lack of appetite and energy!

[Kazyrock]

My year and a half year old male bearded dragon, Marty has never had any major problems... he always eats his salad, crickets, and assortment of worms. (hornworms, silkworms, superworms, butterworms and occasionally waxworms.) Every morning he gets a small syringe full of pure cranberry juice mixed with water.(which usually only ends up to be half a syringe because half drips onto the tile). This week I have noticed he has been spending a lot of time, sometimes whole day on his cool side. His basking side tempuratures are 108 degrees at one part, and 104 degrees on the other part of the basking side. (there's a log and a hammock, he goes back and forth and sometimes lies in between the two) His cool side is 72-75 during the day and at night his tank is in the high 80's. I cannot get it to go any lower than that because in the summer it gets really hot here. He has UVA, and UVB as well on his basking side as well. His enclosure is a 40 gallon and he is on tile, not sand. I have had him since mid- November of last year and he has been the most kind spirited dragon in the world. His tank is away from all people during the day and he gets along moderately well with the cat and dog who don't seem to mind him. I am really getting worried to his well-being and will do anything to help! He has been to the vet once due to lack of appetite, but she just tried to give him a fecal, lied to me about tank conditions and sent me on my way with a $100.00 vet bill. He ate fine after that, up till now. can someone please help?? Oops! I should also mention that when I put him in the bath he just puffed out his sides and let his head stay under the water for awhile. He didn't move around or poo which surprised me because he hasn't gone today. He are about five crickets this morning and didn't touch his salad.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....it sounds like it's just too hot. Try to get the basking spot down to 95-100. You can also let him out to run around for an hour every day, even out in the yard if you have one. He is at the age where his appetite will slow down alot. The growing stage is almost over, so there's no need for alot of feeders...five or so a day will be fine along with a good salad.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. How are you taking the temps? What kind of lights do you use? Any colored? Coil/compact or tube? Brand?

 

[Kazyrock]

Hi. How are you taking the temps? What kind of lights do you use? Any colored? Coil/compact or tube? Brand?

I'm using a powersun bulb. No, it is not a coil. No coloured heat, only ceramic for winter.

 

[Kazyrock]

Hi there....it sounds like it's just too hot. Try to get the basking spot down to 95-100. You can also let him out to run around for an hour every day, even out in the yard if you have one. He is at the age where his appetite will slow down alot. The growing stage is almost over, so there's no need for alot of feeders...five or so a day will be fine along with a good salad.

I questioned if he was too hot, only he never gapes. I lowered his hammock and adjusted the light a little so now it is about 103 degrees, he still prefers his cool side though. Do you think he may be going into shed? Another thing I have thought about was buying one of those things that suspends your bulb from a hook above the tank, but I'm worried he wouldn't be getting his optimal UVB. His bulb is the 3-in-1 powersun an has worked great with no problems and I have been using it since I got him.

 

[hiyakayt]

The MVB ( Mercury Vapor Bulbs ) Try buying the Exo-terra Solar Glo MVB- they are cheaper and
have had a clean record compared to past Powersun MVB in the past. I just recently switched mine. I still need to adjust the temps in my beardies tank due to summers heat anyways the rays can reach down to 12 " iches so you don't have to worry about him
not obsorbing it. and as long as he can climb to a high area of the basking spot he can always get closer
if need be. Make sure to mist him like twice a day to cool him off when hes basking.
I also have the suspended hook/light and it works well.
I would also recommend taking him outside for natural sunlight to help

 

[diamc]

How old is the MVB you have? Also, what type of thermometer are you using & where exactly are you checking the temps?

 

[Kazyrock]

How old is the MVB you have? Also, what type of thermometer are you using & where exactly are you checking the temps?

I replaced it this April, and I have a thermometer on his cool side, and on his warm side I have a dial that is in there day and night, as well as a probe which I put in a few times a week on his basking spot as he tries to eat it

 

[diamc]

Good that you replaced the bulb a few months ago.

Unfortunately the dial thermometers can be off as much as 20 degrees or even more. The probes work well but be sure that the probe end is actually touching the basking log or rock & that you wait 45 min to an hr for the temp to stop rising before getting the final basking surface temp.

 

[Kazyrock]

Good that you replaced the bulb a few months ago.

Unfortunately the dial thermometers can be off as much as 20 degrees or even more. The probes work well but be sure that the probe end is actually touching the basking log or rock & that you wait 45 min to an hr for the temp to stop rising before getting the final basking surface temp.

I don't really rely on the dial thermometer to tell me a correct reading, I just keep it there because I bought it and have nowhere else to put it. The probe is always directly on the log and hammock and it stays there for about an hour. His readings yesterday were 104 in the hot side and the cool side is always around 74.

 

[Crewdog00]

sounds like the temps are good from what i read, and it seems like you have been taking care of him properly. Strange that its out of the blue like this. I will stay tuned and pray for your guys.

 

[Kazyrock]

sounds like the temps are good from what i read, and it seems like you have been taking care of him properly. Strange that its out of the blue like this. I will stay tuned and pray for your guys.

Thanks so much for the support!

 

[diamc]

Good that you're getting good readings with the probe thermometer. Is the hot side 104 or is that the basking surface temp? Are you using a bulb on the cool side at all? If not, you could try using a 25 watt household light bulb there to see if you can raise the cool side up between 78 to 82, that might help him out a little. What is the distance of the Powersun to the basking area that he uses most often? Is it a 160 or 100 watt?

How is his energy and appetite now?

 

[Kazyrock]

Good that you're getting good readings with the probe thermometer. Is the hot side 104 or is that the basking surface temp? Are you using a bulb on the cool side at all? If not, you could try using a 25 watt household light bulb there to see if you can raise the cool side up between 78 to 82, that might help him out a little. What is the distance of the Powersun to the basking area that he uses most often? Is it a 160 or 100 watt?

How is his energy and appetite now?

His basking spot is 104. I have no bulb on the cool side and thanks I will try that out the bulb is sitting right on the enclosure top but he's able to get closer or farther to it because of his hammock and he likes to get pretty close to it. I saw him gaping a little yesterday, with his mouth barely open. The bulb is the 160 watt.