Beardie......."bowel movements"

[Lokiza]

I hope that this is is the right category and that it hasn't been asked before

So, lemme start from the beginning.
Around two or three weeks ago I purchased an adult beardie from this couple. They weren't breeders or anything, but they just didn't have time for him anymore.

For the first...week or so (I think?) he didn't poop. At first I just assumed that his metabolism was slow, hense why he didn't poop every day like my juvenile beardie, but as time went on I grew worried. Especially because I noticed how his belly looked bloated.

Then one night while I was cuddling with him, he pooped right on my chest. I know, that sounds gross, it was gross to me too. But - and I know that this is even grosser - it was more like diarrhea.

So then I thought, okay, it's just because he's FINALLY pooped after holding it in all this time. I thought that from them on his...erm...bowel movements...would be more regulated from now on, problem solved.

But then he stopped "going" again. I mean he seemed perfectly normal...He even became more spunky and fun, running around everywhere and exploring! But his belly was bloated again!

And just today, he made a mess on my bed.

So I guess my question is...what could be wrong with him? I'm pretty sure that this isn't normal, I hope that it isn't normal. Am I doing something wrong or does the dude just have it out for me? :dontknow:

(I feed him large supers, and he'll nearly bite my finger off snatching them out of my hand. He isn't interested in veggies though, which is also what worries me. I've tricked him a few times, putting his supers in his veggie bowl, but he can still manage to pick out the good stuff. :? )

 

[Mistyck]

What substrate is he on? Depending on age, he should only be getting protein a few times a week. Should really be forcing the veggies more. What are the temps like? How often do you give him a bath?

 

[Lokiza]

What substrate is he on? Depending on age, he should only be getting protein a few times a week. Should really be forcing the veggies more. What are the temps like? How often do you give him a bath?

Hi! Thanks for replying!

The bottom of his tank is lined with reptile carpet, which his previous owners also used. And I've tried numerous times to get him to eat his veggies, but despite my frustration with him refusing them, I don't want to not feed him. Do you recommend any other methods I could use to get him to eat them? Also, the temp in his tank stays between 80 and 90 degrees. As for giving him a bath...I've attempted it a few times but he just sits there and stares at me...should I attempt it again?

 

[Mistyck]

Hi! Thanks for replying!

The bottom of his tank is lined with reptile carpet, which his previous owners also used. And I've tried numerous times to get him to eat his veggies, but despite my frustration with him refusing them, I don't want to not feed him. Do you recommend any other methods I could use to get him to eat them? Also, the temp in his tank stays between 80 and 90 degrees. As for giving him a bath...I've attempted it a few times but he just sits there and stares at me...should I attempt it again?

What are you using to take the temps? They should be higher than that on the basking area. Should be about 105*f. The cool side should be about 80-85*f, and the tank itself should get no lower than 60-65*f at night. You should be using a digital probe thermometer to take the temps. If you are using a round dial thermometer or a long "human-type" thermometer, they can be as much as 20* off.

I used to just refuse to feed the dragon (if an adult; 18mo and above) anything except salad/greens. He won't starve himself to death and will eventually eat them.

As for baths, you should be bathing him 2-3x a week. It doesn't matter if he just sits there. He is absorbing water through his vent, which is how he hydrates himself. He probably won't drink from a bowl, and misting him will only result in higher humidity in the tank (and really does nothing for him anyway.)

Bathing is what needs to be done to him to make him go to the bathroom too. So don't be surprised if once you up the baths, that he poops while in the bath. That's part of the reason that he is pooping so little is because he's not getting baths, and salads/greens (greens have moisture which help his hydration, but not as much as baths.) He NEEDS the baths to be regular.