Beardie won't eat or bask, but loves to run around?

[ladydean]

We bought our first beardie in September, which I assume puts him around 6-7 months old (?). he's probably about 10 in from tip to tail (but I don't have a ruler, so that's approximate), and to be honest, I don't even know if he IS a boy. he is in a 40 gal. Zilla tank, with night, uvb, and basking lights, and calcium sand as the substrate. he recently got a new climbing branch from Big Apple Pet Supply that reaches nearly to the basking bulb. The temp. is right around 80 on the cool side, and 98-100 on his perch. he gets fed twice a day- gut loaded crickets in a separate tank and veggies, usually around 9 and 3, misted around noon, and his lights shut off at seven pm. Three times a week he gets dusted crickets, and a bath once or twice a week. Until a few days ago, he ate 30-40 crickets a day, and pooped like clockwork every night. Now, I'm lucky if he'll eat six crickets, and he won't bask at all. I went in this morning, and he had dug all his sand up and moved it away, so he was on just glass. Even if I set him on his perch, he'll glare and immediately crawl back under the stick to hide. he loved his bath today, and was running all over the room checking things out with his tongue (We have him in his own beardie-proof room). I thought it might be brumation, but in March? Isn't he too young for that? he hasn't shed in about a month. What's up with my beardie?
here are some pictures of him--


This one was from the first day we got him.



Normal beardie, and....



What's been going on the last few days.


Any help would be great! Thanks!

 

[ladydean]

I also wanted to point out this weird bit of behavior-

*Shakes head*

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Sounds like he could be impacted and isnt wanting to eat. Has he been pooping still?

We need to get a little more in depth with your set up so Im going to ask a few more questions:
What type and brand UVB?
What are you measuring your temps with?

Night "lights" are not recommended for bearded's as they can still see those lights and need darkness to sleep comfortably. I would recommend a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) if your temps drop below 65*F.

Sand is not a recommended substrate either as it poses some serious health risks. Not just impaction but a cleanliness factor as well. It'd be like living in a kitty litter box TBH. I would recommend taking him off of the sand and putting papertowels down for now.

I definitely recommend reading through my caresheet (link in sig). Most of your questions about husbandry should be answered there. There is also links to different posts and articles about certain things. A very good link for nutritional information is there.

As to the possible impaction you can try to feed him a little bit of vegetable or mineral oil to see if that helps pass the obstruction, if that's the problem. Just a few drops should do it. I would also put him in a bath with about 95*F water and see if that will help.

Please do read through the care sheet though and let us know how he is doing.

 

[ladydean]

Still going once a day, just like usual, except it's less, since he isn't eating. I have a Zilla UVB 20 Watt- desert 50 bulb, and temp probes that are attached near his basking spot and his food dish on the cool side. his basking bulb is a 150 watt Zilla bulb. Both came with the cage.

his night light isn't an actual "light"... :wink: It's just a heated red bulb, it doesn't really light anything. I'll be sure to find a heat coil or something instead.

We're buying a new cage for him this week, and I'll be putting in laminate tile. I can't believe I figured I could just read a bunch of books and know what was okay.

I figured it might just be him brumating, but I'll try the veggie oil and keep giving him a bath once a day (although he has never gone poo in there). he sure is loving the extra attention! I just bought a new basking lamp and am replacing the UVB as well, to see if that helps, and am massaging his sides to see if he'll pass more.

Thank you for your help- Being a first time beardie owner is so stressful! hannibal is lucky he's so lovable. :lol:

 

[AllanonsWrath]

Not a problem. Keep us updated!

 

[ladydean]

Just replaced both his UVB and his basking lamps today-- he's currently laying under them. I even got him to eat his crickets! Only about 5 of them, but at least he's munching. I stuck some greens and veggies in his tank, dusted with calcium, just in case he decides he wants to be REALLY good. haha. I replaced the sand with newspaper for now, I'm going to look into buying some laminate or something. Now I'm just waiting for him to poo, and I won't be worried anymore!

 

[ladydean]

Well, he poo'ed... Posting pics in new thread...