Beardie not eating, I'm concerned

[iradog85]

I moved back in with my parents after graduating college over a month ago. Since we moved in, Dimitri hasn't eaten ANYTHING. She won't eat greens, little pieces of veggies or fruit, and she doesn't even chase after live crickets (she's never not chomped down every last cricket I gave her). Her eyes arent bright like they normally are, and she seems depressed. I know it's the winter months and people say she might be brumating, but she's not continuously staying under a hide. In fact, she spends her time under the heat bulb, chugs around a bit, but isn't interested in any food. When I soak her she drinks a ton of water, and she makes urate-only poops every other day or so. The fat store on her tail has greatly depleted, to the point where I can see prominent hip bones.

A reptile guru friend of mine said take her to the vet immediately. I probably will in the next week, but I just wanted to ask you all for any advice or input you have to offer.

Hot side: 95-105 F
Cool side: 68-75
40 gal breeder tank
Flat newspaper substrate
Powersun 10.0 MVB and 100w red bulb for heat sources
Dimitri is 3 years old

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

How long is your beardie? The tank might be too small and she might be feeling clausterphobic right now. Get her to the vet immediately as this could be very serious. If she does not eat for a little longer, she might die. I hate to say that word, but you have to do something. Try to get her mealworms or something. Keep trying to feed her. Show her that you love her and hold her a lot. I do this with my beardies and they never not eat. Good luck!

 

[Caramell]

How long is your beardie? The tank might be too small and she might be feeling clausterphobic right now. Get her to the vet immediately as this could be very serious. If she does not eat for a little longer, she might die. I hate to say that word, but you have to do something. Try to get her mealworms or something. Keep trying to feed her. Show her that you love her and hold her a lot. I do this with my beardies and they never not eat. Good luck!

I'm sorry, but please refrain from giving advice. A 40 gallon breeder is a perfect sized tank for a bearded dragon. Also, mealworms are not a good feeder, especially for a dragon that is not eating. Showing love to a beardie would not get one to eat for you especially if the beardie is stressed out already.

To OP, I would take your beardie to a vet. I do not know anything about MVBs, so I cannot suggest anything about the setup. I hope s/he starts eating for you!

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

Im sorrymi didnt see it was a breeder. I thoughtmit was as high as it was long. But in my expierience if yu try to show love to a beardie it works. I wasnt saying mealworms as a staple, just something to get her into the mood to eat, maybe 1 or2 and then crickets.

 

[Claudiusx]

Sorry to hear Dimitri isn't doing too good.

So were you away from Dimitri while in college, or was Dimitri with you the whole time, and you both moved back?

Sometimes they are just picky and you need to find something they like which will get them to start eating. Naughtica was in the same situation where she wouldn't eat her salads, finally after trying a few different things, I found what she likes, and would put it in her salad every day, and she got better from there.

You can try adding apple chunks to the salad, diced strawberry (this is what got naughtica back into salads! :mrgreen: ) squash, anything really.

What feeder insects have you tried? I wouldn't go with mealworms, you want a nutritious feeder. Try silkworms, butterworms, hornworms, phoenix worms. Even dubia would be good.

Another thing you can try to do is buy some natural baby food with no sugar added, and drip some on Dimitri's snout. And hopefully she will start to lick it up. You really need to keep trying and be consistent in getting her to eat.

It doesn't sound like she is brumating like you said, she is out and basking.

How is she doing today? It's been a few days since your last post. Have you got her to a vet?

-Brandon