Sick beardie

[Cheesenugget]

It's a 40 gallon breeder, substrate is newspaper. The coil was a 10.0, the uvb strip is a Zilla slimline desert fixture, desert 50 uvb T8 flourescent bulb, 18 inches. There is a mesh top. I'll have to get another therometer as the other broke, but right now I have a double sided lamp, one side with the 100 w desert bulb and the other with the 150 w night bulb, both on right now.

Assuming we are talking about an adult (Over 1.5 years old) beardie, a 40 gallon is a bit small unless you have a small adult. A 75 gallon at minimum for adults is best, not just because of the floor space, but prevents burning your beardie with the UVB strip if it a has nowhere to escape or go under and a better temp gradient.

Hot spot should be about 90-95F, some people go higher for adults but many including myself stays within this range. Either way, higher than 100F is an overkill.

Cool side should be no lower than 77F. They can do okay at 75F for a few days but preferred to stay within 77-80F. Room temp usually can cover that.

STOP using the night bulb. Lizards, including beardies and BTS, can see light even those red light bulbs or other night bulbs. This can stress them out and disturbs their rest. When it is night time, turn all lights off in its tank so it can sleep better. The only time you will turn anything on at sleep time is a CHE for additional heat, usually in the winter. Again, turn off your night bulbs. Ambient light is fine.

Is it 18 inches from the basking spot to the lid?

I will tell you more about the UVB later.

[Dragondinoguy45]

Oh, my fault. I should've been more specific about the lights. I don't know if it makes a difference, but the night heat bulb is a Zilla night black heat bulb, which was recommended to me by the store owner (same guy who sold me the beardie some years ago and just a few days ago said she had mbd). And the uvb is 18 inches long, I was just listing all the uvb's details listed on its box in case someone who knows more about these products had info I may not know on it, and they would know what specific product I was talking about. But while I'm unsure of her age, she is on the smaller side, but isn't a baby, likely still a juvie.

[redpandakitty]

I echo the person who said you should get your beardie to the vet asap. Also, you don't want to use a mesh lid with the UVB bulb; if your UVB is on top it can block up to 50% of your light.

You said you got her a few years ago but think she's probably still a juvenile. If she's a few years old she's definitely an adult. How long had you been using the coil bulb? The strip UVB you just installed, is it new? I apologize if you know this, but UVB lights need to be changed every 6-12 months, depending on the brand. If you've been using a coil bulb for a long time it is definitely possible that she has MBD, and insufficient care while you were gone may have caused new problems or exacerbated ones that weren't so obvious before.

Was your caretaker giving her calcium and vitamin supplements while you were gone? Also, no offense to whomever was the caretaker, but if your beardie was skinny and lethargic when you got home their assessment that she was "alert and normal" is definitely drawn into question (I understand not everyone is familiar with reptiles and it's not easy to get experienced caretakers).

[Dragondinoguy45]

I've had the coil uvb for almost a year. I used the strip before, but when I started to search for a new uvb, I saw the double sided lamp that comes with the coil uvb, which I thought would be easier to replace and would be as helpful. The strip uvb I now have is a whole new fixture I just purchased a few days ago, and is currently on.

[Cheesenugget]

I've had the coil uvb for almost a year. I used the strip before, but when I started to search for a new uvb, I saw the double sided lamp that comes with the coil uvb, which I thought would be easier to replace and would be as helpful. The strip uvb I now have is a whole new fixture I just purchased a few days ago, and is currently on.

All UVB bulbs need to be changed every 6 months (T8) or up to 8 months (T5). Even if it still works, it needs to be changed.

With mesh lids, you need a T5, not a T8. T5 is stronger and penetrates through the mesh better than T8. If you keep the T8, it needs to be installed inside the tank. The distance between the T5 and basking spot should be about 10 inch. Too close, your beardie will get burned. Too far, she will get less of the rays coming through the mesh. The difference in a T5 and T8 is the size. T5 is stronger because it is slimmer and more concentrated. The brand of bulb I use is the Reptisun High Output or HO 10.0 T5 bulbs. Make sure it says High Output.

I had seen the Zilla desert UVB fixtures. I have heard that they malfunction a lot. I generally do not use Zilla because their basking bulbs do not last. Whatever fixture you use, keep in mind the above info I gave you. I have the Zoo Med fixture. You cannot use a T8 bulb in a T5 fixture and vice versa. If you switch, you will need to buy the fixture meant for T5. These are not commonly found in stores and that is terrible shame, imo, when T5 works so much better for desert species like beardies. I bought mine from Amazon. It is expensive but worth the long term investment.

Other brands recommended is the Sunglow which is a mercury vapor bulb that has heat and UV rays. I recommend mercury vapor bulbs only for tanks over 4 feet long as they are pretty strong.

The fixture should be no longer than 2/3 of the length of the tank if you do not have places for her to hide in or go under.

Ditch the black light. No lights at night. The black light is controversial and not worth it if you don't need it. Lizards can see light in certain spectrum that we cannot. Beardies do not normally sleep in a hide so this can be bothersome to them.

Your 100 watts bulb for heat for a 40 gallon breeder is an overkill. Too hot, your beardie may avoid or not bask properly or not as much. Too much heat/unwilling to step closer to the UVB bulb: less UV rays get in her body. A 75 watts should get achieve the temps you need easily, even at 10 inch away from the lid. Always measure your temps when you switch lights and then confirm them every now and then.

Keep soaking her in Pedialyte. You will need a vet asap for your beardie. If she is not attentive or lays there, that means it is serious.

To me, it sounds like the lighting may be the main issue, but there may be additional issues. How many times do you supplement Calcium D3 and multivitamin in her food per week from day 1 until now? Make sure it is Calcium with D3, not without D3.

If she has mbd, it is not the end. Lethargy is a common first sign. Usually, once the lighting is corrected, she will gain a better appetite. But if there is any damage, it is permanent. She may need shots from the vet and other supporting care. Beardies are tough and I had seen much worse. So again, take her to the vet who knows beardies. Fix your lighting in the meantime and get a thermometer for the temps.

Pick up some wax worms, hornworms and black soldier fly larvae. The last 2 is high in calcium and hornworms is a favorite among lizards. Hornworms have a lot of water too. Don't feed too much in one go though.

Take her outside sunning (with a leash on her or hold onto her) every day or every week for a few hours at a time. The best UV is the sun. I had seen appetite improvements when the lizards get some sunning.

[Dragondinoguy45]

I supplement her food with calcium every time I feed her. And the calcium does have D3. I do have waxworms and fed her some coated in calcium powder yesterday and I'll see what I can do today. I'll wait for the sun to come out to see if I can get her outside.

[Cheesenugget]

I supplement her food with calcium every time I feed her. And the calcium does have D3. I do have waxworms and fed her some coated in calcium powder yesterday and I'll see what I can do today. I'll wait for the sun to come out to see if I can get her outside.

How many times per week do you supplement her food as a baby and how many times as an adult? Adults need Calcium D3 about 2-3 per week whereas babies need Calcium plus D3 every other feeding. Multivitamin is 2x per week for babies and once per week for adults. Too much can hurt your beardie as it has too little.

I am not going to post anymore as I have given you as much advice as I can. Like I said, it sounds like the lightning was not right and the onset of MBD is probably what you are seeing. You need to take your beardie to the vet. She needs bloodwork done, an exam to check for any impaction including egg binding and possibly xrays too to check on her bones. If she has mbd, she needs calcium injections.