Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am so mad. For the first time since I've had my 7-week-old beardie, I had to leave her in the care of someone else for the weekend. I don't think Arwen had the best possible care while she was there and I need to know what to do.

I do not trust anyone around me with a key to my apartment (there are a lot of theft crimes in my city) so I decided the best thing to do was to take Arwen to my 21-year-old friend's house and ask her to watch my baby. (I was going to be on a boat the entire weekend and couldn't take her with me)

I wrote out an entire two pages worth of information on Arwen (her lighting needs, her feeding schedule, her temperature requirements, etc...) and a list of things that needed to be done each day. I made up individual containers of vegitables and separate containers of crickets with airholes. That way, all she would have to do is dump them in Arwen's bowl. I explained her lighting and heat requirements and, relunctantly, left Arwen for 2 days.

When I came to get her, she had poop all over her cage, the basking light wasn't hooked up right and it was only 85 F inside her cage on the warm side!

I've noticed now that she has an unusually large belly that doesn't seem to get any smaller and her stool is very runny. She still eats fine, though. I have her on paper towels so I know it's not impaction. She has been going through a body shed for the past couple of days.

What can I do to get her stomach back to normal? If the temps were not high enough for digestion, do you think her food could be spoiling inside her stomach!!!???? Please help! I'll never leave my baby again!

She'll probably be alright. Feed her a little more often then normal. Allow her to eat as many crickets as she wants. Give her soaks to keep her well hydrated. Also make sure her temps are good. Before leaving her with someone again, set up her tank and lights on a timer, and make sure it gets the proper temps. You can't expect someone who has never had beardies before to know how to work the lighting.

Crank the heat up to 110 and keep her hydrated , with a good supply of greens , good luck she will be allright

Lighting, heating, and other environmental changes can really stress out a bearded dragon. This stress will change how your beardie eats, sleeps, acts, and defacates. I would recommend reading an article at Melissa Kaplan's website ...

http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/changestress.html

My guess is that your beardie will be fine after she is allowed to calm down. The fact that she's also shedding doesn't help. Give her time and lots of love.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons