Not pooping as much?

[rango101]

I’m pretty sure my 1 year old beardie is semi bruminating right now he’s lazier than usual just basking in one spot all day and falling asleep earlier. He’s still eating his bugs but is not big on his salad. He’s been having some trouble with undigested poops and having fewer poops. He used to poop every day but now if he goes more than 5 days without pooping I have to soak him for a long time for him to poop. Fecal check came back negative. 4x2x2 viv with reptisun T5 HO 11 inches from basking spot, 105F hot side 80 cool side. Any suggestions on helping him poop more easily? Should I hold off on the bugs and only do salad for a while? Thanks.

 

[KarrieRee]

I’m pretty sure my 1 year old beardie is semi bruminating right now he’s lazier than usual just basking in one spot all day and falling asleep earlier. He’s still eating his bugs but is not big on his salad. He’s been having some trouble with undigested poops and having fewer poops. He used to poop every day but now if he goes more than 5 days without pooping I have to soak him for a long time for him to poop. Fecal check came back negative. 4x2x2 viv with reptisun T5 HO 11 inches from basking spot, 105F hot side 80 cool side. Any suggestions on helping him poop more easily? Should I hold off on the bugs and only do salad for a while? Thanks.

Normal for a dragon not to poop as much --- as long as his basking temps are good which is a little odd for the bugs being undigested w/ as high as the basking temps are -- are you getting those temps w/ a digital probe thermometer ? And are you using a hammock under the basking light? Is your UVB inside the tank?

 

[rango101]

Normal for a dragon not to poop as much --- as long as his basking temps are good which is a little odd for the bugs being undigested w/ as high as the basking temps are -- are you getting those temps w/ a digital probe thermometer ? And are you using a hammock under the basking light? Is your UVB inside the tank?

Ok I just worry since he's going longer between poops that he seems to strain a little bit in the bath when he poops. I check temps with a infrared thermometer. The UVB is inside the tank in a reflector.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok I just worry since he's going longer between poops that he seems to strain a little bit in the bath when he poops. I check temps with a infrared thermometer. The UVB is inside the tank in a reflector.

What are you feeding him for insects--- make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise -- that can cause problems- please get a probe for accurate temps --- those temps can be off by certain materials a IR gun cannot pick up

 

[rango101]

What are you feeding him for insects--- make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise -- that can cause problems- please get a probe for accurate temps --- those temps can be off by certain materials a IR gun cannot pick up

He gets dubias and the occasional silkworm. I have a temp probe on my herpstat on the basking spot but the probe is off by like 10 degrees compared to the infrared gun, I thought the IR gun was more accurate? Hopefully it is or else I guess my temps are too low? He does gape sometimes so I assume it is warm enough.

 

[KarrieRee]

He gets dubias and the occasional silkworm. I have a temp probe on my herpstat on the basking spot but the probe is off by like 10 degrees compared to the infrared gun, I thought the IR gun was more accurate? Hopefully it is or else I guess my temps are too low? He does gape sometimes so I assume it is warm enough.

The digital is more accurate please go by that - that would account for the undigested bugs -- gaping is adjusting the body temp --

 

[rango101]

The digital is more accurate please go by that - that would account for the undigested bugs -- gaping is adjusting the body temp --

Something like this? ZOO MED Digital Thermometer - Chewy.com

 

[KarrieRee]

Something like this? ZOO MED Digital Thermometer - Chewy.com

Yes I have 4 of them for my two tanks plus a 2 IR guns and the stick ons --- I use them all but go by the digital probes

 

[rango101]

So it's been more than a week since his last poop, which is the longest he's ever gone. I've given him olive oil and I soak him daily but still no poop. I've double checked and his temps are good so any suggestions on what else I can do to get him to poop?

 

[KarrieRee]

So it's been more than a week since his last poop, which is the longest he's ever gone. I've given him olive oil and I soak him daily but still no poop. I've double checked and his temps are good so any suggestions on what else I can do to get him to poop?

It is no uncommon for dragons as they get older to not poop for long periods of time -- mine dont poop for 3 weeks to a month - and when they do they let loose --- just give him time as long as his basking temps are where they need to be and UVB is good he will go

 

[rango101]

It is no uncommon for dragons as they get older to not poop for long periods of time -- mine dont poop for 3 weeks to a month - and when they do they let loose --- just give him time as long as his basking temps are where they need to be and UVB is good he will go

Thanks I won't start freaking out too much then. He's still eating well but he looks a little bloated and he's gained a few grams in poop weight I guess, is that normal too for a 1 year old? I'm just so used to him going a few times a week.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thanks I won't start freaking out too much then. He's still eating well but he looks a little bloated and he's gained a few grams in poop weight I guess, is that normal too for a 1 year old? I'm just so used to him going a few times a week.

keep him hydrated and feed him some canned plain pumpkin that will make him go to the bathroom- the water will push things along -- they slow down w/ the pooping around a year or so --

 

[rango101]

Thanks for your advice, the pumpkin did the trick he finally pooped. Last question- his urates were a bit chalky and hard, any suggestions for if there's anything I can do about this? I do try and orally hydrate him daily with a dropper but he never wants to drink much.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thanks for your advice, the pumpkin did the trick he finally pooped. Last question- his urates were a bit chalky and hard, any suggestions for if there's anything I can do about this? I do try and orally hydrate him daily with a dropper but he never wants to drink much.

Is he eating salads? If so rinse them before serving- how much supplements are you giving and what are you giving?

 

[rango101]

Is he eating salads? If so rinse them before serving- how much supplements are you giving and what are you giving?

He's not being great about eating salads lately, he'll eat a couple of bites a day but never finishes it. I do spray the salad with water. I give him zoo med calcium without D3 2-3 times a week lightly dusted on his roaches. He gets repcal multivitamin once a week.