NO idea what's going on with this little one...

[ieena444]

We've had Absolem for about 2 weeks and little one does not seem to be doing well. A good 70% of his time is spent like this... Dark. Lethargic. Squinting and swollen. We think he's about 2-3 months old, and he has very little appetite. Doesn't drink so I have to do droplets on this lil snoot. Just seems like he's scared all the time. Breathes heavily (puffing throat while exhaling). Does this weird "S" wiggle after eating crickets. Gets super discouraged with his food... He's not actively aggressive, but blackbeard's FREQUENTLY and has constant stress marks. He's not skiddish, but has no interest in being held or touched. He'll kind of let it happen for a minute, and then back away.
All of his conditions are optimal. 40gal tank, tube UVB, 2 basking bulbs, ceramic for nighttime. Awesome temp gradient throughout. Humidity always between 30-40%. Has a bask spot, hide, logs, live plants... The works. He's in an area of the house with low foot traffic... I'm just so unsure about this little guy and I just need some advice... He's technically my husband's, so I can't just pull the trigger for a vet visit. Helpppppppp

 

[Sadie]

We've had Absolem for about 2 weeks and little one does not seem to be doing well. A good 70% of his time is spent like this... Dark. Lethargic. Squinting and swollen. We think he's about 2-3 months old, and he has very little appetite. Doesn't drink so I have to do droplets on this lil snoot. Just seems like he's scared all the time. Breathes heavily (puffing throat while exhaling). Does this weird "S" wiggle after eating crickets. Gets super discouraged with his food... He's not actively aggressive, but blackbeard's FREQUENTLY and has constant stress marks. He's not skiddish, but has no interest in being held or touched. He'll kind of let it happen for a minute, and then back away.
All of his conditions are optimal. 40gal tank, tube UVB, 2 basking bulbs, ceramic for nighttime. Awesome temp gradient throughout. Humidity always between 30-40%. Has a bask spot, hide, logs, live plants... The works. He's in an area of the house with low foot traffic... I'm just so unsure about this little guy and I just need some advice... He's technically my husband's, so I can't just pull the trigger for a vet visit. Helpppppppp

What brand and bulb is the uvb and is it a T 5 or T 8 and where in the tank is it these bulbs have certain distance and placement depending on the screen
Next basking temps should be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- we need to start there

 

[ieena444]

What brand and bulb is the uvb and is it a T 5 or T 8 and where in the tank is it these bulbs have certain distance and placement depending on the screen
Next basking temps should be 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- we need to start there

We have a reptisun T8, placed at the back of the tank angling slightly outwards to get towards the front at the very top of the tank, not going through the screen.. we modified it haha.
His bask sits about 109° usually, I take temp probably every 2 hours w our probe (I'm a stay at home mom so I'm here always)

 

[Sadie]

We have a reptisun T8, placed at the back of the tank angling slightly outwards to get towards the front at the very top of the tank, not going through the screen.. we modified it haha.
His bask sits about 109° usually, I take temp probably every 2 hours w our probe (I'm a stay at home mom so I'm here always)

Please position the T 8 directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches- the 109 is a surface temp correct? Is there a clear plastic cover over the bulb? If there is take it off you want the bulb exposed

 

[Sadie]

Are you feeding insects no bigger than the space between eyes? Please post pictures of him and his lighting -

 

[Badwolfe]

ieena any chance you could post a picture of your set up. It's easier to see if there are any glaring problems that way

 

[ieena444]

Here's his current setup and how he is right now... He's eaten maybe 2 crickets today, and I think tried a bite of kale. Had to do some droplets on his snoot for him to drink.. he was cruising around his tank seemingly happy a couple hours ago, and now we're back to dark and lethargic... I know he's starting a shed (his nose is starting to lift) but my gut is telling me there's something more...

The 3rd picture is of him the other day, during one of his alert and happy periods.

 

[ieena444]

Please position the T 8 directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches- the 109 is a surface temp correct? Is there a clear plastic cover over the bulb? If there is take it off you want the bulb exposed

I need to redo the whole setup I feel, just some tweaks. The only thing that makes that difficult is he's technically my husband's beardie and it's hard for me to do anything for him aside from feeding because he's "not mine" and it stirs the pot when I try and make changes....

 

[ieena444]

Are you feeding insects no bigger than the space between eyes? Please post pictures of him and his lighting -

All small to medium crickets smaller than the space between his eyes, small dubia roaches, occasional mealworms and waxworms.. but now he seems to be not interested in any of it.

 

[ieena444]

I need to redo the whole setup I feel, just some tweaks. The only thing that makes that difficult is he's technically my husband's beardie and it's hard for me to do anything for him aside from feeding because he's "not mine" and it stirs the pot when I try and make changes....

And yes 109 is surface.

 

[Badwolfe]

can I ask what the three bulbs are over the tank. Obviously I can see you have a UV tube as well but I don't understand the 3 light set up across the full length of the tank

 

[Badwolfe]

Also are you recording the humidity levels and is that water bowl near to a heat bulb thats used all day?

 

[Sadie]

All small to medium crickets smaller than the space between his eyes, small dubia roaches, occasional mealworms and waxworms.. but now he seems to be not interested in any of it.

Please no more meal worms they have a exoskeleton on them that is harsh on babies stomachs - the wax worms please feed very sparingly they are very fatty

 

[ieena444]

can I ask what the three bulbs are over the tank. Obviously I can see you have a UV tube as well but I don't understand the 3 light set up across the full length of the tank

The two in the double are his basking bulbs. He's a little guy in a 40 gal and we live in an old house that gets real cold, without both of the 100s his basking spot only gets to like 90 at most.

 

[ieena444]

Please no more meal worms they have a exoskeleton on them that is harsh on babies stomachs - the wax worms please feed very sparingly they are very fatty

I've been tracking his bowel movements like a crazy woman and will only give him a mealie if he's drank water and pooped before hand. We're trying to supplement with the wax worms right now since he won't eat much of anything at all... He gets his vitamins and calcium dust as well.

 

[Sadie]

The two in the double are his basking bulbs. He's a little guy in a 40 gal and we live in an old house that gets real cold, without both of the 100s his basking spot only gets to like 90 at most.

What is the wattage of the basking bulbs ? And do you have a CHE for heat at nite --- temps at nite should be 65-75

 

[ieena444]

Also are you recording the humidity levels and is that water bowl near to a heat bulb thats used all day?

Yes and yes. Humidity is kept between 30 and 40 yes it is

 

[Sadie]

I've been tracking his bowel movements like a crazy woman and will only give him a mealie if he's drank water and pooped before hand. We're trying to supplement with the wax worms right now since he won't eat much of anything at all... He gets his vitamins and calcium dust as well.

Hes hooked on the wax worms --- you can feed 1-3 medium super worms every other day on his salads - but you dont want him hooked on wax worms they are like candy did you get your UVB repositioned

 

[ieena444]

What is the wattage of the basking bulbs ? And do you have a CHE for heat at nite --- temps at nite should be 65-75

100 each. And yes, temp is usually around 80 every night

 

[ieena444]

Hes hooked on the wax worms --- you can feed 1-3 medium super worms every other day on his salads - but you dont want him hooked on wax worms they are like candy

He doesn't care for them... He doesn't care for anything right now, that kind of why we're trying the wax worms to just get SOMETHING in him.