Lethargic or just summer brumating?

izzyLizzy":kv0qha00 said:

I know they brumate during colder months. Izzy skipped that part, though. He was active all through fall/winter. But these last couple of weeks he's been lethargic, I guess would be the word. He hasn't pooped or eaten. I move him under the basking light in the mornings and when I get home from work, he's in the cooler, darker side. I've taken him to the vet before, but I'm seriously broke and have no way of paying vet bills. They won't take a payment plan, either.

Anyway, I've tried crickets, super worms and big fat dubias (he goes crazy for them) , and he'll perk up, but once they're out of his line of sight he just plops back down. He only has one good eye and I try to wiggle food in front of it. But it seems like he loses interest.<<<< I suggest as well my other suggestions that you try handfeeding him his live bugs (crickets, roaches, supers, silkworms (are excellent)) if he's off his food.
I weighed him about a week and a half ago at 365grams, yesterday he was at 363. I'm not sure how big of a deal a few grams are.
<<< a couple grams in a week is nothing, only a problem if it's consistant over a long period

I still give him baths every other day and it wakes him up. I even brought him outside for about an hour a few times and he was active, but once I brought him back in, he was dead to the world again. <<<<< bathing so often is unnecessary, in the main the only times my beardies get a bath (very infrequently) is
---- if they are really stinky (after soiling themselves)
---- it's very hot and I do this cool them down
---- to assist with a difficult/stubburn shed somewhere on them
---- if injured (dilute betadiene soak)
---- to help along with a gentle tummy rub if I think they are mildly impacted,

I'll post some pictures and link a video of him outside if it helps.

https://youtu.be/7-zOQyAdX84 <<< doesn't work

I realize the video says Ozzy, but on here he's Izzy. I'm still working on calling him Ozzy lol

Click to expand...

kingofnobbys":akw6yuss said:

izzyLizzy":akw6yuss said:

I know they brumate during colder months. Izzy skipped that part, though. He was active all through fall/winter. But these last couple of weeks he's been lethargic, I guess would be the word. He hasn't pooped or eaten. I move him under the basking light in the mornings and when I get home from work, he's in the cooler, darker side. I've taken him to the vet before, but I'm seriously broke and have no way of paying vet bills. They won't take a payment plan, either.

Anyway, I've tried crickets, super worms and big fat dubias (he goes crazy for them) , and he'll perk up, but once they're out of his line of sight he just plops back down. He only has one good eye and I try to wiggle food in front of it. But it seems like he loses interest.<<<< I suggest as well my other suggestions that you try handfeeding him his live bugs (crickets, roaches, supers, silkworms (are excellent)) if he's off his food.
I weighed him about a week and a half ago at 365grams, yesterday he was at 363. I'm not sure how big of a deal a few grams are.
<<< a couple grams in a week is nothing, only a problem if it's consistant over a long period

I still give him baths every other day and it wakes him up. I even brought him outside for about an hour a few times and he was active, but once I brought him back in, he was dead to the world again. <<<<< bathing so often is unnecessary, in the main the only times my beardies get a bath (very infrequently) is
---- if they are really stinky (after soiling themselves)
---- it's very hot and I do this cool them down
---- to assist with a difficult/stubburn shed somewhere on them
---- if injured (dilute betadiene soak)
---- to help along with a gentle tummy rub if I think they are mildly impacted,

I'll post some pictures and link a video of him outside if it helps.

https://youtu.be/7-zOQyAdX84 <<< doesn't work

I realize the video says Ozzy, but on here he's Izzy. I'm still working on calling him Ozzy lol

Click to expand...

How old is Izzy ?

I've cared for a rescued wild water skink who lost an eye in a cat attack , and he had trouble hunting , so I resorted to handfeeding him.

How old is the UV source and what exactly is the UV source and how far from the basking spot is it, and is screened ?
I suggest at least a uv tube T8 or T5 rated at least 10% UVB (+ 30% UVA).
His lack of interest is likely partly due to UV source , if insufficient UVA his activity levels and appetite will be depressed.

An option in the short term might be get him onto some GrubPie http://www.repashy.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_63&product_id=145.

I suggest getting hold of some HerpaBoost + a feeding syringe + a large bore crop needle too, you may need to give Izzy's metabolism a jumpstart and HerpaBoost will do this.
http://vetafarm.com.au/product/herpaboost/ , should be able find this by googling and locating a seller in your area / country who stocks it or a similar product.
Since Izzy's not eating much , I recommend giving him some CalciVet liquid calcium orally by syringe to ensure he's getting his calcium needs. http://vetafarm.com.au/product/calcivet/

This is a feeding syringe http://vetafarm.com.au/product/reusable-feeding-syringe/
these are crop needles (I'd suggest 8G or 10G for Izzy ) http://vetafarm.com.au/product/medication-tube-crop-needle/

Also , I suggest you check the zone and basking temperatures, if Izzy is spending a lot of time in the cool end, they are likely too hot for him/her. (Need a basking spot about 40oC)

Is it very hot inside the house during the day? ---- if so, I suggest setting up you basking light on a timer so it comes on at 6am, off at 11am, on 2pm and off 9pm. While the UV lights are on 6am , off 9pm.

