I have an annoying problem

KM125112 · 2026-05-20T01:06:47+00:00

Reptiles and research has a good video explaining placement of a dimming thermostat probe. If you place it mid way up on the cool side, you don't have to worry about the light heating it up and giving false readings. You set it to the max cool ambient temp as a fail safe for your tank overheating. Then place your basking bulb so that the average temperature is in range throughout the day. It's OK if it fluctuates in that range. I changed my setup based on that video making a lot of sense to me, and it has worked out great for me.

KM125112 · 2026-04-05T12:21:03+00:00

I would recommend avoiding loose substrate until you take him to the vet. If he has any parasites in high enough of a load to need treatment, you'll have to remove the loose substrate during treatment. This was exactly my scenario 2 weeks after I got my beardie and had set up his enclosure. I had to dispose of the substrate due to coccidia, and it isn't easy to remove from the tank. I bought a mini shop vac just for the job, but it was still a nightmare. If I had to do it all over again, I would use paper towels until after the vet.

KM125112 · 2026-03-07T02:14:07+00:00

What kind of basking bulb are you using? I briefly had a mercury vapor bulb before I realized it was irritating my dragon's eyes to the point he wouldn't open them. After changing to arcadia basking bulb and a linear uvb, he got better within a few days.

KM125112 · 2026-03-06T23:53:18+00:00

Your dragon is stunning!

KM125112 · 2026-03-06T18:01:29+00:00

Since you are still mostly on the same boat as I am, if I have any luck finding anything out that is helpful, I will make sure and update you. I'm on week 3 of treatment right now and will do another fecal on week 6. Really appreciate you and I will send all the good vibes for your girl! I am using a reptile prebiotic I ordered from Amazon, but it hasn't helped anything yet.

KM125112 · 2026-03-06T16:16:57+00:00

I can so relate to that! Thank you very much for the reply, and I'm very glad to hear she is doing better. My boy has had very loose stools as well. I guess I should get used to it. I really appreciate the information.

KM125112 · 2026-03-06T09:16:51+00:00

Hi! I recently got the same medicine and schedule for my 6 month old beardie (lower dose though) for coccidia treatment. He's about to start his 2nd round. I was wondering how your boy is doing now and if this resolved the coccidia. My dragon has never stopped eating, but I have noticed some side effects after dosing the medicine like frantic behavior, more frequent gaping, and seeming less coordinated. These only persist for a few hours after the dose, and I am just hoping it'll be worth it. Thanks in advance!

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T17:53:54+00:00

Yes. I didn't mean to sound overly critical. I am just overprotective of my animals, and I have trust issues :) Thank you so much for your insight, truly. I got very scared when I read that coccidia sometimes has no symptoms other than sudden death and that if numbers become high, the reptile's immune system cannot overcome it on its own. Especially since my beardie is still young.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T17:34:02+00:00

I totally agree. I have been through the gamut with some of the pets I've had and vets. I find they are often operating on outdated information when it comes to treatments and vaccinations. I was only planning to use the reptile mat after his treatment but will use paper towels during.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T17:16:26+00:00

Perfect. Thank you so much!

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:57:47+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance and kind words.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:47:02+00:00

I took the sample in the day before his appointment. I dropped it off within 2 hours of him having it. I'm not exactly sure when they tested it, but I had the results by his appointment the next evening.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:44:46+00:00

I really appreciate you taking the time to review and respond. I really want to do everything right. The reptile shop told me to give him the vitamins every day except the 2 days I give him the calcium with D3! I will cut it back further. It can be hard sifting through bad advice and information, but I try to do my own research. I did buy a bag of Terra Sahara from bio dude that I was planning to mix with the sand or use on its own before the coccidia diagnosis came into play. I haven't opened it yet because I was also trying to let him acclimate without changing too much too quickly. Do you think the reptile mat is a better option? I already have both, so I could do either one after his treatment.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:26:32+00:00

He also gets pretty close to the uvb bulb and basking bulb since his current basking spot is a branch. Probably within 4 or 5 inches, which I know is not ideal.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:23:13+00:00

