Beardie stopped eating

[cardiffbay]

We have a pair of crawley red leatherbacks, both 4 months old. The vivarium is temperature controlled for night and day with basking and cooler zones - basking running at 100 - 105, cooler at 80, an arcadia D3 UV tube, and substrate is Komodo CaCo3. Both male and female have been eating live food, coated with calcium supplements, as well as various vegetable types from fact sheets. During December the male has gradually reduced his eating to the point of not eating anything. He has become lethagic and generally inactive - despite tempting him with crickets, wax worms, locust, mealworms, and all sorts of vegetable types. He appears to have lost some weight, but it is difficult to tell as his growth rate has all but halted. He walks around the cage occasionally, so appears not to have any disorders that prevent him moving about. We have also recently had to separate him into his own vivarium due to the significant differential in size between him and the female (who probably is an offspring of a giant german beardie - according to the reptile centre where we purchased them from). Any advice on what may be the problem with him - getting extremely concerned for his well being?

Regards, Steve - Cardiff UK.

 

[quigleysmom]

Have you had a fecal test done for parasites? You might want to start weighing him to see if he really is losing weight. You can syringe feed him. Get chicken or turkey stage one babyfood and mix it with some squash or green bean babyfood. If you want to get gross you can puree his salad and live prey along with vitamins and calcium and drip it on his nose with a syringe. If he still refuses to eat you may have to force feed him, but I would consult a vet asap. Make sure he is staying well hydrated too. Good luck.

 

[cardiffbay]

Thanks for your advice - we have (today) attempted syringe feeding him with baby food ( apple & banana) but will try the chicken as suggested, also the live / veg mix. We have been misting him a couple of times a day - should we increase this? Will contact a vet re: the fecal test.

Regards, Steve - Cardiff UK

 

[Cheline101]

The misting should be fine, but if he's not eating and he losing weight, he most likely has a parasite. Coccadia is pretty common in beardies. they get in the gut and intestines and cause problems . Then the beardie poops them out and many times will step n it, or if you have crickets in there, the crickets will get some of the poop, then the beardie eats the crickets and gets them again... It's really a pain.

 

[EShell]

I'd second the fecal exam, but, if the two bearded dragons have been housed together, it may very well be a dominance issue.

It is far less common NOT to develop dominance issues between co-inhabitants as they mature and this is the way it usually goes. It is often seen that the dominant lizard flourishes while the submissive lizard develops eating issues and hiding habits. This leads to weight loss and health problems.

Note that "hiding" can be simply staying frozen in place as long as possible as not to offend the dominant lizard. Note also that we do not have to see overt aggression for one lizard to have intimidated the other or for real hostility to be imminent.

Barring an active parasitic infestation (which would seem likely to affect both if housed together for any length of time), it would not surprise me to see the lizard improve just by getting his own enclosure.

 

[cardiffbay]

Still attempting to feed with syringe and baby food, although he is fairly resistant to opening his mouth. Found one way is to mist him and as he laps the water we drip the baby food in. If a fecal test proves to be a parasite, is there treatment for it and what form does it take? Unfortunately the reptile specialist vet in our area can't do a test until Tuesday (bank holidays) so willing him to keep going at present.

Regards, Steve UK

 

[minipumpkin]

Hi, I also have a male and female beardie and the male also stopped eating for 2 days then started eating off and on he hasn't lost weight and has only put on about 2 grams. You should weigh him to make sure he hasnt lost weight. Force feeding isnt something i like doing as its not natural but i have had to do it once before as the male wasnt well.

I did have mine together then seperated them. They do have fun time twice a day when they see each other and play. At first I thought he was brumating as he had stopped eating, but I used youtube to find out some answers since then he has been head bobing and showing signs that he wants to mate with our female, he is only about 9-10 months old which is too young to mate but they do develop about 6-8 months like teen parents they have the equipment but have no idea of the concequences.


I dont really know if this helps but im also from the UK and think it could be the cold weather, just a guess look forward to hearing the fecal test results.

 

[Delshara]

I would also suggest removing the substrate (the calcium carbonate sand)... it can cause impaction in the intestines. Try tile or non-adhesive shelf liner. You can dust their feeders or salad with calcium supplements instead.

 

[cardiffbay]

Many thanks for all the replies and advice - unfortunately Alf didn't make it, he deteriorated very quickly today and passed away a couple of hours ago. Still no idea as to what the cause was - he went from being what is considered healthy to extremely ill in a very short period of time, but at least he is not suffering anymore.

Regards, Steve

 

[minipumpkin]

thats sad to hear. i would try and find out the cause so that you dont lose your other beardie.