My dragon is refusing to eat unless I feed him by syringe

[norbie]

About a month ago I noticed that my dragon's head was swaying from side to side when I picked him up. I thought maybe it was something about the "hibernation" period. Usually his cage is colder in the winter and he pretty much sleeps for a couple of months then wakes up after. I got a under the tank warmer and he was perky and happy all winter - no hibernation. Then this head sway and after about a week he couldn't walk without looking like he had Parkinson's. The nearest vet who treats dragons is in the next county over from us. I called our Science Center and talked to their reptile person who was a great help! I went out and got a new light bulb to make sure he was getting the rays he needed and some powdered first aid supplement for severly dyhyrdrated and malnurished dragons. He also stopped eating and drinking during this time. I got him to lick the food off the syringe and did this at least 3 times a day for a week. He started acting better and more like his normal self. The head swaying and shaky walking went away. He still had a slight head shake from time to time.

He seems better but now won't eat worms or greens. He licks them then turns away. He will drink water but only eats if I feed him the suppliment by syringe. I know he is a spoiled dragon and I'm good with that but how long is too long to let him keep eating like this? I offer him worms several times a day and he has his greens. I only give him the suppliment when he hasn't eaten in about 3 or 4 days. He spends a good bit of time outside in the sun too.

Did making the cage warmer during the winter keep him from going into hibernation and did that start all this?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Which UVB light did you get? A flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?
Great that he spends time outside, too that should help alot!
Are you giving calcium on a regular basis as well to help him out?
Well, keeping the tank warmer during the winter would possibly slow down the brumation phase yes, but that would not kick off the shaky head & trait. That was from not having adequate UVB lighting & or not absorbing calcium properly from not having good UVB exposure.
He must have been low in calcium upon entering the brumation phase. How old is he?
What other type of lighting are you using? An undertank heater isn't really necessary as they should be heated from overhead instead of underneath.
It sounds like he is on the mend. If he will not eat on his own, then do not starve him. Offer him food from a syringe daily, but gradually decrease the amount of it so that his own natural appetite will come back on its own. You can add some bee pollen & some brewer's yeast to his mixture to help with his appetite.

Tracie

 

[chancellor91]

i agree with tracie, sounds like the lighting and a calcium problem, let us no how he is doing please

keeps us updated please

chancellor

 

[norbie]

I bought a Repti coil lamp. That seems to be helping a lot. He is 4 1/2 years old. I turn the under tank heater off when it is warmer outside. His tank can get quite cold in the winter even with the night heat lamp on. He is also shedding on his head and back right now. Still drinking but just looks interested in eating a worm but then just licks it and turns his head. I am giving him Reptaid about every 3 days if he doesn't eat on his own. The greens are there for him but he just sleeps in them. He has been doing a lot of head bobbing and wants to sit in the flower pots up high instead of on the outside table. He just wants to keep climbing as high as he can. He seems to have plenty of energy - sometimes too much - so I figure as long he is drinking, I keep offering the live food and feed by syringe until he starts eating on his own, then he is better.

I thought bees were deadly to dragons. Wouldn't bee pollen be bad too? Thank you for your help.

 

[chancellor91]

um, sorry to tell you, but GET RID of that coil, they are horrible, you need a tube light, or a mercury vapor bulb, but coils and compacts are really terrible

try doing some reasearch on this website, there is plenty of evidence for this :study:

chancellor

 

[norbie]

We spend so much time outside or with him sitting in the window getting sun, that the light really hasn't been an issue in the past. I believe it is a coil because it looks like the energy saver light bulbs for normal lamps. I will definately do more research on the light bulbs. Thanks for the imput.

 

[Embee]

We spend so much time outside or with him sitting in the window getting sun, that the light really hasn't been an issue in the past. I believe it is a coil because it looks like the energy saver light bulbs for normal lamps. I will definately do more research on the light bulbs. Thanks for the imput.

Here is a link (with FURTHER link) that might help you with your research on the coils:

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The best,
Em

 

[chancellor91]

ya trust me coils just go bad, you never kno, some are a fast decline, and some are a immediate, i would get a new light, trust me

chancellor