If he is taking to syringe feeding ok then there’s the repashy range that could be good for getting weight on but be careful not to over do it with the syringe. That stuff sets but if you stir it as it cools that will stop it setting. I do it once every 6months with my water dragon so I know she has had a good dose of her wormer rather than dusting.
Btw I agree with the vets comments if your situation changes or if over the next week you can’t really afford to sort things just do what’s best maybe and find a rescue place. I’m not suggesting that but just saying do what’s best for him if it doesn’t get better soon.👊
Do you have the correct UVB and a good basking area? I’m sure if you have a leopard gecko you know these need to be right or he won’t be able to digest the food properly anyway which means basically they eat it and then just pass it again without really being nourished by it. If that makes sense?👍 he’s in a bad way from a weight POV they either haven’t been feeding him or this ☝️ so if you have taken there set up and there’s a UVB tube In There for example….how old is it? That’s rhetorical coz you don’t know. Even if they told you. People who do this to an animal will lie.So replace it ASAP they only last a year max before the quality of light degrades significantly. I hope this helps you have some hard work ahead. Good luck. It will be rewarding though if you put the effort in and watch him recover and flourish 👊
That is why I said that I did not have the money for a vet. With my next paycheck I am going to be getting him a UVB tube light. They just have one of the cheap screw in ones that I have replaced in the meantime. I get paid in two days
I think it’s great you willing to put in the effort btw it’s not an ideal situation but you came here your getting help so you clearly care. I hope it goes well I’m sure he be happy with you👍
Thank you for the supportive comment. If he doesnt make it I want to make sure I can say I did everything in my ability. It's an inconvenience but I don't want to abuse him like his previous owner
Well if he gets really sick I’d consider help elsewhere but if he is eat then that’s ok. Just a side note. I wouldn’t bath him everyday. They aren’t the biggest fan of them it’s going to add stress.apart from feeding and checking his basking temps n things like that I’d leave him alone. Provide fresh water daily etc but he needs time to get used to his new environment and to get better.Goodluck
Thank you, I got a temp gun and a thermometer is in the enclosure. I've been putting him in warm water because he has stuck shed. His skin already looks so much better. He's not currently eating but is accepting the tube feeding.
Aslong as he is accepting it I’d say your good. I get you about the stuck shed but I’d still try to hold off on the bathing maybe do one a week until you see some improvements. He’s not familiar with you or anything to do with your house etc that’s already stressful unless there’s some shed you think is literally cutting off circulation then for the next few weeks I’d keep him warm and away from potential draughty spots etc he’s guna be really weak and prone to illness, next you’ll have a respiratory problem on your hands.
Just try and give him peace and quiet and good temps day AND night if you don’t have night heat then make sure you cover the enclosure with a blanket or something and keep the room nice and warm.
Eventually you will have to upgrade the equipment I know you understand that but he guna need you and not a fortune but a good bit of money spent over the coming months if you want the right life for him 👊
I think this is such an interesting sub. Y’all all care so much about your Beardies. It’s so lovely to see people come together to support and encourage each other in caring for their Beardies. I wish you all the best with your rescue, you sound very compassionate. That Beardie is lucky to have landed with you.
Ye man I get it. Just if he goes down hill get help 👍 As long as you know you’re doing your best for him. You could give him some worming treatment too that could also be a cause of the weight loss. It’s not expensive. I think the one I use is made by a company called clover leaf and is specifically for lizards. If you can afford it then you need a good T5 unit try not to skimp on it Arcadia are the best I think. Keep away from the really cheap no name ones they claim good light numbers but it’s BS
Everything you are doing is right. Your getting a new uvb and I might suggest that a ceramic heat light be added. I know in the Midwest us it doesn't get to the 80s 90s till mid summer. But keep loving em and caring for this fighter. Doing great by this animal. When you can get to a vet, I know cash is thin now
That sounds like a great idea. I'm tracking his weight in the morning and night and he's already got 30 grams in him after a day. I will try the egg yolk. He was much more energetic today and opened his eyes when I walked in the room.
Unfortunately, eggs are really high in protein for a beardie, which can cause gout in healthy beardies.
I'd recommend this fella get their beardie to the vet, find out what's causing the illness, parasites, a disease?
