My bearded dragon doesn't eat but is not dying either - he is like a zombie or miracle....but I feel like we have tried about everything...except posting here...so any help would be appreciated.
We have had him for a little over 2 years..and got him as a baby from a pet store. The only health "issue" he has had was part of his tail was gone when we purchased him...which is why we named him "Stubs". He has been healthy, good eater, growing/shedding, etc. He went through what I assume was brumation right around a year old...came out of it a few months later...continued to grow, shed, etc.
But, about 6 months ago he stopped eating...then slowly stopped pooping (no surprise considering he wasnt eating much). He used to poop like clock work twice a week when I would give him a bath. I tried switching feeders, veggies, etc. but all he wanted to do was sleep and hide. Wouldn't touch them. It was like he was trying to brumate again - but it had only been 6 months from the last time...and it was also in the middle of the summer here...so didn't make any sense. Nothing I did worked. I took him to the vet - they did blood work, exam, checked for parasites...everything was clean. All his blood work showed was he was a little low on vitamin d and dehydrated - so they gave him a shot and sent me home saying he was fine basically.
Fast forward 3 months and...no change. I think he is surviving on bathtub soaks and sleep. I've double checked all my temps, I swear I've tried every possible tank setup - if you suggest something I probably already have it at this point in my closet (t8, t5, mercury vapor, etc.)... and I'll try again...I just mean I've been reading and buying and switching and trying everything I have read it could possibly be for the last 5 months. It is very frustrating and I dont' want to just watch him waste away...but I don't know what else to do! If I take him out of the cage - he is mobile - he will swim in the tub or run around the room.
- I thought maybe my temps were slightly too warm - so tried lowering them - but that didn't stop him from hiding all the time. Tried upping them - that didn't work either. Tried moving things, changing bulbs, etc.
I read about Repta-Boost a few weeks ago and started feeding him small amounts of that with a syringe (I have to put some in-between his lips to get him started to even eat that) before giving him a warm soak...just to see if it would help get his system going again and he would poop. So far...no poop...but at least he is eating a small amount of that now daily.
This week I moved around some decor things again to see if that would encourage him to come out... and he has a bit more... he will now sometimes go out and bask for like 20 minutes...before hiding again. Doesn't eat anything - but at least comes out - which I feel is a move in the right direction. I attached a picture of him and tank this morning. You can see he is actually out - but staying on the cool side/uvb free side.
At this point I am wondering if he is getting too much UVB?? I've been focusing on temps and bulbs up till now...but perhaps it is the uvb? I used to have a t8 10.0 and I switched over a year ago to the t5 10.0...maybe for my height of a tank it is just too much (even though it is over the screen) - or he doesn't like it. I keep reading it shouldn't be too much - but I'm running out of ideas. I checked with a ruler and everything is at least 12-18 inches away height wise. But if I use this chart (linked below) it says that still places most of his warm side of the tank in "open sun" range. Perhaps he doesn't enjoy that? I swear I"m about to just spend the money and get a uvb reader to check - as I'm out of ideas here.
Link: https://7acd2ea3-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/thelizardmadness/lighting-guides/JUNE2915.PNG?attachauth=ANoY7crtfqr2q0qSwKQlnsE89ymFMOkk-Dz5_6Y6muUBkFsfy6UTVT7CfgskIGd43_RVU5fQXaCtm8DJ3FIMf4grB9fO7rn2AeFrLLAiNPdf6RcWeH3kyjWBwpS4bY0ZXNIcdQpzLQ3IR6Mq0mVIMjbm2Mhh9-ih55CpR-JSYvMwJqkz7fKjyKejha_lqRNDBx4R8Hbj0zoIqqv6KGqhMXXI8Srk0Unk8tcvSi_azJfHM1fO3EAcURE%3D&attredirects=0
Current Setup:
36x18x18 - tank - has reptile carpeting and screen top (all lights above screen). Three digital temp probes - one on basking area, one on warm side (air temp) and one on cool side (air temp). Small water dish.
Warm Side of Tank
---------------------
-100 watt bulb over basking rock - temp at 100-107 - measured with digital probe
-Ceramic heat lamp - temp set to 87 (daytime) and 75 (nighttime) - measured/auto on/shutoff by digital probe. During day air temps on the warm side of the tank range from 86 - 90.
-T5 -10.0 UVB tube - over 75% of tank - ontop of screen w/reflector. Purchased new one 5 months ago.
Cool Side of Tank:
----------------------
-digital probe monitoring temp (cool side ranges around 70-73 at night and 75-80 during day)
-hide
-hammock
-part of area without uvb tube
Food (when he used to eat):
------
Feeders: hornworms, dubai roaches, crickets, silkworms, superworms, waxworms
Veggies: Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Green/red bell peppers, spring greens (no spinach), strawberry, arugula, endive, butternut squash
Any thoughts or ideas appreciated!
