Adult dragon hiding for 2-3 months and not eating.

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naff

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Hi guys, I have just made an account as I am seeking help for my beardie.

He has not eaten for about 2 months and just been hiding in his shoebox cave all day every day.
If I take him out and put him in his basking spot or anywhere else, he will just go back into the cave within a few minutes. I have been giving him water every couple days through a dripper and he seems to take it well. I usually drip a little bit inside his lip then he will start licking it off his nose for a couple minutes until he doesnt seem to be interested in having more.

I did recently change substrate to Kritters Krumble on the advice of the local reptile shop around a similar time he stopped eating. I came home and researched it and have heard debatable things about it. From what I read, it all depends on how you feed your dragon and if they are prone to attempting to eat random things. I never feed my dragon in the enclosure and he has never seemed interested in the substrate at all, besides a random lick every now and then. So after testing it for a few days, it seemed to be okay so I've left it in there. I dont believe he has eaten any of it and is impacted, I could be wrong though?

I previously had him on synthetic turf and that was fine, was just looking to change it up. Is it possible he just doesnt like the substrate and it's upsetting him? He has never been a big eater as well, also have always struggled to get him to eat his veggies. But he isn't accepting anything at the moment - crickets, woodies, worms, vegetables, fruit. I did place some rocket between his lips last week and he started chewing at it and ate it and passed it some days later, maybe a week.

My basking spot sits around 35 celsius (measured with an infrared thermometer and cool side around 23-24 celsius. I am running a 3ft t5 UVB and replaced it only 3-4 months ago. Enclosure is 110cm long, 45cm deep, 65cm tall.

I have added some pictures of the enclosure and jeffrey. (the enclosure is looking a bit bland, im in the process of renovating it a bit - don't think this has anything to do with jeffrey acting strange though)

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

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naff

Member
Original Poster
Also I will add, I do not think its brumation. He did brumate once but that felt different to this. Besides, it has been warm here (just getting out of summer in Australia), not the right conditions for brumation I would have thought. He is 2 and a half years old and brumated around 6 months ago or so (definitely less than a year)
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
How far is he from his UVB? And is it sitting on top of the screen? It should be 8-10 inches from his basking spot--He looks small for a 2 yr old dragon -- or atleast to me anyway--- have you weighed him ? 2 months is a long time to go w/ out eating-- I would get rid of the substrate you have him on and get either some non adhesive shelf liner or some slated ceramic tile -- both are cheap and easy to clean-- the box in the corner is that his hide? I would get something in the tank that he can get closer to that UVB / or get it in the tank -- and more things for him to climb on --- like a platform hide or more logs so he can climb etc............ I am thinking hes not getting adequate UVB and thats why hes not eating- if that does not change his behavior you might think about getting him into the vet for a check up and get a fecal done to test for parasites
Karrie
 

naff

Member
Original Poster
Thank for the reply. he is probably about 18 inches from it in the basking spot on the drift wood. It has a reflector though. If I place him on that basking position he will just leave within a couple minutes and go undercover in the shoe box. If I remove the shoebox, he will hide under the log - so he is clearly seeking darkness and shelter. I feel like if a lack of UVB was causing this he would want absorb as much and not go and hide under shelter.

I'll change the substrate and see if that changes anything - he does seem to like to dig himself into it though.

He is on the small side - has always been. Never been a big eater and always struggled to get him to eat veggies.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
What kind of UVB is it? He shouldnt be hiding from it ---the only reason he would be hiding from it is if it was too strong of rays thats why I am asking what kind ? -- you can put some cut up fleece or towel or paper towels in his tank for digging -- where ever he likes to go to dig--- maybe his hide -- the UVB plays a big part in their growth--- and 18 inches is quite aways from him -- and it looks like he wouldnt be able to get under the UVB if he wanted to --
Karrie
 

naff

Member
Original Poster
Im running a ReptiSun 10.0 T5. He doesn't want to seem to bask or anything. Only stay under shelter. I dont think he is sleeping during the day though, because whenever i take a look in he appears awake. Usually when he is sleeping, if I wake him up or something, I can tell he has been sleeping, but he seems pretty awake during the day, albeit perhaps in a more daydream like state.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
And you just changed out the bulb--- Is he going to the bathroom ? I am wondering if hes got some parasites going-- that would cause them not to eat --- change out the sand or at least thats what it looks like --- I would get rid of that - however I am sure thats not going to change the behavior --temps are pretty good -- it doesnt look like hes got a lot of floor space --- I would either consider making your tank wider or more things for Jeffery to climb on -- I know you said you were renovating it --- just some ideas -- ideal enclosures for them are 4x2x2--
Karrie
 

naff

Member
Original Poster
No bathroom activity. Ill change out the substrate, move back to an astro turf or tile. The tank is 110cm wide which is almost 4ft. height is more than 2ft. depth is 45cm which is 1.5ft so definately on the shallow side. But when I built this enclosure, I figured this is fine given he is on the smaller side anyway. He originally had a big 4X2X3' and he did like to climb and didnt use the floorspace much so thats why i built this one 65cm (3ft was too tall and almost dangerous as he did fall off from the top a couple times as it had a big 3d rock background that eh could climb). So I do need to put some better climbing equipment in for sure.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Sorry I am terrible w/ measurements -- I am not a carpenter!! :) No pooping? Well that would be from not eating have you weighed him? I think I would be getting him into the vet have a fecal done and see what comes of that--- I have had mine into the vet the last month - as he has not been eating either- had fecal done NO parasites - blood work done for the most part its was normal - xrays done and all is good there -- they wanted to do a barium which was $400 I said no - as it was i was at $500 so far -- so he is getting fed by syringe carnivore/ herbivore mixture every 2 days -- I have not fed the last 2 and will give salad tomorrow to see if he eats-- I have also bought some bee pollen to sprinkle on his salad to see if he will eat it -- its supposed have good smell and increase appetite-- so we will see!! He is not losing weight but sustaining it--- I have gone the same route w/ the lighting set up basking temps etc... mine is basking and sitting under his UVB alot so I am at a loss at whats going on w/ him-- he is in a 4x2x2 tank w/ tile substrate-- I am hoping he eats tomorrow -- I will feed him salad the next 3 days w/ the bee pollen and see if it kicks in the appetite-- but for now I think I would get yours in for a fecal and start there
Karrie
 
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