My beardie hasnt eaten in 6 days. Plz help!

[bill0405]

Im a bit worried about my bearded. Its been 6 days since he's eaten anything, and he just sits in 1 spot all day looking very tired. when i hold food in front of his face to get him to eat, he closes his eyes and ignores it. When I take him out of the cage, he seems to gain lots of energy. He runs around, he enjoys the daily bath's ive been giving him since he stopped eating, but when i put him back in his cage, he goes back to his spot on the log and lays there lazilly. It looks like he may be losing weight because his skin is starting to fold a lot on the sides. I did temperature measurements yesterday and his basking area is 100.5 deg, and the cool side of his tank is about 78 deg. He is in a 40 gal tank, and he is about 7 months old. His reptisun 10 bulb was just over 6 months old, so i replaced it last week. I feed him gutloaded crickets (about 30 a day...more if hes still hungry) which i dust about every other day, and during the day when Im at work, he eats romaine lettuce that I leave in his feeding bowl. Yesterday i took a syringe and force fed him some gatorade to keep him hydrated since he hasnt taken in any water except for the baths i give him. Ive been researching, and the 3 conclusions I made is he is likely entering some kind of burmation, he is dehydrated, or he has some kind of bug. Can anyone help? Thanks

 

[zebraflavencs]

Actually I think you may want to get a fecal done on his poo for parasites. Parasites have the same look in a dragon as brumation, so I would rule that out first.

So you changed the sun, what are his temps currently and how do you measure them ?

Instead of the romaine, which is mostly water, try collard greens or mustards instead.

Hope this helps,
Janie.

 

[bill0405]

I measure his temps with a digital thermometer.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Okay, so his temps are in line, the uvb is in line.... Yup, that makes me even more certain this is parasites.
Janie.

 

[bill0405]

I think I may be taking him to the vet tomorrow then. I'll let you know how things work out

 

[bill0405]

So here's some updates. I took Stubbles to the vet and they did a fecal. They said they didnt see any parasites in the poop, but they gave me 2 prescriptions anyway to give to the lizard. They also said that if stubbles dont eat within the next day or 2, to feed her a catfood that she gave me through a syringe. I fed her today, but she still doesnt look like she is doing well at all. Im very worried about her. Any other ideas on what it can be since its not parasites? I have her on my stomach right now, and when she tries to walk, she looks like she cant even suooprt her own weight on her legs. I think she may be weak from not eating and drinking

Now

Before

 

[diamc]

Is the Repti-Sun a strip fluorescent bulb? What is the distance from the UVB? Does the digital thermometer have a long wire & probe on the end?

 

[Okiemavis]

Double check with another thermometer! I had a massive scare where I thought my frog tank was drastically overheated, but it turned out my digital thermometer was 12 degrees off!