my 6month old beardy

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have had my bearded dragon for about four months. I do know a lot about maintenance for them but when I got my beardy she was already sick at the petstore I worked at and I loved her so I took her home and been trying everything I can to get her back to normal but nothing has helped, ice tried dehydration aid powder mixed with water, calcium supplements/food and vitamin inriched foods, the calcium powder for crickets (all in appropriate times and quantity) I have the uvb bulb and there is nothing wrong with the temperature I check regularly and also have back ups just incase they burn out cause I live in the basement and it gets cold, and she is also in a 110gl with another beardy she came with there both young and nothing is wrong with the other. Symptoms being extremely lathargic, slow at seeing can't catch her own food so I have to hand feed her, her eyes look very sunk IN pupals very small and doesn't seem to respond very fast to movement near her face, always laying on her belly nd again I repeat EXTREMELY LATHARGIC.

ANSWER: Hello Kandis,

I am sorry that she was not doing well when you got her.  That seems to be the norm when purchasing from pet stores these days.
What type & brand of UVB are you using, a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?  
It sounds like she has metabolic bone disease possibly.  
How often do you give calcium for her?  Do you have an approximate age for her as well?  
Is the other dragon a female, as well?  Make sure you do not have a male & a female together as they will overbreed.  
What type of thermometer do you use to measure the temperatures with, a round stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?  
What type of basking light do you use, a bright white light or a colored light?

Do you have a picture of her tank for me, as well as of her too?
Have you had a fecal done on her to test her for parasites & or worms?  You should probably do that as well.
You can get some chicken baby food & squash baby food since she is not eating.  Just use a plastic dropper or syringe to get some food into her.  


Tracie

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QUESTION: her calcium i give her every two days with the dusted crickets, her vitamin food once every week and the dehydration powder i stopped giving to her because it said to stop after so long. i have a coil uvb bulb, she can move but doesnt seem to be to enthused to do so. shes about 6-8 months old i have had her for about 4-5 of them. there both female i have two thermometers and a hygrometer in the middle of them both, i also have a digital thermometer that i use once ever week. i have two 150watt basking spot lamps not colored though's are useless. right now there in 55gallon exoterra tank because there both only 9inches. i have not gotten a fecal test done because of where i live there is not many reptile vets so the closest is an hour away, but i am making arrangements to do so. she does eat i just have to hand feed her everything, she does drink water on her own.

my friend that knows alot more about reptiles took a look at her and said something about her hips? im not sure if that would be important to know. she poops fine there the same color and look as the other beardy. ive seen her move, walking on all four, her legs work, but im not sure if i have ever seen her run.

i just want a healthy life for her and for her to bounce back and be normal, but it seems nothing ive tried has worked.

ANSWER: Hello Kandis,

Great that you give her calcium but you should increase it to 5 times per week since she is under 1 year of age.  She needs more calcium right now.
Does she have an adequate amount of fat on her hip bones, or do her hip bones protrude?
I know, it is difficult to find a reptile vet.  You could always try using a regular vet to get a fecal done on her.  A lot will do one for you, for a fee.  
What are the temperatures measuring on the basking side?  You are using 300 watts in her 55 gallon tank?  That is quite a bit actually.  Or, are they are opposite ends?  

Does she have a black beard right now?  
The compact/coil light will not be adequate UVB exposure for her.  You will need to get a long fluorescent tube instead.  The best one here in the US is the Zoomed Reptisun 10 fluorescent tube bulb.  You can get it for a good price from  www.petmountain.com  Stay away from the Reptiglo products, as well.
So, she may be having some metabolic bone problems.  Perhaps you should also look into some liquid calcium for her since she is not absorbing her calcium properly, either.

Let me know how she is doing.
Tracie

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

QUESTION: i put it also on her salads so she does get it 5 time per week. yeah she's a porker i compared her hips to the other and they look pretty similar but her legs don't look as muscular. basking is usually around 100 f. no there not at both sides but its also cold in the basement and currently -37 degrees outside.

no black beard, i've never seen her beard or anything. where do i find liquid calcium? the pet shops near here either don't have them or i've never seen them.

she's doing good basking in the inferred right now on the leaves looking very comfy, and yes i will get a faeces test done shortly

Answer
Hello Kandis,

Are you located in the US or outside of the US?  The petstores here in the US usually carry it.  You can find it online in most instances, as well.
I recommend getting the Reptisun 10 tube bulb as soon as you can.  
If you would like to purchase some liquid calcium, I have a small online reptile supply store & sell liquid calcium so just let me know & I will send you my site.
How is she doing today?  At least she is of healthy weight right now, that is good to hear.  
The infrared is ok, but, not quite bright enough for her.  It wont protect her eyes enough from the UVB either.  I would suggest trying a brighter light like a halogen or a regular house hold light bulb instead, to mount alongside your tube bulb when you get it.  I think you would be surprised how her activity would increase with a brighter light for her to bask under.

Let me know how she is doing.

Tracie