Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just bought this beardie had her shipped to me, shes about 6 months old approx. 9 1/2 inches long. when she came yesterday she seemed fine and eating very well, but this morning when i went in to clean cages and feed she looked like she was having a hard time standing so i observed her and she was just laying there and her legs were shaking like and she didnt seem to be able to move them like she was simi paralyzed or something.

she is very alert, but something is definatly wrong with her. i also noticed that her colors were really showing then when i first got her. I need any suggestions or help i can get.

Thanks Shari

That's not enough information. You said she ate yesterday. What did she eat & how much? What are the temperatures on both sides of her cage? It sounds like she may possibly be impacted, but like I said, we need more information. It would also be wise to go ahead & make an appointment with a good qualified herp vet. I'm sure she's due for a check-up, and a fecal should also be done.
Cricket

What did you feed her, how many and how large? What substrate do you have her on? Might as well throw in the temps also, I don't think they're the problem but it won't hurt to check.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

well i was not home and my husband fed her 6-7 large meal worms. not sure exact temps at time cause i dont have a therm on new cage, but she had a uvb blub hooked up along with a basking light, i would say at least 80-85 degrees im sure it was more.

after reading more here in the forums im kinda convinced that its impaction, she has pooed this morning but still seems like shes having a problem, i put her in a smaller tank with papertowls and a heat pad under tank.

Ya, impaction would be my bet. Soak her in warm water and hope it passes. Try feeding soft foods for a couple days and you may even want to add a couple drops of mineral oil to them. If it doesn't get any better soon get her to a vet. Impaction is fatal if not remedied.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

OK, Ill try that and let you guys know what happens.

Thanks

If she is impacted, the heat pad and towels are a good move. '

How big is she? length and weight(grams) if you know them. Are you sure of the age? Six months usually could handle 6-7 mealworms, although we do not recommend them for bearded dragons.

You say large mealworms...... are those the Giant worms that are chemically treated to make them gorw larger and intended for fishing? Or are they Superworms that are a different species of worm.

Her basking temp to digest needs to be 95-105 and a minimum of one hour, but 2-3 prior to lights out is best

If she is impacted, the fact she is going poo is good and she should be able to move it out with your support help.

Here is an article on impaction in reptiles with pics, why it happens and how to help them pass it
Impactions

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www.reptilerooms.com

That fact this dragon is only 9 and 1/2 inches long at 6 months is making me inclined to feel she may have MBD, probably due to improper care from the breeder you bought her from. Unless that measurement is snout to vent, instead of snout to tail tip. (or her tail is not fully intact). When I bought my bearded dragon years ago, she was 8" at 3 months of age. By 6 months she was nearly twice that in length.

The only other thing is impaction which has already been indicated. If she doesn't improve in a day or two, I would take her to a vet for treatment.
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PHLdyPayne

Good catch, I missed that she was only 9 1/2 inches long at 6 momths old!

Unless she is a Lawson Dragon, that is very small for a six month old, and could be an indicator that was thriving care problems with diet, supplements and other husbandry.
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www.reptilerooms.com

Just an update on the sick dragon. I tried everything heatpad, papertowl and i gave her pedilyte and tried to feed her baby food but she wouldnt eat and i didnt want to force her.

But anyhow late last night i noticed she was getting worse and within an hour she was gone. I dont have a reputal reptile vet in town and the one i do have closes at 5pm.

The size i gave was just a guess, but I belive that her tail was nipped, although it wasnt disclosed when i was buying her.

She seemed very healthy when she arrived, i just think that my husband feed her to many mealworms and due to the size and maybe her not having that particular diet it just impacted her.

This was a very rough lesson to learn the hard way.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how quickly you can get attached and its never easy to loose a pet.

joi