Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a pair of baby German giants on Tuesday. One is doing very well, while the other’s health seems to be declining rapidly. When, I initial received them, the one was noticeable skinnier than the other while being about the same length (2-1/2” bodies, 4-1/2” w/ tail, 3/8” wide heads). I started them with just greens on Tuesday and Wednesday. The healthy one ate twice as much as the smaller one. Yesterday, I began them on some crickets. The smaller ate 5 small crickets, while the larger ate 9. Today, the unhealthy will not eat or really move. It is barely holding it’s head up and seems like it only wants to sleep. They have been separated for the better part of the day, and the symptoms have not improved. I do not think it has a disease, since the other one is so healthy and them have never been separated. I have a feeling it might be impacted, because I have never seen it go to the bathroom, while the other is quite proficient at moving it’s bowels. Plus, it has not gone to the bathroom all day since separated. Does anyone have any idea on if my assumption is correct and some advice on how I can treat this? I really do not want to lose this little guy. Sorry for the length, but thanks for the help -cws

...about your set-up? What substrate are you using & your temps, for example.
-----
God Bless, Beardie Dreams, & Peace!
Pogoniacs™

They are both asleep now. The substrate they’re in is sand, brand name “Reptisand”. It was recommended from the person I got the dragons from. I have thermometers all over the cage, a basking light at 105 to 110, a heat pad under about 1/3 the cage around 85, and the other corner around 75. Tomorrow I am going to get a digital thermometer to verify these temps. I will definitely try the water bath in the morning. Hopefully, that will do the trick. I also plan on getting it touch with a local herpetologist. In the mean time, I have separated both into new cages and I am in the process of sterilizing the old cage. Just it case it has a disease or parasite. Thanks a lot for the advice. I really appreciate it. -cws

...you should take them off the Repti-Sand; it's bad, bad, bad for them! At this age, they should be on either plain white papertowels or newspaper that has non-toxic ink. Sand of any kind @ their age can easily cause an impaction, which could become fatal. I would also not use the heating pad. Please be sure to follow through on checking the temps with a digital thermometer; the stick on or analog kinds are very unreliable. Be sure to keep us posted!
-----
God Bless, Beardie Dreams, & Peace!
Pogoniacs™

for now til they are a little older.

I also agree the heating pad is not needed and may be drying them out too much. Unless it gets below 60 degrees in your home at night, they do not need it and need the cooling off period to rest.

Yes I Agree Take Them Off That Horrible "Repti-Sand" Many Many Dragons(even adults) Die On That Stuff. I Woudl Suggest That YOU Even Go as Far As to Keep Them In Seperate Cages If You Can To Quarintine Each One. Keep Them On Either Newspaper Or Paper Towels ( Plus YOu Can Save The Paper Towel Rolls For YOur Crickets ) I Woudl Also Throw That Under Tank Heater In The Trash, It IS Really Usless For Beardies. Get Them Checked By The Vet Too . YOu Can Also MAke Sure They Have Some Kind Of Liquid Intake To Keep From Gettin Dehydrated. Just Some Thoughts. Keep Us Posted On These Little Beauties.
Andy Walker
Link

Not knowing the history of them, we can only guess.

Your best move is to take him to a knowledgable vet and have a fecal done to rule out the more common things that give symptoms like this and that babies who change enviroments will develope... coccidia

Also, a vet can feel his tummy and tell if there is anything in there and where.

Once you have those answers, you will then know for sure what is his problem. Until you get him to a vet, you can soak him in tepid water for 15 minutes(enough to cover his tummy to his shoulders) keep your hand in there with him or something for him to grip on. This may encourage him to go to the bathroom and if he does you can pretty much rule out impaction.

Also try to get him to drink,water or diluted pedialite, this will hydrate him and make it easier to pass things from his system. Are your temps right also?

Have you tried warm baths for the little guy? Warm baths help some move their bowels. Luke warm water just enough so they can stand in it. Also has he drank any water? A lot of beardies when not hydrated will decrease activity greatly, seems to be one of the first things we miss. Also dragons at that young of age require hotter temps then large adults. Basking spot should be 105-110 cool side normal around 75-80. They need a body temp of a liitle over 100 to digest properly. At this age crickets should be their main source of food they need protien to grow. Supplement with calcium and multi vitamins. Make sure the crickets are no larger then the space between the eys.
-----
Photos

the first thing i would do is contact the person you got it from. If they are reputable they should be responsable. Dragons are hardy animals and they dont usually take a hard turn for the worse unless there is really something wrong. at a young age sometimes and sadly death is inevitable.

did you get these dragons from a breeder or a reseller? if from a breeder, there mey be other animals in the clutch with similar problems.

i have rescued more than a few animals people did not want to invest the time and effort into saving. you have to make that desicion. return it or try to nurse it back to health. there is a lot of good advice on this forum from knoledgable people.

good luck
-----
Bennett
www.beardiedragon.com

To be perfectly honest, the sickly one is not mine. It is my girlfriend’s. I wanted to return it when I first got it, but she demanded to keep it. It does have an awesome disposition and look. The healthy one hates to be handled. He tries to run back in his cage, until I bring him out of the cage’s view. When, the one took a turn for the worst, about 3 days later, I called the store I purchased it from and talked to the store’s owner about it. He would not exchange it now for a new one. His response was his guarantee did not cover babies, but if the one died, he would work out a deal with me for a new one. I made it known I was not happy with this policy, but he did have a point. It is pretty obvious that he is a businessman looking to make a profit, not a specialized breeder with a reputation to uphold. Once they have left his possession, who's to say what I could be doing to it. Bottom line - Buyer always beware!