Experienced advice please

[Repkyle]

Hi, zeus is now 16.5" nose it tail tip and around 6.5" head to vent, he's also around the 6 month mark.
He starts off slow eating but I put that down to relocation stress and what not, he soon bacame a monster eater leaving me worrieing that he was eating to much in one sitting lol. Anyway, he's slowed down again now, he's shedding right now but he's alway had some sort of shed going on so I don't think that's the problem, it only putts him off for a day or so if atal. Witch leads me to think possibly the cause is the drop in night time temp due to the winter months. Iv left his temps the same as I know burmation isn't adviced during the first year. But I'm wondering if maybe after lights off and the UTH kicks in, are the temps droping low enoughf still to cause his body to slow down slightly, resulting in reduced appetite?

My room gets realy cold if it's a cold night, it just seems Strainge his appitie decreased so quick. He only seems to eat half the amount of his usual daily intake at best some days are worse.
This has been going on for about 2-3 weeks now with no sing of change.

Don't know if it's just coincidence, but it's happend around the same time he stared eating his salads on his own accord.

Has anyone experienced this? Should I be worried that he's still so young? Or am I on the right track?

Sorry for the looong post just trying to paint the picture

 

[Spikey07]

As beardies get older they will gradually reduce the amount of live feeders they eat and start to eat more veg.

At 6 months old he should still be eating plenty live feeders though.

If you could answer some questions about his set up it may help us figure out what could be the problem, if anything:

What size enclosure is he in?
What substrate do you use?
What temperature is the basking spot and cool side? What type of thermometer are you using to measure this, round dial type, digital thermometer with long wire and probe at the end or an infa red temperature gun?
What type and brand of UVB do you have? Is it a coil or tube bulb? How old is it?
Do you know the temperature in his tank at night?
What do you feed him and how often?
Do you supplement with calcium and vitamins? If so how often?

 

[Repkyle]

What size enclosure is he in? - 4x2x2
What substrate do you use? - natural rock with playsand 50/50
What temperature is the basking spot and cool side? What type of thermometer are you using to measure this, round dial type, digital thermometer with long wire and probe at the end or an infa red temperature gun? - two baskin spots 105ish and 110ish he also uses a spot next to the basking area alot that's around 96. Cool spots range from 79 to mid 80's, prob thermometer and temp gun
What type and brand of UVB do you have? Is it a coil or tube bulb? How old is it? Reptisun or somthing like that 10.0, nearly four months old, will buy Arcadia next
Do you know the temperature in his tank at night? Not sure lights out at 9.30 by the time the rocks cool down I'm asleep
What do you feed him and how often? Usually twice daily morning around 10 and evening around 6-7, 3 times on weekends if I'm around. Crickets, mealworms and occasionally waxworms. Tryed calciworms but no intrest. Watercress and rocket is all he's eaten so far tryed meny ohers but like I said only recently he's showed intreats.
Do you supplement with calcium and vitamins? If so how often? Yes calcium twice a week multivits once, althought iv used the multivits more often this week cause he ate poorly on the day I was supposed to use them.

Bathed once, twice a week unless he's looking Like his shed is bothering him the I'll bath as needed.
Excretes at least every other day some times every day, last time he went was today in the bath as usual lol loads if it too, nothing unusual. No change in himself otherwise not lethargic.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Spikey07]

Your set up sounds great.

It is unusual, however it is possible, for male beardies to brumate this young. They mature quicker than females.

I would cut out the meal worms as they are not very nutritious, as he is over 16" now you could give him superworms instead. Silk worms and Butter worms are also good feeders.

Have a look at this site, its a great reference for food: http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

You should keep a track on his weight and ensure he is not loosing weight.

As he is on panacur it would be a good idea to give him some probiotic on a daily basis like Acidophiliz+. Also keep up with the baths for hydration.

 

[Repkyle]

Thanks for the advice, Id try feeding him crix until he decides he's had enough then the mealworms, wher in the uk can I get silk and butterworms please?

Also I may have mislead you I haven't checked what sex he is yet I'm a little afraid he may be a she if I look haha sad I know :S I'll guess I'll have to know tho so I'll look tonight when I'm home

He's had roaches before and enjoye them but thier expensive and hard to get
Thanks again

Also,-- As he is on panacur it would be a good idea to give him some probiotic on a daily basis like Acidophiliz+. I'm not sure what you meen??

 

[Spikey07]

I order butterworms from http://www.butterworms.co.uk and silkworms from http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk. Silk worms seem to be a bit hit and miss whether they have them or not.

I would cut out the meal worms completely and get superworms (Morio Worms) instead. You can get them from http://www.livefoods.co.uk and there cheap too.

Some people breed dubia roaches and I have heard its quite easy to do... although I have never tried!

 

[Repkyle]

Ye I did consider it myself but I was told you have to leave them 4-6 months before eating out of the colony and by that tme he would be reducing his live foods for salads, I didn't want to get over in with them. Thanks again for the info, maybe he's just getting board with his current food

All let you know how it goes in a week or two.

Also, I checked and he is a he