We have had him for a little over 2 years..and got him as a baby from a pet store. The only health "issue" he has had was part of his tail was gone when we purchased him...which is why we named him "Stubs". He has been healthy, good eater, growing/shedding, etc. He went through what I assume was brumation right around a year old...came out of it a few months later...continued to grow, shed, etc.
But, about 6 months ago he stopped eating...then slowly stopped pooping (no surprise considering he wasnt eating much). He used to poop like clock work twice a week when I would give him a bath. I tried switching feeders, veggies, etc. but all he wanted to do was sleep and hide. Wouldn't touch them. It was like he was trying to brumate again - but it had only been 6 months from the last time...and it was also in the middle of the summer here...so didn't make any sense. Nothing I did worked. I took him to the vet - they did blood work, exam, checked for parasites...everything was clean. All his blood work showed was he was a little low on vitamin d and dehydrated - so they gave him a shot and sent me home saying he was fine basically.
Fast forward 3 months and...no change. I think he is surviving on bathtub soaks and sleep. I've double checked all my temps, I swear I've tried every possible tank setup - if you suggest something I probably already have it at this point in my closet (t8, t5, mercury vapor, etc.)... and I'll try again...I just mean I've been reading and buying and switching and trying everything I have read it could possibly be for the last 5 months. It is very frustrating and I dont' want to just watch him waste away...but I don't know what else to do! If I take him out of the cage - he is mobile - he will swim in the tub or run around the room.
- I thought maybe my temps were slightly too warm - so tried lowering them - but that didn't stop him from hiding all the time. Tried upping them - that didn't work either. Tried moving things, changing bulbs, etc.
I read about Repta-Boost a few weeks ago and started feeding him small amounts of that with a syringe (I have to put some in-between his lips to get him started to even eat that) before giving him a warm soak...just to see if it would help get his system going again and he would poop. So far...no poop...but at least he is eating a small amount of that now daily.
This week I moved around some decor things again to see if that would encourage him to come out... and he has a bit more... he will now sometimes go out and bask for like 20 minutes...before hiding again. Doesn't eat anything - but at least comes out - which I feel is a move in the right direction. I attached a picture of him and tank this morning. You can see he is actually out - but staying on the cool side/uvb free side.
At this point I am wondering if he is getting too much UVB?? I've been focusing on temps and bulbs up till now...but perhaps it is the uvb? I used to have a t8 10.0 and I switched over a year ago to the t5 10.0...maybe for my height of a tank it is just too much (even though it is over the screen) - or he doesn't like it. I keep reading it shouldn't be too much - but I'm running out of ideas. I checked with a ruler and everything is at least 12-18 inches away height wise. But if I use this chart (linked below) it says that still places most of his warm side of the tank in "open sun" range. Perhaps he doesn't enjoy that? I swear I"m about to just spend the money and get a uvb reader to check - as I'm out of ideas here.
Link: https://7acd2ea3-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/thelizardmadness/lighting-guides/JUNE2915.PNG?attachauth=ANoY7crtfqr2q0qSwKQlnsE89ymFMOkk-Dz5_6Y6muUBkFsfy6UTVT7CfgskIGd43_RVU5fQXaCtm8DJ3FIMf4grB9fO7rn2AeFrLLAiNPdf6RcWeH3kyjWBwpS4bY0ZXNIcdQpzLQ3IR6Mq0mVIMjbm2Mhh9-ih55CpR-JSYvMwJqkz7fKjyKejha_lqRNDBx4R8Hbj0zoIqqv6KGqhMXXI8Srk0Unk8tcvSi_azJfHM1fO3EAcURE%3D&attredirects=0
Current Setup:
36x18x18 - tank - has reptile carpeting and screen top (all lights above screen). Three digital temp probes - one on basking area, one on warm side (air temp) and one on cool side (air temp). Small water dish.
Warm Side of Tank
---------------------
-100 watt bulb over basking rock - temp at 100-107 - measured with digital probe
-Ceramic heat lamp - temp set to 87 (daytime) and 75 (nighttime) - measured/auto on/shutoff by digital probe. During day air temps on the warm side of the tank range from 86 - 90.
-T5 -10.0 UVB tube - over 75% of tank - ontop of screen w/reflector. Purchased new one 5 months ago.
Cool Side of Tank:
----------------------
-digital probe monitoring temp (cool side ranges around 70-73 at night and 75-80 during day)
-hide
-hammock
-part of area without uvb tube
Food (when he used to eat):
------
Feeders: hornworms, dubai roaches, crickets, silkworms, superworms, waxworms
Veggies: Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Green/red bell peppers, spring greens (no spinach), strawberry, arugula, endive, butternut squash
Any thoughts or ideas appreciated!