2 month old beardie wont eat or poop

[OpheliaBoneshatter]

Our 2 month old beardie Ryuu hasn't eaten in about 4 days. We recently moved him to a bigger tank (about a week and a half ago) and I know it could be relocation stress, but I just want to rule out ALL possibilities.

He was eating small crickets, but because he was eating SO many and growing so fast, we moved him onto medium crickets, which are not bigger than the space between his eyes and he was eating them fine. Since moving him to the bigger tank he has been eating progressivley less and less and now nothing. No crickets and no greens (though he never really would touch much of his greens anyway)

Our temps and UV are fine, and we took him to the herp vet yesterday (but unfortunately could not take a fecal as he hasn't been pooping cos he hasnt been eating) She said he looked all around healthy and was a good siize and weight. He has no problems with his ears, eyes, lungs or anything, and she did a blood test, but we have to wait a few days for the results.

I am buying some silkworms today to see if he will eat those (Just to try something different)

I have been bathing him once a day where possible and he used to run around but now he kinda just sits there until I take him out. I believe he is going to shed his legs soon, he has just shed his tail (He seems to be shedding alot lately)

Here are the links to pics of his new setup, and before anyone says anything about the red heat lamp, the herp vet said these are absolutely fine and will definately not hurt his eyes.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/img7768s.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/img7769l.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/img7767n.jpg/

Please let me know what you guys think!

 

[GizmoisawesomexD]

He may have impaction, from what ive heard even if the crickets are under the size between their eyes. when switching to a bigger size he will eat them as if they are smaller and try to swallow them bigger, which he could have done and got impacted. Just my opinion

Also you shouldnt bathe him once a day. They are desert reptiles, they go many days without water, and still should even if able to give. Bathe him around once a week.

Also with the red light. It's fine if your keeping it on during the day, but at night stores will say they cant see, aswell as the box. But the bearded dragon can see the red light and will mess with his sleep. Goodluck on the blood test!

 

[OpheliaBoneshatter]

He doesnt have a heat lamp on at night at all. We live in Australia so it isnt cold enough at night to warrant one.

The reason he is being bathed every day is because he isnt eating, thus he can get dehydrated as beardies absorb water through food or through their vent, which is why I bathe him daily - to keep his fluids up.

The vet said she couldnt even feel any fecal matter in his belly, he hasn't eaten since he pooped last. So I doubt its impaction. The only thing I can thin k of is parasites, but I dont know how they can test for that if he isnt pooping...

 

[daner923]

Actually, the red light isn't good during the day at all. They are from a very bright area, and a red basking light looks like twilight to them all day. They also need bright white light to protect their eyes from the UVB. Speaking of which, it looks like it's a bit too far away as well. You should try to get it to 6-8 inches if it is a ReptiSun 10.0, or 10-12 inches if it is an Arcadia 12%. If it is neither of those, it's not good.

 

[OpheliaBoneshatter]

Ok so now he is eating HEAPS but still hasnt pooped. Its been 5 days now... I dont know what to do! Help!!

 

[GizmoisawesomexD]

That is pretty bad, 5days.. they poop every 2days atleast. So since he just started today id give him all day today and tommorow, hope you the best.

 

[daner923]

Have you tried any of the following - canned unspiced pumpkin, olive oil, applesauce, baby food prunes to eat? Belly rubs in a slightly warmer than usual bath, and a deeper and warmer bath to promote swimming? 5 days is a long time for a baby. In fact more than a day is a lot for a 2 month old. Is he very bloated? Is it possible he has pooped and (yuck, I know), for some reason, decided to eat it?

 

[OpheliaBoneshatter]

It's funny that you mentioned him eating it - I was wondering that myself
.. Hahah Good news is his appetite is back and is eating around 20 med crickets a day now... He pooped today but there was alot of urate in it and some bits of undigested cricket, so I might move him back down to the small ones and see what happens. I'll keep you posted when his fecal tests come back