vitamin A instead of beta carotene(which when synthesized produces vitamin A the only safe way for a dragon to receive vitamin A) if so the thrashing might be caused by Vitamin A toxicity. Just a thought but definitly keep him hydrated.

Jason