Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a new clutch hatching, 8 out so far. A few days ago, I found one dead in the cage first thing in the morning. He had a small sore on his belly and the area surrounding it was black. I assumed it was a freak accident.

This morning, I noticed another baby with an open wound on his back. Not as severe as the first baby's injury, but still unnerving. He's otherwise unharmed. I'm not sure what's causing it, all the crickets get eaten daily. They are fed well twice a day, and they are in a 40 gal breeder tank, so I don't think it's a competition issue.

I've hatched and raised close to a thousand beardies and never have had something like this happen. I have an extra cage set up for a sick room, but what can I put on the sore to help keep out infection? Is liquid bandage safe?

Not to offend anyone, but please save the "take it to a vet" speech. It's Christmas Eve, they're closed, and as most breeders will tell you, taking a four day old to the emergency vet is not financially an option.

Any HELPFUL answers would be appreciated.
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Jenny
www.happy-dragons.com

You can use neosporin on the wound and make sure that they are on paper towels and not on sand to help keep the wound clean. It's probably best to seperate out the injured one for a while while he heals. I'm not sure about the liquid band-aid, but I would think it would be OK (someone please correct me if wrong).

I can't say from experience, but what i've heard from other breeders is 8 is alot of babies to have together. Try breaking them up into 2 groups of 4, then it will be alot easier to find the aggressive baby and it also keeps at least half of them completely safe. And for god sakes take that baby to a vet J/K

Happy Holidays

Liquid bandage should be fine so long as it doesn't rub off on anything the BD can eat. It's obvious he won't be able to get his tongue on his back, but he can still rub up against some stuff. I had vaseline on my older BD's tail for two days and he didn't mess with it once, so I imagine the back area should be safer. And besides, it is antiseptic, which means it's designed to heal, not hurt, if it hits the bloodstream.
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Dl

Hi
take out every branch ,rocks.
then you would be suprised how many cricks have hided.
they come out during night and wil eat on youre babie beardies.
so i always take them out there enlcosure when light go of and let them sleep in a plastic box with a towel in it and then when light go on other day i put them back.
easer to pick up babies then hunt every day for the cricks.
easy way to catch cricks.
take a inside of a papertowel the cardboard thing.
then suround it with tape then make the top tight.
and the bottom you cut diogonal so cricks can crawl into.
tyhen you place that in a corner take out all stuf and later you can take out the tool you made and have catch every crick.
byeeeeeeee

are hiding anywhere.

Then if that is clear, you must have a biter in the group..... it happens sometimes and no understanding why.

You might want to try adding some moist pellets in a small dish when you put lights off in the evening, so there are there first thing in the morning if one gets up early humgry.

There is also a product called "new skin" that can be used on reptiles.

Good luck and let us know how they do
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www.reptilerooms.com