sailfin dragon behaving strange

Question

sailfin dragon   QUESTION: My sailfin dragon has been acting strange the last few nights, after i had scared him the light bar and the heat lamp all fell into the tank, and today hes been thrashing around his tank and staying submerged in his water all day and wont go near his basking log, where it came down,so i removed his water and log , also thinking the rickets are eating him, any ideas why he seems so afraid, wont even goto sleep.

ANSWER: Hello Jason,

Did it fall onto him?  Could he have gotten injured in the process?
He is most likely freaked out by what happened.  
What type of basking light was it?  Do you have a UVB light as well?
Do not leave any crickets in with him.  If he does not eat them, remove them.  Don't leave any crickets in with him overnight, as they will bite him & then he will get an infection from the bites.  
Have you tried to take him out of his tank to handle him or hold him at all?
Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: i also have a UV bulb as well, everything fell into his tank, i just upgraded his tank to a 125 gallon tank, so i don't have the proper screen top, so i have his 3 foot screen top and his light is also 3 foot, i know why the top fell in, I'm also wondering if he is having a problem passing a mouse he ate a few days ago and he sitting in his water hoping to soften his food some how, and i picked him up and he wasn't too bad.  he keeps nosing the tank to get out, he's just acting like he never has before.

ANSWER: Hello Jason,

Well, that is a huge upgrade so chances are also, that he could be going through relocation stress.  
How big is your sailfin dragon?  I personally don't recommend mice most of the time.  They are fairly hard to pass & can sometimes impact them if they are too large.  
Remember not to leave crickets or other feeders in with him overnight.
What are his temps & what do you measure them with?  
No glass broke or anything, correct?
What type & brand of UVB are you using, a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?
Make sure you get some oral fluids into him daily, with a dropper.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: he's been in his new tank for about 3 weeks, he's about 30 inches or so, and i have his temps at 85 during the day and 75 at night,  no glass broke, and i just ordered a 72" screen top so this cant happen again, i don't know the brand of the UV bulb, and it is florescent bulb, and if not mice, then just crickets and meal worms?  I feed him kale, bananas, apples, occasionally thawed veggies, i just more concerned about his behavior, i inherited him 2 months ago and i am learning as I go, i appreciate all your help, thanks Jason p.s. i dont actually measure him, i just kinda eye ball his size.

Answer
Hello Jason,

I would also increase the basking site to around 95 also.  The 85 is not warm enough for him to digest his food properly.  Be sure to use a digital probe or a temp gun.  If you are using a stick on thermometer then it will only measure the ambient temps, not the basking temps.
The kale & bananas should only be fed ocassionally, due to the higher oxalate counts which will bind calcium absorption.  Stick with collard & mustard greens, or dandelion greens they are better choices as staples.  The frozen veggies can cause vitamin B deficiency because the freezing process leeches the vitamins out.  The fresh veggies are better.
I would use repcal calcium & repcal herptivite.  He is almost full grown, but still needs some calcium.  So go for 3-4 times a week right now to ensure his calcium stores are up.
I would use the insects over the pinkies.  The pinkies anyway, are somewhat fatty & if fed too often, can contribute to fatty liver disease.
Look on the base of the UVB light & it should have the brand stamped somewhere on the base.  I do need to know the type.  Some brands are better than others, so we need to make sure that it is a good one with a good reputation.
Did you just replace his UVB light or is it the one you have had since you got him?
They do tend to get nervous when their surroundings have been changed.  Plus, the lights fell which made him more nervous.  
Good you have ordered a screen top so that will prevent that from happening again.  

Tracie