Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys, couple quick questions. I have a 3 week old (i think) BD. I have had him for just under a week. He really doesnt seem to be eating alot, maybe 4-5 crixs a day (only 1 today) and no greens(wont eat them). He seems very slugish, always sleeping, and when i pick him up, he will open his eyes, then put his head down and pass right back out. I have been misting him with water a couple times a day, and he almost always drinks it up. He seems to be pooping a couple times a day, and nothing seems weird about it.

Do very young berdies ever try to brumate? Or is he still maybe very stressed from the move? I have checked all the cage temps with a digital thermomiter like recommended on this site,tried to close off part of his cage, and moved the cage away from where he can see people walking by. Do young berdies usually try to run away when you go to pick them up, and they are stressed, or do they just kinda not move at all like my little guy? I plan to take him in to the vet and get a fecal as soon as i get a day off of work, but for some reason i really dont think parisites are the problem.

Thanks in advance for any help.

This baby was way too young to be sold and put through the stress he is having. He is also dehydrated, the dark you see under his eyes is a good indicator of that, but also his skin looks wrinkled and his tail thin from fluid loss. Try soaking him in a small bowl with water temp that is just slightly warmer than you while holding him in your hand and allow him to lean down and drink if he wants or drips some drops on his nose.

Something is drying him out, temps to high, lack of fluids or foods that get fluids into them or parasites/worms

What are his temps and what are you measuring them with? you can give him gatorade diluted with water through a dropper also, but he needs fluids, badly. One of the leading cause of losing too young to be sold dragons is dehydration.

If he does not improve asap(liek tomorrow) from the soaks, you need to get him and a fecal sample to the vet. babies this small will not survive long when they get like this without medical care, supplement feeding and hydration. The vet can give him fluid injections and see if he has parasites/worms too
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How old do you think he/she is from the pic? Temps on his cool side range from 80-85, other side from 90-95, basking spot hits 110, but he never sits at his basking spot. Could this maybe be because he is dry, and dehiydrated? I will get him a bath asap, and try to get some gatorade in him.

It's age is around what you thought I would say, and to most breeders this is way to young to have been sold as they can stress easy, and are acceptable to quick dehydration if stressed and not eating, and drinking properly.

Temps you said would be fine for a young dragon, and most likely the dehydration and stress is keeping him from normal activity, basking, eating, etc.

The baths, gatoraid/water, and soft baby foods will hydrate him and get some vitamins in him.
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He is sick, they tend to hide from light or heat when sick.

I would not think he is any older than 3 weeks, this baby is still classified a hatchling, he has the little hatchling bump on the top of the head that usually disappears at 2-3 weeks old. We think that happens when they start getting a layer of fat/fluids in them after hatching.

Matt gave you a good suggestion also with the runny baby food, chicken, squash and sweet potatoes are favorite they usually will lick up.... do not force him, get a drop on his nose and allow him to taste it and they will usually get some.

He can get very critical fast and he is going to need a lot of hand care, feeding and hydration. But they can be brought through this period and thrive fine, if he imporves with the above idea, I would still get a fecal done on him in a few weeks...... if he does not improve, you need to get him to a vet. It is not usually that small dragons develope worms and parasites from stress, and if he has them from that or poor care prior to you getting him, he will need more help than you can give him. When you have him back to that point, I would contact where ever you got him from and chew some butt for selling a baby that young.

Too many so called breeders are selling them too young, obviously caring more about selling off the dragons than concern for the babies they have produced.
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Thanks for all the help guys/gals. Today i gave him a long soak, and got him to lick up abit of gatorade/water. He ate 2 crix, but still seems very slugish. Going to get him to a vet the first chance i get no matter what happens. I am abit afraid of the stress it will put on him to be driven to a vet, and then looked at, and driven home. What can a vet do for him if it isnt parisites? Do they actually give them shots or something at this super small size? Anyone know a good reptile vet around the Detroit/Oxford area in Michigan?

Sometimes you can call around and a vet might just accept a fecal sample to view for parasites, but then if they are present he will want to see and weigh the dragon to prescribe the proper meds.

When you take him in, just have something famaliar with you, like put a hand towel in with him now and take him in with that on the bottom of the carrier you take him in or in a tub. IT will make things seem more known to him. Also, vets that know reptiles are usually very good with them and the dragons sense that.

I know a great reptile vet in Lansing and Frankenmuth-Birch Run clinic in Michigan, but try the lonk below to see if one is near you that has recommendations.
Herp Vet Connection

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www.reptilerooms.com

Cheri is dead on with this. I see the same signs of dehydration. Only thing I would add is to supplement his feeding with some baby foods like squash, chicken, sweet potato with a little fluid added so it can be taken into a dropper or needless syringe and dropped on the front of his snout. The extra fluids in this food will do him some good as well. lots of fluids, and the supplemental feedings if he is not eating good is what I would do as well as double check the cage temps.. If no improvement the vet is needed.
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www.Mystical-Dragons.com

You can also use ensure (any flaver. Everything everyone else said I completly agree with. I ahve alot of breeders in my area out in California that sell at 2 weeks old, all they want is the money and it is really sad, I never sell before 6 weeks most at 8. Let us know how it is doing!! Good Luck!!

i`m not an expert by any means,but he looks awful thin from my experience.I would probably get him checked.john