Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 5 month old beardie i pick up about a month ago at a local reptile show. In the month i have had him he has grown from 11 inches and weighing 132 grams to 13 inches and weighing 205 grams. Is this a good growth rate? Also since i have had him, he does some extremely smelly poo, i would compare it to that of a baby's, and is somewhat runny. I would take him to a reptile vet but the only one i could find is pretty far and charges $150 just for visit and fecal not including medicine, is this price normal ? does anyone know of a reptile vet in chicago area or a website to find local vets? Thanks.

Growth rate I would say is on the low side of average but fine. You should be feeding him all the appropriately sized crickets he will eat in a 15 minute or so period twice a day with salad available in between. Check that basking spot (surface) temp. is about 110 with a 90 degree ambient (air) temp. on the hot side. Cool side 75-80 ambient. Dust live food every meal but one a week with Calcium w/D3 no phosphorus. Once a week dust with a multivitamin. Provide usable UVB.

Dragons have very smelly poo at that age. Live food akes smelly poo and dragons eat a lot of it.

There looks to be a lot of reptile vets in the Chicago area.

Go to http://www.arav.org

On left click "member directory" then just fill in Illinois under state and click search. Click on each name for more info.

You could also try http://herpvetconnection.com/

I think reptiles magazine keeps a list as well. reptilechannel.com

Generally vet visits are about $50 and fecals are an extra $20 here.

The prices you found seem rather high for a standard examination and fecal, I had examinations and fecals done together for alot less in the past.

BDlvr gave some good sites to find local herp vets, which are well worth checking out. As you are in Chicago, check out www.chicagoherp.org/, the website for the Chicago Herp Society. I am sure they also can help locate a good herp vet in your area, not to mention joining up can be a great source of information and fun and a way to meet other reptile keepers in your area. I am a member of my city's reptile group and its great group. Not as big as the Chicago one but the population in my city is no nearly as big.
-----
PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Where are you in Chicago?

Hey everyone, thanks for the help. found way cheaper prices on that website. 50 for visit, 35 for fecal. i live on the south side of chicago.