Click to expand...

izzyLizzy":2u9i27g2 said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-zOQyAdX84

I forgot to make it public.

Click to expand...

izzyLizzy":v1dptqa2 said:

kingofnobbys":v1dptqa2 said:

izzyLizzy":v1dptqa2 said:

I know they brumate during colder months. Izzy skipped that part, though. He was active all through fall/winter. But these last couple of weeks he's been lethargic, I guess would be the word. He hasn't pooped or eaten. I move him under the basking light in the mornings and when I get home from work, he's in the cooler, darker side. I've taken him to the vet before, but I'm seriously broke and have no way of paying vet bills. They won't take a payment plan, either.

Anyway, I've tried crickets, super worms and big fat dubias (he goes crazy for them) , and he'll perk up, but once they're out of his line of sight he just plops back down. He only has one good eye and I try to wiggle food in front of it. But it seems like he loses interest.<<<< I suggest as well my other suggestions that you try handfeeding him his live bugs (crickets, roaches, supers, silkworms (are excellent)) if he's off his food.
I weighed him about a week and a half ago at 365grams, yesterday he was at 363. I'm not sure how big of a deal a few grams are.
<<< a couple grams in a week is nothing, only a problem if it's consistant over a long period

I still give him baths every other day and it wakes him up. I even brought him outside for about an hour a few times and he was active, but once I brought him back in, he was dead to the world again. <<<<< bathing so often is unnecessary, in the main the only times my beardies get a bath (very infrequently) is
---- if they are really stinky (after soiling themselves)
---- it's very hot and I do this cool them down
---- to assist with a difficult/stubburn shed somewhere on them
---- if injured (dilute betadiene soak)
---- to help along with a gentle tummy rub if I think they are mildly impacted,

I'll post some pictures and link a video of him outside if it helps.

https://youtu.be/7-zOQyAdX84 <<< doesn't work

I realize the video says Ozzy, but on here he's Izzy. I'm still working on calling him Ozzy lol

Click to expand...

How old is Izzy ?

I've cared for a rescued wild water skink who lost an eye in a cat attack , and he had trouble hunting , so I resorted to handfeeding him.

How old is the UV source and what exactly is the UV source and how far from the basking spot is it, and is screened ?
I suggest at least a uv tube T8 or T5 rated at least 10% UVB (+ 30% UVA).
His lack of interest is likely partly due to UV source , if insufficient UVA his activity levels and appetite will be depressed.

An option in the short term might be get him onto some GrubPie http://www.repashy.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_63&product_id=145.

I suggest getting hold of some HerpaBoost + a feeding syringe + a large bore crop needle too, you may need to give Izzy's metabolism a jumpstart and HerpaBoost will do this.
http://vetafarm.com.au/product/herpaboost/ , should be able find this by googling and locating a seller in your area / country who stocks it or a similar product.
Since Izzy's not eating much , I recommend giving him some CalciVet liquid calcium orally by syringe to ensure he's getting his calcium needs. http://vetafarm.com.au/product/calcivet/

This is a feeding syringe http://vetafarm.com.au/product/reusable-feeding-syringe/
these are crop needles (I'd suggest 8G or 10G for Izzy ) http://vetafarm.com.au/product/medication-tube-crop-needle/

Also , I suggest you check the zone and basking temperatures, if Izzy is spending a lot of time in the cool end, they are likely too hot for him/her. (Need a basking spot about 40oC)

Is it very hot inside the house during the day? ---- if so, I suggest setting up you basking light on a timer so it comes on at 6am, off at 11am, on 2pm and off 9pm. While the UV lights are on 6am , off 9pm.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions.

He's 4 years old, will be 5 in September. But I've only had him about a year. When we first got him, he wasn't eating at all and I hand fed him for months until I was able to put salad in his bowl and he'd eat it clean. Even crickets or roaches he would chase around. I will keep an eye on his weight.

The frequent baths were because I thought it'd help with him defecating, but he hasn't done that. I'll make them less frequent. <<< 1 - 2 ml of olive oil given orally by syringe will help get the poos coming , they seem to really like the taste of olive oil too.

For UVB I've got a T8 tube. I can't remember the percentage , but I've got the box at home. it's placed in the center of his enclosure, about 8" away. <<<< If it's 12 months old , it needs to be replaced , should be replaced every 6 months (more or less) as their UVA and UVB emissions decay over time. Low UVA flux from an old T8 will have a impact on Izzy's activity and apetite levels.

On the hottest days, the temp rises to maybe 105°F. I do have syringes, but I'll check all those links. And open to any more suggestions. Izzy is very dear to me.

Also, I'll try a different link for the video.

Click to expand...