HELP! 4 month old beardie IS NOT EATING!

[Marleyway2]

Zeus is a 4 month old beardie who we've had since February 4, 2015. When I first brought Zeus home he hardly ate and I figured that was from him being moved to a new home. So, I gave him a week to acclimate to his new surroundings. He would eat very little kale, squash, bananas and maybe 1 to 2 crickets for the 2nd week we had him. The 3rd week he wouldn't eat any crickets and ZERO veggies. SOOOOOO, we got him mealworms..........he likes mealworms! 5 times a day I would give him fresh veggies and mealworms. No no no no he says to the veggies and once a day he'll eat up to 5 mealworms, that's it! Yesterday I go in his room for our usual ritual and he looks terrible! He's losing weight, he's so lethargic and all he wants to do is close his eyes. Oh, for a dragon who doesn't eat he poops regularly! I see no color changes or spots that shouldn't be there. He has a 150w basking light and a 17w uvb tube light and both are made by reptisun. He's approx. 7 to 8 inches away from both lights. Unfortunately at the time I could only get a temp gauge that has the humidity on one side and the temp on the other. From what I've researched and read I should have the probe temp gauge which I plan on getting. The norm temp in his home averages 95 to 100 degrees. His lights are on for 13 hrs and the timer shuts them off for 11 hrs. His home never goes below 70 degrees when the lights are off. He's in the hottest room in the house! We are worried sick and don't want to lose him and be the worst beardie owner ever! If any can help, PLEASE HELP! Thanks in advance

 

[kmc4392]

Have you tried giving him a warm soak? He could also be dehydrated as well.

 

[Marleyway2]

Yes I have been giving him 15 min soaks a day really off and on since I got him. Last week I was unable to bathe him but 1 day. He's been acting like this for some time now. We just noticed yesterday how bad he might be.

 

[kmc4392]

Have you tried taking him to the vet?

 

[Marleyway2]

No vet but that's my next step if I can't some resolution on here.

 

[CooperDragon]

I was thinking along the lines of dehydration too. The weight loss isn't a good sign. If you have an experienced reptile vet nearby it may be worth a checkup. Other than that, I'd try offering some soft foods. Maybe some Phoenix Worms or silk worms that would be easier on his system. You could even try dropping some squash baby food on his nose and see if he licks it. Try dropping water on his nose as well to try and get additional hydration that way.

 

[Marleyway2]

I was thinking along the lines of dehydration too. The weight loss isn't a good sign. If you have an experienced reptile vet nearby it may be worth a checkup. Other than that, I'd try offering some soft foods. Maybe some Phoenix Worms or silk worms that would be easier on his system. You could even try dropping some squash baby food on his nose and see if he licks it. Try dropping water on his nose as well to try and get additional hydration that way.

Thanks guys I appreciate all your advice. If he doesn't start eating more I have every intention of taking him to the vet by the end of the week. I already have some butternut squash for him and I'll grind it up like baby food and give him that. Before I gave him his bath earlier I did do some drops of water on his nose and he was licking it! Hopefully I'm not lol

 

[CooperDragon]

That's a good sign. Keep up with the water drops. Squash is also very good for them. Mix it up with some water in a blender until it's smoothie consistency then strain the big parts out. You can pull the rest into a syringe and drop the puree on his nose and get him to eat that way for now.