Sick beardie?

Question
QUESTION: Hey there...I've got a bearded dragon named Draco thats been acting weird for the past...2 months? She hasn't been eating much at all, and she's getting really skinny and sleeps like ALL the time...I was wondering if she had a parasite or something and if 'ParaZap' would maybe help her out?
Thanks!
Alora

ANSWER: Hello Alora,

If you could go over your tank setup with me, that will start us out.
What type & brand of UVB are you using?  Is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil bulb?  How old is the UVB light?  
What type of basking light are you using, is a bright white light or a colored light?  
What are the temps?  How do you measure the temps, with a stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?
How do her stools look?  Are they runny & overly smelly?
I would begin working on hydrating her with water & pedialyte.  Get some jumpstart to mix in with chicken or turkey babyfood which thins it out & mix in squash babyfood & the calcium with it.  Use a plastic dropper to drip some on her nose to see if she will eat it.
You can get jumpstart at:
www.reptilesupply.com

Parazap is pretty good in eliminating excess bacteria out of the GI tract.  While it does not really kill the eggs of parasites or worms, what it does do is expedite the exretion of them through the body.  If you use this product, only use it for 5-7 days, 2-3 times per year.  Make sure she is well hydrated during the administration of this product as well.

Pleas answer the questions for me, too.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hmm...About the lightbulb question, I'm not sure what kind it is...the name wore off but its a natural sunlight bulb. Its probably about 5 months old or so.

Her basking light is a white light, but I'm wondering about getting a coloured one when I get paid (if thats a better idea, in your opinion...).
On the warm side of the tank its around mid-80s, on the cool side its approx 75. I have a round thermometer on the warm side and a stick on therm. at the cool side.
Her stools seem to be fine, and smelly as normal...haha...I had her outside playing in the pond the other day and she took a poop all over my moms white flowers...lol.
I may buy some ParaZap fairly soon, just to have on hand if she doesn't start eating soon...I've had her eat apple and carrot, but she doesn't seem to want bugs anymore.
Thank you for the help! I'm going shopping tomorrow...haha

Answer
Hello Alora,

I doubt that the natural sunlight bulb is an actual UVB light, unfortunately.  You will need to get a UVB light.  Go to:
www.petmountain.com
www.reptilesupply.com
www.bigappleherp.com

They are much cheaper than at the pet stores.  The light you need to look for is the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.  Do not get any compacts or coils.  Also, steer away from the Reptiglo 10 tube bulb & compact light, as well as the ESU or Zilla lights, to.

No, do not use a colored bulb.  The bright white light is the best.  A halogen or a regular household lightbulb work just fine for the basking temps.
The round type of thermometer is not very accurate.  It only measures the air temps or the temp of the glass.  You will need to get either a digital probe or a temp gun.  You can get a digital probe at walmart for around $12 or so.  If you want a temp gun at:
www.tempgun.com
www.reptileuv.com

The recommended basking temps are 95-110 & the cool side around 78-82.  
I think that once you get the temps & lighting correct, that she will begin doing much better for you.  Taking her outside as much as possible until you get the UVB light is good for her as natural sunlight is the best.

Let me know how she is doing.

Tracie