Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey ya'll....I bought my baby BD (Norbert) about a month ago. For the first couple weeks he was great - he was really active, eating, he was active when we'd pick him up and hold him, etc. For the last week or so, he's been acting kinda funny. Most of the day when I'd have the heat light on him (60W day-time spot lamp), he'd be inactive and go to one corner and sleep. He only eats about half the crickets we give him now (~6 a day) and when we pick him up, he goes into sleep mode again. He's (or she's) gotten really really lazy all of the sudden. I'm beginning to wonder if it may be something we're doing wrong. We have a UVA-B Flourescent bulb on one end of the cage and that day time lamp on the other (both on a 13 hr. timer for the day). At night, I have an heating pad under the cage that'll heat up his sand. I think that's the best he/she can get. I feed Norbert 1/4" crickets dusted with Tetrafauna Reptolife supplement about every other day. The substrate I'm using is ESU Reptile Desert Blend Lizard Litter.
I've noticed Norbert eat some of the sand sometimes when he eats crickets and I"m really hoping that's not causing impaction or anything. I've noticed droppings daily, but nothing really significant. Norbert's about 5.5 cm SVL (tail not included!) and I don't know his/her sex yet!!! If you can help me figure out what's going on with Norbert and what to do....please let me know! Thanks for your help!

tool_u2@yahoo.com

First off, get rid of the lizard litter stuff, a dragon that small shouldn't be on any particulate substrate. Just use unprinted paper towel, newsprint or butchers paper. Or, plastic table cloth or non slip shelf liner.

Second, what are his temperatures? His basking area should reach 95 F to 115 F with 100-105F a better temperature for a young dragon. The cool area of the tank should be around 80F. Night time temps shouldn't drop below 60F.

Also, dust his crickets once every day till he is about 4 to 5 months old, then cut back to once every other day.

Make sure his UVB light is closer to his basking area so he can get the UVB rays, though regular supplimentation of Calcium with D3 will keep him healthy.

You can also mist him to ensure he isn't getting dehydrated, dragons this young can get dehydrated fast.

If he doesn't improve in a day or two, I would take him to the vet to make sure he isn't impacted..but since he is pooing regularly, I don't think impaction is the case right now.

When he does poo, does it really smell? Is it really runny without any form? If either of these is true, then take a sample to your reptile vet to do a fecal for parasites.

Are there any more clear-cut symptoms associated with parasites in BD's other than runny foul smelling poo? Is weight loss associated with it? Can BD's go "lazy" from parasites such as coccidia?? I'm beginning to think Norbert has Coccidia or a parasite of some sort. I was wondering....can pet store crickets actually transfer coccidia? I'm going to save his next Poo and get a vet's opinion. What is the normal practice to rid a BD from coccidia (especially baby BD's??)???? Thanks for your input!!!!!!!