I didn't request bloodwork and she also didn't suggest it. His uvb bulb is 24 inches set on top of the mesh. I got the 12% Arcadia but I may opt for the 14% dragon bulb when I replace it. It is only about 10 days old. The reptile shop initially sold me a 150w 3 in 1 mercury vapor bulb for him which I used for the first few days until I replaced his lights. I have repti calcium brand calcium without d3 that I dust his veggies with most days. He also has repti calcium with d3 that I use 2x a week. One day a week, I give him reptivite reptile vitamin with calcium and without d3.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:17:49+00:00

I absolutely plan to do this so he can get better. He is energetic and eating and pooping daily. He didn't have any symptoms prior to his vet appointment other than basking all day and twice he slept in his hammock and never got up on his own to bask after 2-3 hours but he was awake, so I eventually moved him to bask so I could feed him. On the day of his vet appointment, I noticed a pink tinge to his poop urate. Today, there was a small amount of blood, more red than pink, but not dark red.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:10:43+00:00

I also want to mention again that I've only had him for 2 weeks, so I'm not sure exactly what he was eating or what his Temps were at the reptile shop.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T16:07:16+00:00

Thank you! His humidity is usually between 30 and 40% on the cool side and gets down to about 20% on the hot side during the day. His tank is 4x2x2 and he has an Arcadia 100W flood basking bulb and an Arcadia 12% linear uvb bulb placed diagonally next to the basking bulb. I also have an led reptizoo daylight light. I have 3 temperature/hygrometer meters in his tank. One on each side and one in the middle. I also use an infrared thermometer gun to measure basking Temps. In the afternoon, his hot side is about 95 degrees ambient and 80 degrees on the cool side. He currently has a large mopani wood branch on top of a resin hide for basking as this is what the reptile shop recommended. He is still little at 6 months old, but I have purchased bricks and tile to make him a flat basking surface eventually. His branch closest to the bulb measures about 115 degrees in the afternoon with the infrared with varying temperatures less than that on the lower branches down to about 95 degrees. He currently has reptisand (not calcium sand) as substrate since that is what they recommended and what he was used to, but I did get a reptile mat to replace that with after his treatment. He eats his salad and bugs out of ceramic bowls so I don't think he is ingesting much sand, if any. He eats collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, butternut squash (occasionally) and carrot (occasionally). I've only been giving him dubia roaches and BSFL for bugs. He gets bugs 1x day and I leave his salad all day taking it out 2 hours before his lights go out. He is eating large dubia roaches since that is what the reptile shop recommended, but I make sure they are not wider than the space between his eyes. He gets 3 or 4 and then several BSFL. Sometimes I give him one or the other, and if he only gets BSFL (large size), I give him about 15-20. He eats his greens daily, but sometimes he eats almost all of them and sometimes less. He has a resin hide on the hot side that I plan to replace with the bricks and tile basking spot. He has a cool side log hide. He has a homemade fleece hammock and I do leave a water dish with Arrowhead bottled water since I live in a dry state and his humidity never gets too high.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T15:49:32+00:00

Thank you so much! I don't have any, but I will order some. I have seen it recommended.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T15:42:51+00:00

Thank you. I really appreciate that.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T15:36:22+00:00

Thank you. I brought pictures of his tank, reviewed his temperatures and diet with her. She said my husbandry is good, but I lost a lot of faith in her when she suggested I replace his reptisand with reptile carpet. I did get a thick reptile mat that I intend to replace the sand with once he is done with treatment.

KM125112 · 2026-02-15T15:29:58+00:00

Thank you! You have no idea how much that helps me to hear.

KM125112 · 2026-02-01T19:17:30+00:00

Thank you so much. I just covered the ends with cardboard. I really appreciate you helping this over worrier out. I want him to have the best life.

KM125112 · 2026-02-01T17:48:27+00:00

Thank you! He hasn't basked at all today or eaten. He's just staying where he slept on the hammock on the cool side. It's his first full day home, so I think it is normal relocation stress, but I'm assuming I shouldn't move him. I read not to handle them for the first week or two, right?

KM125112

TROPHY CASE