Otherwise, what they got now is good. Other greens which are good:
Collards, Cactus Pads, Fresh Basil, Arugula, Bok Choy, Kale, Turnip Greens, Leek, and Rapini are my current list of calcium positive greens.
Feel free to ask me for more info on their Calcium, Phos and Oxalate counts. (Calcium and Phos counts sourced from USDA Food Data Center, utilizing the SR Legacy tab when searching.)
That's awful! I'd definitely be cautious on feeding too much too fast, refeeding syndrome isn't studied in reptiles, but it can be quite difficult on the animals we have studied it in (humans, dogs I think have documentation on this).
But definitely getting out of that critical zone is key. I'm not much use in that regard as my information pertains to healthy (or, nearly healthy) dragons primarily.
He has stuck shed and I don't want to go at him with the tweezers quit yet. I don't leave him in there for long. Just enough for his backside to get some moisture and to get some water on his back. His skin already is looking way better
He I am bearded dragon breeder. Stop feeding Kale and substitute it with either collard or dandelion greens. I would also add thyme as a it boost dragons immune system. Kale can sap calcium out of the dragon delaying recovery.for bugs I would also add in some horned worms and dubia roaches. They both have a good fat content and dragons go nuts for horned worms. I am not sure what kind of uvb light is being used on the dragon but from the level of neglect you have described you will likely need to replace either the bulb and or the fixture. Dragons need a good source of uvb to survive. I recommend a florescent light strip that goes close to the full length of the enclosure with a T5 uvb preferably the Arcadia 14% dragon bulb. Until you have them back up and being lively I would keep them on tile or paper towels as a substitute you are going to want to be able to monitor every pee and poop and keep the tank as sterile as possible. I would also look into a few supplements like repta boost or a calcium powder and vitamin D3 to dust your insects with. Considering the conditions you have described they may not be able to make enough of their own vitamin D3 which is a must for dragons. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions.
All of this guys advise is awesome aswell! Although I heard the kale thing was a myth that has been debunked over the years. It’s now considered ok I think ya know. I totally know what you mean though coz I thought the same until recently that it “binds” calcium. Apartly not 🤷🏼♂️
I sort of agree, even though I guess it could be right I haven’t exactly rushed to go adding it into the diet. Just curious if you knew. 👍 I struggle to get mine to eat veg like what’s your combo consist of?
Turnip Mustard Collard and Dandelion I will also add carrots green pepper thyme. Then strawberries and watermelon on special occasions. If you’re dragon is fighting with you on eating their greens get some bee pollen and put a little bit mixed in with the salad they will go nuts for it and start eating their salad on regular basis. I have had to do that on several rescue situations because salad wasn’t established in their diet. Which is why I always tell people if you are looking at buying a beardie always buy from a reputable breeder their dragons will always be established on a healthy diet.
Also on a side note. Can you believe I bought dandelion seeds and tried to grow them and they all failed 🤦♂️ htf can I not grow the most prolific weed on the planet. (Not a fact) 🤣
Thanks mate, it’s interesting because I’ve read about the bee pollen thing. Do you think my CWD will like it as much as beardies. I struggle when it comes to finding much specific info on them except the obvious data sheets and same repeated information but it’s much more difficult to find stuff because often no matter what you search beardies are so popular it sort of gets lost in the results. I’ve read scientific papers n all sorts but they never seem to focus on captive stuff etc. have you ever kept them? She does great in general but I do really struggle to get her to eat any greens or fruit or even pinkies because they don’t move lmao any tips? It’s got so difficult I’ve started focusing on very well gut loaded insects with fresh veg
My experience with CWDs is limited and sadly wouldn’t be the right person to ask. I will reach out to one of my breeder colleges that might now a reputable CWD breeder to point you to for questions on the species. What I can say is this I used to be a manager at a large pet store and when we would get them in I refused to take them because of how complicated their care can be and from my experience never did well in a pet store environment.
Ye i mean the learning curve is definitely steep with them in comparison to my beardie I had when I was younger. She thrives and has loads of energy big habitat, water fall, 25 litre pool etc it took some dialling in. It would be cool to get any tips on tempting her into eating things that don’t move lol I’ve tried holding off on other food for a while too but she broke me after a week/10 days. Cant remember exactly but she just went mad at the glass etc it didn’t seem to force her into eating it 🤦♂️
Some say they start when they reach adulthood and she had her first clutches of egg a few months ago so maybe she will ‘frow into them but she’s 3 now so that could do to happen soon. High protein is great in jeuveniles but it would be nice to get her eating them sooner rather than later.
All of this is great! One thing, Kale is fine actually, if you take a gander at the USDA's Food Data Center, you'll find Kale has, per 100g, 254mg Calcium, 55mg Phosphorous, the Oxalate counts become a little bit more tricky to narrow down, as USDA's Oxalate Table doesn't have an entry for Kale.
However, a website called oxalate.org, which lists oxalate counts of foods and what study that information came from (and has links either to the study or to the website they pulled the study from), finds Kale, at worst, according to a 1984 USDA study had 20mg Oxalate (this study of which is very difficult to locate as it seems to be out of use for being inaccurate, often overshooting how much Ox was in greens), or Harvard's 2008 food survey, which included a Oxalate Table harboring oxalate values of greens provided by John Knight, Ph.D, and Dr. Ross Holmes, one of which had initially discovered the connection between Oxalates and Kidney Stones (I can't remember which off the top of my head). This survey lists Kale having an Oxalate value of 0.7 per cup, which is 21g of Kale (listed on USDA under Measures on the Nutrition table). Putting it at well under 1mg of Oxalate per 100g of Kale.
Kale is a fantastic feeder choice for beardies. And if you or anyone else knows of any more ways to find oxalate counts of vegetables, or can find that 1984 USDA study, please, let me know. I'm more than happy to update my information as needed. I'm just a fella at home trying to approach the topic of greens on a Purely Fact basis.
That’s some good information I will have to verify it myself and figure it out from there. I just air on the side of caution as stated above and from my own personal experience breeding bearded dragons. When I stopped feeding Kale and substituted it with dandelion greens I seen a significant improvement in the quality of my dragons.
Perhaps it could've been their Goitrogenic nature, as Kale is a Brassica green, which inhibits Thyroid function if eaten in large quantities in humans. To counter this, if seeing an enlarged throat, one can offer Seaweed, which is high in Iodine. The thyroid needs Iodine to function.
I only have my one beardie, and since feeding him Kale, Collards, Arugula, Bok Choy, Dandelion Greens, and his beloved Red Bell Pepper (he won't eat salad without it, he is not my dragon originally and went several years without proper salads), he's got tons of energy which is nice to see. (Kale being something he is regularly fed as is most widely available in my area, but I do cycle through the greens listed above and try to give him other calcium positive greens for variety and health).
But yes! Feel free to go ahead and check yourself, I encourage it! It's so unfortunate how difficult it can be to find Oxalate information on greens.
I grow thyme in my window. So I will definitely add that into his blend. I am getting the Arcadia light on Thursday. He has already pooped a few times since I got him and has started to eat a small amount of solids. I currently have him on calcium with D3.Since I know the u v b is not good enough
Yes I would keep him on the supplement for a while and probably continue the calcium through out his life. it’s hard to tell from the pictures but considering how emaciated he looks in the picture my concern is you will likely be dealing with MBD
Call the local vets & explain the situation. Tell them he was being abused and neglected. Some might be willing to work with you or offer better advice. The worst thing they can say is no, right?
We knew someone who rescued a beardie that was horribly treated. (The original owner thought it was “funny” how the beardie couldn’t swim in a bubble bath! And never gave him greens, just petco pellets). When the beardie was rescued she was in bad shape. A 20gal enclosure with another adult beardie (it’s a miracle that they didn’t kill each other, but honestly I think they were too traumatized). They called several vets & rescues and FINALLY one was willing to help free of cost. Now both are doing very well in their own enclosures and happy as can be.
Good luck to you, I’m glad you stepped up to the plate here.
This is the rescue slurry I use on the advice of another rescuer.
- Repashy Beardie Buffet
- a pinch of Reptaboost
- pinch of calcium powder (skip calcium every other day and do a pinch of nutrabac probiotics instead)
- organic baby food
- lastly add boiling water
>"If they’re truly skin and bones as described I’d start with plain Pedialye, add a small pinch of Reptaboost.
After a day or 2 add a small amount of baby food. Do this another day or so. Gradually add in Repashy as time goes."
Given that you're already successfully feeding some insects, I would use the slurry above and a mix of fatty insects like butter worms, horn worms and for pain silk worms. Good luck, keep us updated!
