Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My friend's bearded dragon has been acting lethargic and not eating. I thought maybe it was brumating, but this has lasted a while from what she says, and today his beard got really black and he vomited some runny brown goo.

He's going to the vet tomorrow, but does anyone know what this may mean?

That is a pretty good sign that the temps are wrong in the tank. If the basking area/hot spot doesnt reach aroung 95*-100* in the tank it is probably too cool and he is not digesting his food properly.
It could also be a number of other things too. Impaction, systemic infection, internal problems that are unseen from just looking at him, MBD, parasites, salmonella, bacterial infection, etc. It really depends on the set up and envronmental factors. IE: temp, diet, supplements. etc. If i knew the specs maybe i could help more...
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1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 borneo blood-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1 leo- Boji
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.4 ratties- Willard, Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt

She has him in a 40 gallon aquarium, which I personally think may be too small. The basking temp is at 95. I've heard this may be too low, but he's about 2.5 years old now, and has never had this problem. She didn't feed him anything unusual.

The 40g is ok for a beardie. That would be the smallest i would go, but i once knew someone who had an adult male in a 20g his entire life (shudder). ANyway, for today i would up the temps in the tank. Simulating a bit of a fever will help until he goes to the vet.
Was hit heat pad covered up by anything? I had a male leo once who vomited. when i took him to the vet, the dr had no idea what was wrong with him....and then i figured it out. A peice of grapevine had fallen on his heat pad and he hadnt digested his meal.
Keep me posted on the animal. I am curious now what the vet tells your friend.
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1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 borneo blood-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1 leo- Boji
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.4 ratties- Willard, Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt

Try to obtain some fecal sample when he goes. This will be very helpful to the vet...
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1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 borneo blood-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1 leo- Boji
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.4 ratties- Willard, Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt

Oh my....

My friend told me just a moment ago that her bearded dragon died. She says, quote, "He coughed and died" and then said she didn't want to talk. I imagine I'll get the entire story at a later date.

Thank you for your help, although it was too late for the beardie at this point. I'm curious though how she didn't notice anything wrong before...

Kalyandra, see if your friend will get a necropsy done on the animal. If she plans on keeping beardies in the future, maybe this will help in correcting environmental factors or even tell her what was wrong in general with her bearded. It wouldtn hurt to do and i dont think that it costs very much. Thanks for keeping me posted, and for trying everything that you could do, even thhough it wasnt your animal. That was a very compassionate thing to do.
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1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 borneo blood-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1 leo- Boji
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.4 ratties- Willard, Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt