bearded dragon eating very little and pooping only small amounts

[Scottkoeth]

Mochi was abandoned at a pet store with a worm problem (or so we where told) which he was treated for, and put up for sale. We decided to give him a new home in Feb of this year. Always eating with ferocity as a baby/young adult, and until about 3 weeks ago he began slowing down his eating. Now here we are, some 6 months later, and he's refusing almost all his food on a daily basis, and pooping only the smallest poops. We often now find him glass dancing with a stark black beard, avoiding his heat lamp. The only time he seems content, is his daily time on our window ceil, with window firmly closed and under supervision while he sun baths. We are very worried about our little man, and unfortunately live very very far from the closest Reptile vet in our area. I'll list below with pictures attached his tank temps, and Humidity, from both a probe, and laser thermometer to gauge basking temps and ambient temps. His diet is a mixture or Kale and collard greens, Dubia Roach's, and giant meal worms, with the occasional treat of tomato worms. He receives 1-2 baths a week, for soaking and cleaning, no soaps or chemicals used. Finally he's in a 40 gallon tank, with an arcadia D3 "Dragon" UVB long bulb, and a 120w basking bulb from Reptizoo.

until I can get a vet, ANY insight and help I can receive here could help save our poor mans life, and if I left anything out please ask and I shall recall what I can.

 

[KarrieRee]

Mochi was abandoned at a pet store with a worm problem (or so we where told) which he was treated for, and put up for sale. We decided to give him a new home in Feb of this year. Always eating with ferocity as a baby/young adult, and until about 3 weeks ago he began slowing down his eating. Now here we are, some 6 months later, and he's refusing almost all his food on a daily basis, and pooping only the smallest poops. We often now find him glass dancing with a stark black beard, avoiding his heat lamp. The only time he seems content, is his daily time on our window ceil, with window firmly closed and under supervision while he sun baths. We are very worried about our little man, and unfortunately live very very far from the closest Reptile vet in our area. I'll list below with pictures attached his tank temps, and Humidity, from both a probe, and laser thermometer to gauge basking temps and ambient temps. His diet is a mixture or Kale and collard greens, Dubia Roach's, and giant meal worms, with the occasional treat of tomato worms. He receives 1-2 baths a week, for soaking and cleaning, no soaps or chemicals used. Finally he's in a 40 gallon tank, with an arcadia D3 "Dragon" UVB long bulb, and a 120w basking bulb from Reptizoo.

until I can get a vet, ANY insight and help I can receive here could help save our poor mans life, and if I left anything out please ask and I shall recall what I can.

First I would change up his food -- offer different greens -- he may be tired of eating what you feeding-- offer different treat worms like super or butter worms -- lay off the baths is this only time he drinks water? Too many baths will dry his scales out -- you can offer water on his nose let him lick or eye dropper-- where is your UVB? Top of screen or inside the tank --- your screen will determine where it needs to be along w/ distance

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Overall Mochi appears to be in good physical condition, without any physical deformities that I can
see right now.
How long has he been refusing his food, about 3 weeks or a month? He is about 8 or 9 months of
age, estimated?
Are you giving calcium or vitamins regularly for him?
Your Arcadia D3 tube is the T8 or the T5 high output light? Arcadia is a great light. As Karrie requested,
let's make sure it is mounted correctly to ensure he's getting adequate UVB exposure.
At his age, it is also a possibility he is going through a seasonal change & slowing down, maybe a
brumation phase. Some brumate at less than a year old, while others don't. Does he black beard only
when he wants out, or more often than that?

Tracie

 

[Scottkoeth]

Here's his set up ATM, we had to remove slot of his decor due to worry about parasites, and only put back his essential stuffs. His UVB is either like this or straight across depending on where we see him chilling out usually to make sure he's getting the most he can.

 

[Scottkoeth]

Hello,

Overall Mochi appears to be in good physical condition, without any physical deformities that I can
see right now.
How long has he been refusing his food, about 3 weeks or a month? He is about 8 or 9 months of
age, estimated?
Are you giving calcium or vitamins regularly for him?
Your Arcadia D3 tube is the T8 or the T5 high output light? Arcadia is a great light. As Karrie requested,
let's make sure it is mounted correctly to ensure he's getting adequate UVB exposure.
At his age, it is also a possibility he is going through a seasonal change & slowing down, maybe a
brumation phase. Some brumate at less than a year old, while others don't. Does he black beard only
when he wants out, or more often than that?

Tracie

Do the photos posted recently help at all?

 

[KarrieRee]

Do the photos posted recently help at all?

Yes you need digital probe thermometers in the tank to get accurate surface basking temps -- 95-100-- Zoo Med makes them -- the tank looks to be a 40 gallon? I would look at upgrading to a 120 gallon if you need links for tanks please ask -- also a digital probe hygrometer too placed on the back center wall of the tank -- the UVB is very strong for the tank -- I need help w/ the distance on this one so I am going to flag Cooper Dragon --
@CooperDragon

 

[CooperDragon]

I agree that he looks pretty good in the photos. I would keep a log with his weight so you can get a good idea of how that is trending over time. You'll want that to remain pretty stable as a significant or consistent drop in weight could be cause for alarm.
Since he seems to want out of his enclosure, keep offering him time in the window and allow him to roam space outside the enclosure that is safe for him (no other pets around, no spaces he can get into that you can't retrieve him from easily etc). A larger enclosure could be helpful, but I also think that time outside of an enclosure can be enriching if it's reasonably safe to do so - kind of a case by case thing.
The T5 bulb is a good one. He will be getting plenty of UVB even through the mesh top. I keep mine at around 14'' above the main basking area, but it produces a good amount of UVB anywhere from about 12-20'' or so. It's important to create a gradient with your UVB just as with your heat so that he can choose what he wants at a given time. This isn't likely to be consistent from day to day or even throughout the day. Shade areas and differnet heights for him to climb to (and down from) are helpful to achieve this.

 

[Scottkoeth]

Yes you need digital probe thermometers in the tank to get accurate surface basking temps -- 95-100-- Zoo Med makes them -- the tank looks to be a 40 gallon? I would look at upgrading to a 120 gallon if you need links for tanks please ask -- also a digital probe hygrometer too placed on the back center wall of the tank -- the UVB is very strong for the tank -- I need help w/ the distance on this one so I am going to flag Cooper Dragon --
@CooperDragon

i have a zoo med digital prob that measures temps and humidity, think I attached it to the first post. i took it out for a deep clean, just haven't put it back yet., but here are the temps/humidity it is the nicer one with the metal prob and the larger humidity sensor. links would be great for tanks, we have been lookign around for something in our budget

 

[Scottkoeth]

I agree that he looks pretty good in the photos. I would keep a log with his weight so you can get a good idea of how that is trending over time. You'll want that to remain pretty stable as a significant or consistent drop in weight could be cause for alarm.
Since he seems to want out of his enclosure, keep offering him time in the window and allow him to roam space outside the enclosure that is safe for him (no other pets around, no spaces he can get into that you can't retrieve him from easily etc). A larger enclosure could be helpful, but I also think that time outside of an enclosure can be enriching if it's reasonably safe to do so - kind of a case by case thing.
The T5 bulb is a good one. He will be getting plenty of UVB even through the mesh top. I keep mine at around 14'' above the main basking area, but it produces a good amount of UVB anywhere from about 12-20'' or so. It's important to create a gradient with your UVB just as with your heat so that he can choose what he wants at a given time. This isn't likely to be consistent from day to day or even throughout the day. Shade areas and differnet heights for him to climb to (and down from) are helpful to achieve this.

any scales you recommend? I do not have any digital scales atm.

 

[KarrieRee]

any scales you recommend? I do not have any digital scales atm.

You can get a kitchen scale from Walmart --