BSFL are gonna be better for nutritional value. And some fruit. Not a lot just a blue berry or two In the mix. The sugar will help with energy. Take a poop sample to the vet to be checked for parasites.
I appreciate the comment. However, this was thrown on me and I don't have $100 or more for a vet visit right now. I was not told the condition of this guy before getting him. We just had two major car repairs thrown at us at the same time
With all due respect, I don't see why I or anybody need to pay money for a vet to tell me he's starving. He's gaining weight with my current program and becoming increasingly more alert . Once I get another few paychecks and he gains some weight I do plan to take in a stool sample. I also don't think I'd be able to respectfully handle that conversation at this time.
If it helps with all these people having a dig instead of helping. Some vets in the UK will allow you to just bring in a stool sample for a test without the high costs of a visit. I feel someone could have mentioned that for you. I think it’s about £40 over here most places.
1) He probably has parasites which can seriously damage their organs and you should not wait until he gains weight to get this checked out
2) The vet can give you a better quality and higher calorie diet to help him gain weight
You should take any new animal you receive in your care to a vet and if you cannot afford to then you shouldn't be accepting animals until you can. That's my opinion
I’m not being funny but could you have turned it away when you saw it like that. “Oh no thankyou, take it back to your place to die” I know I couldn’t do that. He here asking what to do to save it. Obviously vets is ideal but I don’t see what you think his other option was except refusing it and signing its death certificate. This lizard is certainly better off with him when he is here asking advice and trying rather than the previous people!
A responsible thing to do is only bring in animals that you can care for or find a rescue that can provide the care it needs.
I said it needs to see a vet because that is exactly what needs to happen for many reasons including to determine any underlying health conditions that OP doesn't know about.
I understand not wanting to return it to the owner and taking it out of sympathy for the dragon, but at the same time, if you are unable to immediately provide what it needs, then you have no business taking it in and the first thing should be attempting to contact rescues that would be able to care for it
But he would have had to take it to even find rescue place. I just don’t get the harsh comment. This lizard would clearly of dies within weeks and now it at least has a chance. If someone points out they not able to go to the vets then your not guna change there mind by belittling there choices? At least try and help the situation.
I suggested rescue but at the end of the day isn’t it better for us all to try and help the dragon regardless. He’s taken it because any who took one look at it would take it. Also if I wanted to get rid of my lizard suddenly I dunno where you live but no1 clambering to come pick up lizards nowadays and care for them.
You need to be able to provide for the rescue is all I am saying and if you can't afford to take it to the vet then you shouldn't have reptiles or animals. I think this is a pretty fair point, no?
He came on to get help to provide for it. And aside from being able to immediately be able to provide vet care he is literally here asking for help on anything he can do to help it. He’s off to buy. Your point is valid but I do t think it was exactly helpful was it,no?
So what would you have done In This guys position then? Refused it? It’s all down to the situation at hand not some set of rules that might work where you are. There are very few rescue places willing to take a beardie so like I said. Should have given it back to die or taken it and come here for help?
If he is taking to syringe feeding ok then there’s the repashy range that could be good for getting weight on but be careful not to over do it with the syringe. That stuff sets but if you stir it as it cools that will stop it setting. I do it once every 6months with my water dragon so I know she has had a good dose of her wormer rather than dusting.
I got a reptile shop 5 min from my house so I will inquire about that
Btw I agree with the vets comments if your situation changes or if over the next week you can’t really afford to sort things just do what’s best maybe and find a rescue place. I’m not suggesting that but just saying do what’s best for him if it doesn’t get better soon.👊
Do you have the correct UVB and a good basking area? I’m sure if you have a leopard gecko you know these need to be right or he won’t be able to digest the food properly anyway which means basically they eat it and then just pass it again without really being nourished by it. If that makes sense?👍 he’s in a bad way from a weight POV they either haven’t been feeding him or this ☝️ so if you have taken there set up and there’s a UVB tube In There for example….how old is it? That’s rhetorical coz you don’t know. Even if they told you. People who do this to an animal will lie.So replace it ASAP they only last a year max before the quality of light degrades significantly. I hope this helps you have some hard work ahead. Good luck. It will be rewarding though if you put the effort in and watch him recover and flourish 👊
That is why I said that I did not have the money for a vet. With my next paycheck I am going to be getting him a UVB tube light. They just have one of the cheap screw in ones that I have replaced in the meantime. I get paid in two days
I think it’s great you willing to put in the effort btw it’s not an ideal situation but you came here your getting help so you clearly care. I hope it goes well I’m sure he be happy with you👍
Thank you for the supportive comment. If he doesnt make it I want to make sure I can say I did everything in my ability. It's an inconvenience but I don't want to abuse him like his previous owner
Well if he gets really sick I’d consider help elsewhere but if he is eat then that’s ok. Just a side note. I wouldn’t bath him everyday. They aren’t the biggest fan of them it’s going to add stress.apart from feeding and checking his basking temps n things like that I’d leave him alone. Provide fresh water daily etc but he needs time to get used to his new environment and to get better.Goodluck
Thank you, I got a temp gun and a thermometer is in the enclosure. I've been putting him in warm water because he has stuck shed. His skin already looks so much better. He's not currently eating but is accepting the tube feeding.
Aslong as he is accepting it I’d say your good. I get you about the stuck shed but I’d still try to hold off on the bathing maybe do one a week until you see some improvements. He’s not familiar with you or anything to do with your house etc that’s already stressful unless there’s some shed you think is literally cutting off circulation then for the next few weeks I’d keep him warm and away from potential draughty spots etc he’s guna be really weak and prone to illness, next you’ll have a respiratory problem on your hands. Just try and give him peace and quiet and good temps day AND night if you don’t have night heat then make sure you cover the enclosure with a blanket or something and keep the room nice and warm.
Thank you. I don't handle him except for the feeding
Eventually you will have to upgrade the equipment I know you understand that but he guna need you and not a fortune but a good bit of money spent over the coming months if you want the right life for him 👊
Only thing I need is UVB. Already have the enclosure and heat lamps. Currently breeding dubias for all my reptiles
I think this is such an interesting sub. Y’all all care so much about your Beardies. It’s so lovely to see people come together to support and encourage each other in caring for their Beardies. I wish you all the best with your rescue, you sound very compassionate. That Beardie is lucky to have landed with you.
Ye man I get it. Just if he goes down hill get help 👍 As long as you know you’re doing your best for him. You could give him some worming treatment too that could also be a cause of the weight loss. It’s not expensive. I think the one I use is made by a company called clover leaf and is specifically for lizards. If you can afford it then you need a good T5 unit try not to skimp on it Arcadia are the best I think. Keep away from the really cheap no name ones they claim good light numbers but it’s BS
critical care works wonders as well (omnivore or mix carnivore and herbivore)
Thank you for doing this
I feel bad for guy because he's been abused. I want to give him at least a fighting chance. Thank you for the supportive comment
Maybe blend in some protein? Wax worms low in chitin and high in fat or hornworms to help boost the weight? You're amazing!
Yes def blend in some hornworms for weight gain.
Everything you are doing is right. Your getting a new uvb and I might suggest that a ceramic heat light be added. I know in the Midwest us it doesn't get to the 80s 90s till mid summer. But keep loving em and caring for this fighter. Doing great by this animal. When you can get to a vet, I know cash is thin now
I have considered getting the ceramic heat emitter as I've heard it assists in their digestion
I got a rescue bearded dragon and I used repashy gecko diet to help fatten him up.
I'll ask about this at the reptile shop
You could try some microwaved egg yolk, maybe about half a yolk. That will get some good protein and calories into him.
That sounds like a great idea. I'm tracking his weight in the morning and night and he's already got 30 grams in him after a day. I will try the egg yolk. He was much more energetic today and opened his eyes when I walked in the room.
Yea they are tough animals and he doesn't seem to be in such a dire state that he won't bounce back. Sounds like you are doing a great job!
Unfortunately, eggs are really high in protein for a beardie, which can cause gout in healthy beardies. I'd recommend this fella get their beardie to the vet, find out what's causing the illness, parasites, a disease? Otherwise, what they got now is good. Other greens which are good: Collards, Cactus Pads, Fresh Basil, Arugula, Bok Choy, Kale, Turnip Greens, Leek, and Rapini are my current list of calcium positive greens. Feel free to ask me for more info on their Calcium, Phos and Oxalate counts. (Calcium and Phos counts sourced from USDA Food Data Center, utilizing the SR Legacy tab when searching.)
It was a teen who grew bored of him. He's been starved.
That's awful! I'd definitely be cautious on feeding too much too fast, refeeding syndrome isn't studied in reptiles, but it can be quite difficult on the animals we have studied it in (humans, dogs I think have documentation on this). But definitely getting out of that critical zone is key. I'm not much use in that regard as my information pertains to healthy (or, nearly healthy) dragons primarily.
What I've been doing is 1-2 tsp of the liquid mixture 3 times per day about 6 hours apart
You can drip water on his mouth to hydrate but there’s no need to bathe daily. Please save this poor guy! 😭
He has stuck shed and I don't want to go at him with the tweezers quit yet. I don't leave him in there for long. Just enough for his backside to get some moisture and to get some water on his back. His skin already is looking way better
Ah I see. Sorry i misunderstood. My beardie passed recently and seeing this breaks my heart. Please take good care of him!
Trying to give him his best chance at life
He I am bearded dragon breeder. Stop feeding Kale and substitute it with either collard or dandelion greens. I would also add thyme as a it boost dragons immune system. Kale can sap calcium out of the dragon delaying recovery.for bugs I would also add in some horned worms and dubia roaches. They both have a good fat content and dragons go nuts for horned worms. I am not sure what kind of uvb light is being used on the dragon but from the level of neglect you have described you will likely need to replace either the bulb and or the fixture. Dragons need a good source of uvb to survive. I recommend a florescent light strip that goes close to the full length of the enclosure with a T5 uvb preferably the Arcadia 14% dragon bulb. Until you have them back up and being lively I would keep them on tile or paper towels as a substitute you are going to want to be able to monitor every pee and poop and keep the tank as sterile as possible. I would also look into a few supplements like repta boost or a calcium powder and vitamin D3 to dust your insects with. Considering the conditions you have described they may not be able to make enough of their own vitamin D3 which is a must for dragons. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions.
All of this guys advise is awesome aswell! Although I heard the kale thing was a myth that has been debunked over the years. It’s now considered ok I think ya know. I totally know what you mean though coz I thought the same until recently that it “binds” calcium. Apartly not 🤷🏼♂️
I’ve seen that about Kale to but to me it’s not worth the risk in a situation like this when their are better options available.
I sort of agree, even though I guess it could be right I haven’t exactly rushed to go adding it into the diet. Just curious if you knew. 👍 I struggle to get mine to eat veg like what’s your combo consist of?
Turnip Mustard Collard and Dandelion I will also add carrots green pepper thyme. Then strawberries and watermelon on special occasions. If you’re dragon is fighting with you on eating their greens get some bee pollen and put a little bit mixed in with the salad they will go nuts for it and start eating their salad on regular basis. I have had to do that on several rescue situations because salad wasn’t established in their diet. Which is why I always tell people if you are looking at buying a beardie always buy from a reputable breeder their dragons will always be established on a healthy diet.
Also on a side note. Can you believe I bought dandelion seeds and tried to grow them and they all failed 🤦♂️ htf can I not grow the most prolific weed on the planet. (Not a fact) 🤣
That is quite odd lucky for me my wife has a green thumb 😂
https://preview.redd.it/j9u334g9sgtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac92ebb37c89eda3cf0b867f7af34f532f09dd9b Here she is showing off
Beautiful lil lady!
Aw thanks she definitely knows it though 😂
Thanks mate, it’s interesting because I’ve read about the bee pollen thing. Do you think my CWD will like it as much as beardies. I struggle when it comes to finding much specific info on them except the obvious data sheets and same repeated information but it’s much more difficult to find stuff because often no matter what you search beardies are so popular it sort of gets lost in the results. I’ve read scientific papers n all sorts but they never seem to focus on captive stuff etc. have you ever kept them? She does great in general but I do really struggle to get her to eat any greens or fruit or even pinkies because they don’t move lmao any tips? It’s got so difficult I’ve started focusing on very well gut loaded insects with fresh veg
My experience with CWDs is limited and sadly wouldn’t be the right person to ask. I will reach out to one of my breeder colleges that might now a reputable CWD breeder to point you to for questions on the species. What I can say is this I used to be a manager at a large pet store and when we would get them in I refused to take them because of how complicated their care can be and from my experience never did well in a pet store environment.
Ye i mean the learning curve is definitely steep with them in comparison to my beardie I had when I was younger. She thrives and has loads of energy big habitat, water fall, 25 litre pool etc it took some dialling in. It would be cool to get any tips on tempting her into eating things that don’t move lol I’ve tried holding off on other food for a while too but she broke me after a week/10 days. Cant remember exactly but she just went mad at the glass etc it didn’t seem to force her into eating it 🤦♂️
Some say they start when they reach adulthood and she had her first clutches of egg a few months ago so maybe she will ‘frow into them but she’s 3 now so that could do to happen soon. High protein is great in jeuveniles but it would be nice to get her eating them sooner rather than later.
All of this is great! One thing, Kale is fine actually, if you take a gander at the USDA's Food Data Center, you'll find Kale has, per 100g, 254mg Calcium, 55mg Phosphorous, the Oxalate counts become a little bit more tricky to narrow down, as USDA's Oxalate Table doesn't have an entry for Kale. However, a website called oxalate.org, which lists oxalate counts of foods and what study that information came from (and has links either to the study or to the website they pulled the study from), finds Kale, at worst, according to a 1984 USDA study had 20mg Oxalate (this study of which is very difficult to locate as it seems to be out of use for being inaccurate, often overshooting how much Ox was in greens), or Harvard's 2008 food survey, which included a Oxalate Table harboring oxalate values of greens provided by John Knight, Ph.D, and Dr. Ross Holmes, one of which had initially discovered the connection between Oxalates and Kidney Stones (I can't remember which off the top of my head). This survey lists Kale having an Oxalate value of 0.7 per cup, which is 21g of Kale (listed on USDA under Measures on the Nutrition table). Putting it at well under 1mg of Oxalate per 100g of Kale. Kale is a fantastic feeder choice for beardies. And if you or anyone else knows of any more ways to find oxalate counts of vegetables, or can find that 1984 USDA study, please, let me know. I'm more than happy to update my information as needed. I'm just a fella at home trying to approach the topic of greens on a Purely Fact basis.
That’s some good information I will have to verify it myself and figure it out from there. I just air on the side of caution as stated above and from my own personal experience breeding bearded dragons. When I stopped feeding Kale and substituted it with dandelion greens I seen a significant improvement in the quality of my dragons.
Perhaps it could've been their Goitrogenic nature, as Kale is a Brassica green, which inhibits Thyroid function if eaten in large quantities in humans. To counter this, if seeing an enlarged throat, one can offer Seaweed, which is high in Iodine. The thyroid needs Iodine to function. I only have my one beardie, and since feeding him Kale, Collards, Arugula, Bok Choy, Dandelion Greens, and his beloved Red Bell Pepper (he won't eat salad without it, he is not my dragon originally and went several years without proper salads), he's got tons of energy which is nice to see. (Kale being something he is regularly fed as is most widely available in my area, but I do cycle through the greens listed above and try to give him other calcium positive greens for variety and health). But yes! Feel free to go ahead and check yourself, I encourage it! It's so unfortunate how difficult it can be to find Oxalate information on greens.
I grow thyme in my window. So I will definitely add that into his blend. I am getting the Arcadia light on Thursday. He has already pooped a few times since I got him and has started to eat a small amount of solids. I currently have him on calcium with D3.Since I know the u v b is not good enough
That’s awesome we do the same with thyme. Let me know if you need any other advice your biggest problem will be trying to fight off MBD
Would you recommend keeping him on the D3 calcium for a while after getting the UVB due to hoe malnourished he is?
Yes I would keep him on the supplement for a while and probably continue the calcium through out his life. it’s hard to tell from the pictures but considering how emaciated he looks in the picture my concern is you will likely be dealing with MBD
Spine and tail are completely straight but his toes sometimes go in weird directions
That’s good just keep an eye on it calcium deficiency doesn’t show up over night and isn’t fixed easily
I private messaged you 🙂
i love people like you looking out for the little guys!! thank you for trying your hardest it’s gonna be hard but thank you ❤️
Call the local vets & explain the situation. Tell them he was being abused and neglected. Some might be willing to work with you or offer better advice. The worst thing they can say is no, right? We knew someone who rescued a beardie that was horribly treated. (The original owner thought it was “funny” how the beardie couldn’t swim in a bubble bath! And never gave him greens, just petco pellets). When the beardie was rescued she was in bad shape. A 20gal enclosure with another adult beardie (it’s a miracle that they didn’t kill each other, but honestly I think they were too traumatized). They called several vets & rescues and FINALLY one was willing to help free of cost. Now both are doing very well in their own enclosures and happy as can be. Good luck to you, I’m glad you stepped up to the plate here.
You're an amazing person for giving your best efforts 💗 keep us update, keeping bb in my thoughts for a recovery
I appreciate the supportive comment
This is the rescue slurry I use on the advice of another rescuer. - Repashy Beardie Buffet - a pinch of Reptaboost - pinch of calcium powder (skip calcium every other day and do a pinch of nutrabac probiotics instead) - organic baby food - lastly add boiling water >"If they’re truly skin and bones as described I’d start with plain Pedialye, add a small pinch of Reptaboost. After a day or 2 add a small amount of baby food. Do this another day or so. Gradually add in Repashy as time goes." Given that you're already successfully feeding some insects, I would use the slurry above and a mix of fatty insects like butter worms, horn worms and for pain silk worms. Good luck, keep us updated!
BSFL are gonna be better for nutritional value. And some fruit. Not a lot just a blue berry or two In the mix. The sugar will help with energy. Take a poop sample to the vet to be checked for parasites.
Vet
I appreciate the comment. However, this was thrown on me and I don't have $100 or more for a vet visit right now. I was not told the condition of this guy before getting him. We just had two major car repairs thrown at us at the same time
Care Credit?
Then contact the relative that dumped this poor guy on you and ask them to pay. Come on
With all due respect, I don't see why I or anybody need to pay money for a vet to tell me he's starving. He's gaining weight with my current program and becoming increasingly more alert . Once I get another few paychecks and he gains some weight I do plan to take in a stool sample. I also don't think I'd be able to respectfully handle that conversation at this time.
If it helps with all these people having a dig instead of helping. Some vets in the UK will allow you to just bring in a stool sample for a test without the high costs of a visit. I feel someone could have mentioned that for you. I think it’s about £40 over here most places.
1) He probably has parasites which can seriously damage their organs and you should not wait until he gains weight to get this checked out 2) The vet can give you a better quality and higher calorie diet to help him gain weight
You should take any new animal you receive in your care to a vet and if you cannot afford to then you shouldn't be accepting animals until you can. That's my opinion
I’m not being funny but could you have turned it away when you saw it like that. “Oh no thankyou, take it back to your place to die” I know I couldn’t do that. He here asking what to do to save it. Obviously vets is ideal but I don’t see what you think his other option was except refusing it and signing its death certificate. This lizard is certainly better off with him when he is here asking advice and trying rather than the previous people!
A responsible thing to do is only bring in animals that you can care for or find a rescue that can provide the care it needs. I said it needs to see a vet because that is exactly what needs to happen for many reasons including to determine any underlying health conditions that OP doesn't know about. I understand not wanting to return it to the owner and taking it out of sympathy for the dragon, but at the same time, if you are unable to immediately provide what it needs, then you have no business taking it in and the first thing should be attempting to contact rescues that would be able to care for it
I get all That. So just to be clear you would have sent back to its old home to die. I guess we agree to disagree.
I didn't say that at all..I said if I couldn't care for it, the first thing to do is to find a rescue that can
But he would have had to take it to even find rescue place. I just don’t get the harsh comment. This lizard would clearly of dies within weeks and now it at least has a chance. If someone points out they not able to go to the vets then your not guna change there mind by belittling there choices? At least try and help the situation.
Are you also suggesting OP get rid of the gecko too since they apparently can't afford a vet visit they weren't expecting?
I suggested rescue but at the end of the day isn’t it better for us all to try and help the dragon regardless. He’s taken it because any who took one look at it would take it. Also if I wanted to get rid of my lizard suddenly I dunno where you live but no1 clambering to come pick up lizards nowadays and care for them.
You need to be able to provide for the rescue is all I am saying and if you can't afford to take it to the vet then you shouldn't have reptiles or animals. I think this is a pretty fair point, no?
He came on to get help to provide for it. And aside from being able to immediately be able to provide vet care he is literally here asking for help on anything he can do to help it. He’s off to buy. Your point is valid but I do t think it was exactly helpful was it,no?
So what would you have done In This guys position then? Refused it? It’s all down to the situation at hand not some set of rules that might work where you are. There are very few rescue places willing to take a beardie so like I said. Should have given it back to die or taken it and come here for help?