Hi everyone. It's been a couple years since I had to post here asking about my Wicket. When I got him almost three years ago I was crazy worried about everything and posted here a decent amount, but I've since fallen into a routine with him and things have been fine.
The last two years Wicket went into brumation once fall hit and would sleep until late winter/early spring. I was expecting him to do the same this year, but he hasn't. He has, though, been acting unusual. His appetite has been very light and he lays around a lot. He sleeps normal day and night patterns, but he doesn't spend much time off of his hammock anymore. This started around October so I figured maybe instead of deep sleeping, he's just having a lazy winter. I was concerned, but not overly so.
I'd say over the last week or two, though, his feet and legs look a little swollen. He's been going through a sporadic shed around his whole body, so I thought maybe it's just his skin lifting a little and making them look bigger, but while we were hanging out so I could deep clean his tank, I started getting a little worried. They just look kind of... puffy, I guess?
Like I said, I figured he was just going through a light brumation this year so I've tried not to bother him too much. He hasn't been eating many greens or bugs, so I keep some dusted dry pellets in there if he ever feels like munching. I also keep a water bowl in there and encourage him to drink at least every other day. He hasn't been pooping very often either, probably once every week and a half, though they are usually decent sized. I don't feel like this is normal, but he hasn't been consuming much to poop anyway.
Is this something I should be worried about? I live in a small town and we don't have any exotic or reptile vets that are trustworthy nearby. We do have one I could try, but they're known to be more of the "welp, seems okay but keep an eye on him!" kind of vet that isn't much help.
When I got him out today he was feisty and wanting to crawl everywhere. His legs didn't seem like they bothered him, he still moves around normal and he didn't pull away when I felt at them or his feet. Is there something I should keep an eye out for? I'm kind of at a loss here and don't really even know what I'm trying to ask. I'm just worried. Does this seem normal for a shed/light brumation? He never shed while he was sleeping before and was always running it off pretty quick, so it's never just been skin sitting there, so maybe I'm just exaggerating the puffiness?
TLDR: My dragon is lethargic, he doesn't eat much or poo much, and his legs look swollen. I'm worried.
Ps, my husbandry is all right as, like I said, I was obsessive on this website when I first got him. I know that's often a reason for weird behavior/health issues, but I don't believe that is a factor in this case. Also, I'm sorry for the long as heck post! Thanks in advance to anyone who has thoughts on my guy's situation right now!
The last two years Wicket went into brumation once fall hit and would sleep until late winter/early spring. I was expecting him to do the same this year, but he hasn't. He has, though, been acting unusual. His appetite has been very light and he lays around a lot. He sleeps normal day and night patterns, but he doesn't spend much time off of his hammock anymore. This started around October so I figured maybe instead of deep sleeping, he's just having a lazy winter. I was concerned, but not overly so.
I'd say over the last week or two, though, his feet and legs look a little swollen. He's been going through a sporadic shed around his whole body, so I thought maybe it's just his skin lifting a little and making them look bigger, but while we were hanging out so I could deep clean his tank, I started getting a little worried. They just look kind of... puffy, I guess?
Like I said, I figured he was just going through a light brumation this year so I've tried not to bother him too much. He hasn't been eating many greens or bugs, so I keep some dusted dry pellets in there if he ever feels like munching. I also keep a water bowl in there and encourage him to drink at least every other day. He hasn't been pooping very often either, probably once every week and a half, though they are usually decent sized. I don't feel like this is normal, but he hasn't been consuming much to poop anyway.
Is this something I should be worried about? I live in a small town and we don't have any exotic or reptile vets that are trustworthy nearby. We do have one I could try, but they're known to be more of the "welp, seems okay but keep an eye on him!" kind of vet that isn't much help.
When I got him out today he was feisty and wanting to crawl everywhere. His legs didn't seem like they bothered him, he still moves around normal and he didn't pull away when I felt at them or his feet. Is there something I should keep an eye out for? I'm kind of at a loss here and don't really even know what I'm trying to ask. I'm just worried. Does this seem normal for a shed/light brumation? He never shed while he was sleeping before and was always running it off pretty quick, so it's never just been skin sitting there, so maybe I'm just exaggerating the puffiness?
TLDR: My dragon is lethargic, he doesn't eat much or poo much, and his legs look swollen. I'm worried.
Ps, my husbandry is all right as, like I said, I was obsessive on this website when I first got him. I know that's often a reason for weird behavior/health issues, but I don't believe that is a factor in this case. Also, I'm sorry for the long as heck post! Thanks in advance to anyone who has thoughts on my guy's situation right now!