Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i got a bearded dragon about 3 weeks ago, he is still a juvinile, o nly about 4-5 inches long. At first he was fine, but it seems now he does not want to eat or move hardly. I leave for work and i come back and he is in the same place... or he stays in the same place all night. When i have been putting crickets in, i put 2.... before he would chase them down and eat both right there within 10 minutes, now he wont eat them at all...he let them sit in the cage for 2 days then finally i took them out. i dusted them and everything. I have also been giving him greens, and before he ate them just fine, but now he just lays in them. what could this be? can someone help me out please and give me some ideas? thanks

Hmm.. I'd say common Paralysis caused by over feeding.. but if he's eating fine.. maybe he's just listless...
What heat is the cage?
Do you have UV-B?
What substrate are you using?
Is he defecating regularly?

It could be a number of things from Sick, Parasites, too little heat, Early MBD(?), etc...

I wish you the best of luck regardless, hopefully he'll be fine
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2.4.1 Leos
1.1.13(eggs) Beardie
1.0 Burm
0.1 Common Boa
1.0 Bp (Turns out, it's a 2nd burmese)

What size crickets are you feeding?.. if you're only needing to feed 2 at a time, they're probably way too large... should be more like 20 very small crickets. They should be no longer than the distance between the dragons eyes.

I'm just guessing that this could be the issue and could be wrong... but if you fed large crickets, it could cause paralysis.

I'll agree with this guy, really.. what size crix?
2 did sound small amount to me, but heh.. but thinking it over, yes I'm curious.. at that size he should be on what? 1/2"?
I'm not sure, never raised juvies (Though I will soon)
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2.4.1 Leos
1.1.13(eggs) Beardie
1.0 Burm
0.1 Common Boa
1.0 Bp (Turns out, it's a 2nd burmese)

I can certainly relate. The exact same thing has happened to my baby beardie and I'm at my wits end trying to keep him going. I am now syringe force feeding him a mixture of chicken vegetable baby food with a little pedialyte and calcium powder mixed in. He is taking a little but still seems listless. I don't know if he'll make it or not. Isn't it frustrating!!!

on one side of the cage i have a heating rock, and a light with basking trees measuring about 90 degrees the other side is room temperature. I do have a uvb light. what wil paralysis do to him? is he going to grow out of it?

What size tank is he in? What kind of vitimins have you been giving him?

Paralysis is not something he will grow out of and it could kill him if you dont get him to a vet. It is impossible to say what it could be without being vague, anything from parasites to MBD to over supplemtation. Get him to a vet right away!

90 degrees to room temp is a tad cool. Up the wattage of your light bulbs and generate some more heat. Babies need slightly higher basking temps: 100-115 in the basking site and 80-85 ambient. Make sure he is getting some UVB from high quality reptile bulbs (or natural, UNfiltered sunlight). Heating rocks are of doubtful value (and can cause burns).

Dragons need both adequate heat and lighting to stimulate the appetite and adequate heat to digest. If he has not been digesting properly (perhaps combined with overlarge food items) he could be impacted. Soak him several times daily in warm (not hot) water. Increase the temps immediately. A little Acidophiliz or Bene-bac(one or the other usually available at pet retail outlets--try the bird section if you can't find it in the reptile section)won't hurt.

You also need to have a fecal done to check for parasites. See the posts above under "help...emergency" for a little more info on parasite testing and treatment, and emergency feeding tips.

Finally, please be aware that live prey should not be left in cages. Crickets need to eat too and they will bite your dragon. If you can't get smaller crickets, try some alternate food items(not mealworms!). Silkworms can be ordered (as can smaller size crickets) and are excellent. Superworms are okay in a pinch for adults but can be a bit large for a baby and are too high in chitin for a delicate system. Wax worms are candy--tasty and worthless.

Good luck and hope everything gets better for your dragon.

Best,
michele

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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

Only comment is on heat rocks, yes many people have seen burns from them.. but the newest ones from Zoomed and others should get rid of that problem.. many have built in rheostats, and their heat is in a coil rather than a single hotspot so temps rarely soar unless there's a problem with it, (Admittingly hotrocks are prone to them) but replacement every once and a while should work well enough.

Or so says David Blair after talking to him at a show.. I trust the guy, I was suprised.. Still suspicious, but I use them with most snakes and never have problems..
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2.4.1 Leos
1.1.13(eggs) Beardie
1.0 Burm
0.1 Common Boa
1.0 Bp (Turns out, it's a 2nd burmese)

I'm glad to hear manufacturers are working to improve heat rocks.

Still, beardies need overhead lighting as their primary heat source. Belly heat (heat rocks or undertank heating) can certainly be used as a good supplemental or nightime heat source, particularly for a young, delicate or sick animal.

Best,
michele
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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

Well i work at a vet, so getting him to one wont be much of a problem, or shouldnt be, we have some great exotic specialist. Also, as far as food, the crickets where as small as i could get them, and i was instructed upon recieving the beardies that it would be an ok size. Is this wrong? Also as far as the supliments ive been giving, i have dusted food with a 2:1 calciumhosphorus powder. I have been feeding crickets, mustard greens, zuchini, and yellow squash. i also have pellets im trying. I have upped the wattage now and the temp is going on 95ish in the basking area. I also knew about the heating rock situation, but was advised by my vet to wrap it in a towel and it would be fine. I have him in a 10 gallon tank to answer one of the questions i was sent. And the only thing that makes me somewhat doubt paralysis, is the fact that when i hold him, if i touch his tail he does move a little and walk around if i promote him and i came in today and he had gotton on the base of his basking tree, which i dont know if he could have climbed if he were in paralysis. i will definately get a fecal done at my vet and make an appointment i guess. If anyone has any further ideas, let me know. thanks guys i appreciate this.

Consider switching to a calcium-only powder (or no phosphorous multi-vitamin with calcium). Too much phosphorous (which also comes from insects and some veggies) can interfere with calcium absorption.

Best,
michele
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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

ok, will do, thank you so much michelle