Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hope someone can shed some light on this: I got my orange sandfire female 14 months old and the yellow red desert male 11 months old last month and their weight when I got them was 240g for the female and 265g for the male. I weighed them today and they have lost weight. The female weighs in at 232g and the male at 282g. So what do you think? I am noticing a decline in food intake as well. I plan to take a stool sample in because neither ate again today, I have put super worms in, crickets in and greens. today I tried endvine(sp) kale and collard to see if they would eat any of it. Normally the female loves mustard greens but stopped eating them too. I noticed the female hiding in her half log cave today. She came out this morning and then next time I saw her she was in her cave. I added a hot rock today so lets see if that helps and tomorrow I am getting a reptisun 8.0 instead of the 5.0 I had. Hot side is only 95 ( bit the themo guage is about 6-8 inches below where the female would bask so its probably alittle higher. I think I will also get a 150 wt bulb. What bulbs are best? In the males cage he is never in the heat.which is about 105 or so, infact I have him here on my shoulder as I write this and he is cold. He was laying on the cool side of his cage on the ground. So I am adding a hot rock to his cage and changing the bulbs as well. They both have plenty of climbs and a nice basking spots about 4 to 6 inches from the heat lamp. I am also in search of a nice flat rock for them I have a creek in my yard I will go looking for rocks and branches. I will of course soak it in bleach and let dry in the sun for days before I use it. Any other things you think I should do? They are not too bright in color either but do seem OK in health. Stools look normals and they have bright eyes. Thanks for your help. I am going to give them both warm baths now. PS I had a baby beardie die today, out of the 15 I have seemed normal this morning and at 3 pm dead in the food dish. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I love these guys and only want the best for them and I will do anything to get it.
TX Deb Picture is of two GG's( pair) and the orange sandfire female and yellow red desert male taking a bath( they do not live together)Together just for the picture!

Sorry Male was 280 when I got him(now 282) not 265 so he has not lost weight but I do not see him eating at all. And I am still concerned with him just laying in the corner of the cool side and not active. Tx again

Do you have a picture of your setup? Do yuo have these two housed together? Were they housed together before you got them?

What kind of temp gauge do you have?

When you get an animal that starts out eathing and then stops over the first few weeks with you, suspect temperature first. As cold blooded animals all of their systems functioning depends upon the temperature. If the temperature is wrong their whole bodies will have issues.

If you have them together and they are not in optimal health and condition they must be seperated. If your female was to become gravid in a weakened state she is likely to have major issues...MBD or death being a couple possibilities.

If they are not together but you got them from the same place make sure they are isolated from any other dragons you have. You should have them quarantined for a minimum of 6 months even if they are super healthy and from a great breeder.

Perhaps you have a picture of their setup?

Kakadu Dragons

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I can get a picture of the set up tomorrow. No they do not live together nor have they ever but I did buy them to breed as soon as they are old enough and I have done a lot of research on Beardies. I have a pro gun 25( I think thats the name of it) but I was using the temp gauge in their enclosure when I was doing the temp. because the gun needs a battery.
I think the basking temp isn't hot enough now after checking out more things.
These came from the same place when I bought them but from different breeders orginally. My Orange Sandfire female came from Sandfire Ranch and the Yellow Red Desert male came from Desert Dwellers. Here is a picture of the orange sandfire female. I'll get some pictures of the set up tomorrow so maybe that will help anyone figure this out. I hope all it is, is the heat/lighting. These two are in a different room( 75 degrees) than my other Beardies( where the room temp is alot warmer in 80- 85 degrees, My snake room). Maybe that is another reason they aren't doing as well the temp is too cool most of the time. So I plan to make those changes and any other changes anyone else thinks I should. Thanks for you help, Deb

How long have you had them for? If it hasn't been long it could be that they are still going through a transitional period of adjustment.

What size tanks are they in?

I would raise the basking temps to 100-105degrees, but make sure they still have a nice cool side. i would get a battery in your temp gun as soon as possible as it will provide you with the most acurate reading.

I would also get a fecal done and go from there, losing weight, not acting normal and not eating much are symptoms of parasite infections. If it is parasites then its relatively easy to treat both the animals and the environment
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Thanks to all who responded. I raised the basking site and the watts on the bulb, will get the samples to the Vet. The person I got them from is sending me some stuff for them, parazap as well but if they have parasites I will discuss what to use wit hthe Vet since this isn't something I am used to being a Vet Tech. I have had them probably three weeks now maybe a month and they are in a 55 gal tank and a 75 gal tank but I have a 125 gal tank I am getting ready and also a wooden cage that is fairly big(not sure the mesurements right now but bigger than a 55 gal I assume. I'll let you all know what I find out if anything or if they improve with the changes. Deb