Juvenile sleeping lots, hardly eating - Need Advice

[BadgerGirl]

HI Beardie Friends,

Gandhi is about 5-6 months old (38cm head to tail) and we have had him for 3 months. He usually eats well, even taking greens from us. Mainly fed on locusts at the moment.

For the last week he has been going to bed early and not eating his food unless you hand feed him and then still only taking a few hoppers rather than the 10-20 he would usually eat at a meal. He s generally not very active at the moment - usually he's charging round his viv hunting and scratching at the glass for more food or attention.

His viv has a Arcadia T5 D3+ 24 Watt Lamp - basking spot is recommended 15-20cm away - a 150 watt basking bulb and CHE for at night (we are in Scotland). His basking spot is 40-42c and his cool side is 26c. Night temp 26c.

One thought is I haven't seen him basking close to the UV during this time unless I put him on that spot. Is it possible he hasn't got enough UV light? The bulb is 3 months old.

I'm not experienced enough to figure this out yet and I'm a little bit worried because we are leaving him for 10 days on Friday and a friend will be watching him. Am I over reacting or is there a concern?

Thank you for your time and advice! :wave:

 

[AHBD]

Hi BG....can you post any pics of your beardie [ full body shots ] as well as some of the viv ? Here's how to put up pics :

https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then use the XIMG to upload them.

Have you ever had him tested for parasites ? Is he heaing in to a shed ? This can all affect the appetite. And sometimes they do get tired of the same insects, they can hold out for quite a while, especially if they are fast growers with a hefty body size. It doesn't sound like anything serious and you'll figure it out , beardies are very tough + go through phases like this without much trouble.

 

[BadgerGirl]

Hey,

Ive not tested for parasites yet. He kinda sheds constantly since we got him - goes head, then body, then tail, then arms and starts again.. In fact he is the least sheddy he's been atm. He has grown very fast - 15 cm in 3 months.

Thanks for the reassurance! Its always good to know its not a catastrophe but I think he should go for a trip to the vet when we get back just to be sure.

Here are some snaps - sorry the light is so bad, its dim day here.

Cool side

Warm side

CHE on Left/Basking bulb on Right- we've totally moded our vivarium to maximise space.

Gandhi Dude

Thanks

 

[AHBD]

Everything looks good and Gandhi is indeed a handsome dude. A couple of things though.....is his Arcadia uvb bulb at a distance of 15-20 cm ? If so, that's much too close. Those bulbs are quite powerful and should be about 33-35 cm away. That might be part of it. See how you can adjust it ASAP.

Another Q, how do you hydrate him ?

 

[BadgerGirl]

We are quite proud of him.

Huh? Are you sure thats for the 24 watt bulb? It said on the packaging that it was the correct distance... Don't want to be hurting his eyes! I've still got the box for the bulb - I'll dig it out!

He gets missed twice a day (humidity is pretty low), bathed occasionally when shedding is a pest and fed fresh greens, fruit and veg regularly. we try dropping water on his mouth but he never drinks and gets irritated with you.

 

[BadgerGirl]

No reflector - no closer than 15cm? yes?

:?

 

[AHBD]

Is your bulb the Arcadia 6% or 12% ? The 6% can be at least 20 -25 cm away, the 12% can be 33-35 cm away.

 

[BadgerGirl]

Its 12% - I'll get it lifted to the top of the viv as soon as I can.

Im surprised that there is incorrect info on the package.

Thanks for your help :-D