Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two aquaflame collard lizards and my little female was fine until late night yesterday. I feed them by hand and was looking for her yesterday to feed in her cage and when I found her she could not move her back legs and wont eat or anything she has drunk a little water. I dont understand what happened to her she was fine yesterday morning. ANd it was not cage furniture collpsing on her because I have everything buried in 3 in of sand and touching the bottom of the tank so it is very sucure. Can some one tell me what to do.

Sounds like it could be a deficiency of some sort...

John Eddington

Sometimes, that happens with bearded dragon youngsters, prey size only as wide as space between the eyes. If so she should come out of it once its digested, Hopefully Eve

I keep a strip light on them but have had it off yesterday morning because of short. I do dust with a calcium powder I feed diff. size crix and big mealworms and waxworms. BUt I just remembered that it might be some type of gut impaction from that stupid sand. Because last night when I found her limp I saw that ther was a ball where her colocal is you know her bum. I gently massaged behind it and used a sterile qtip to remove what was coming out and it appeared to be sand but was a green color and had a bad oder then after I had removed this there came a normal color and looking stool. So let me know what you guys think and if there is a remedy.

Yeah, see I think it was something she INGESTED, the way you explained that she was fine and all of a sudden, she can't use backs legs. The green sounds like it was in there for awhile, infection smell, is she walking any better since she passed this mess? Could soak her in some warm water and see if she passes any more. With B. dragons if they can't go for awhile they sometimes use a tiny bit of mineral oil on a cricket. I have done this. Helps things loosen and soften a little. I don't know for sure, what else to say except see how she does, if NO improvemnet soon, Make a move, to the Vet ! Good Luck woth her, let us know, Eve

My Collard is a juvinile and he has been experiancing the same sort of symptoms!

Only, over the last 2 weeks he had become very inactive. Sometimes he wouldn't even come out from under his stump for a few days. He ate less and less and now he tries to eat but his mouth gets all slimy and he can't run to get the food because his back legs are all shaky and weird. His tail is very skiny and sort of saggy.. I don't know what to do.

Should I soak him? He is not in sand but rather corn cob bits. I haven't seen him eat them and don't notice any weird bumps around his back-end. I tried feeding him baby Pablum today and tried soaking a mealworm in the baby food but he wouldn't even open his eyes.

Today he only moves if I provoke him to... and even then he stumbles and is very weak.

Please help me!!

Thanks..

Jenn

corncob expands when it hits moisture,it sounds like he may have eaten some and also you mentioned mucus from the mouth so it could be a respiratory infection or he is most likely dehydrated if he hasn't been out for awhile.I would try to get some water into him,try using a syringe to "inject" a little water at a time into his mouth.Usually if you squirt a tiny amount of water onto their lips they will lap it up but whatever you do go to vets with him asap.

Thanks for the info.

Sadly, there isn't a vet in Nova Scotia, Canada that treats lizards for internal problems. I live on Cape Breton Island and the vets here are the same and even less knowledgable about lizards.

I wish I knew not to use corn cob in the first place. What else can I use for substrate other than sand?

I will try forcing him to drink in the morning. He has been like this for at least a month so I guess his chances are slim.

Thanks.

Jenn

n/p

My collard lizard, Otis is doing better today, I think. This morning I held him over the water dish and he lapped up water for quite a time. He also managed to eat some baby food. He can lap things up (or it seems) but his mouth still seems to have a white gooey sort of film in it.

His legs are pretty much lifeless and/or shaky but at least he opens his eyes when he hears me. Yesterday he was not responsive at all but breathing. I switched him to a different tank so he is not within the corn cob anymore. I am just using paper towels as a substrate right now. I am going to continue with the water and baby food tomorrow and hope he gets stronger.

As for vitamins, I only have ever given him Calcium powder. The same as that I give my geckos. What vitamins does he need exactly?

Thanks

Calcium supplements is good - but often not enough. I use Miner-all from Sticky Tongue Farms (every second feeding) and Nekton Rep (once every 14 days). But make a search on the web and you will find several others that are usefull. Or ask on this forum what others are using.
Jesper

I have been mixing some water with a supplment and giving to her in a syringe and she is drinking good now. I also have been pulling apart mealworms and squeezing the inards into her mouth for more nutrion. She has used the bathroom again and looks much better. She still is not moving real good but is moving better. Everybody keep your fingures crossed. Thanks for all your help and if anybody as anymore info. let me know. I will keep you updated.