Sudden lasting black beard....

[Fury1212]

Fury is 3.5 years old. She has had a history of not eating well, not pooping well and being extremely picky. Recently her appetite has really improved and she has been pooping in her tank. (She never poops in her tank, she will wait to go outside in the sun or in the bathtub.) She has been pooping almost everyday! Yesterday she refused to eat. At bedtime we checked on her and her beard was black however her whole body was very light. This morning when she woke up her black beard was gone. This afternoon she has a very black beard again which is very unusual for her. The last 3 inches of her tail is black too. However, her body is super light just as it is when she is eating well and after a bath and big poop! Should I wait her out today and see how it goes or is this a sign of something we should get checked out?

I should note we gave her a bath today and she drank more water than she ever has before. After her bath, she walked around the upstairs so I wouldn't say she is lethargic.

She did not lay eggs this spring as she has the past 2 springs. The way she is pooping lately its like she is about to lay eggs but she doesn't seem as swollen as she normally does while carrying eggs.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's good that she isn't lethargic. The black beard and light body is a sign that something is bothering her though. I'd err on the side of caution and have her checked out by a reptile vet if you can. If she usually lays eggs and hasn't this year, that's also a flag that perhaps something has gone wrong with the eggs which can become very dangerous. I would definitely mention that to the vet and have them look for problems there.

 

[Fury1212]

It's good that she isn't lethargic. The black beard and light body is a sign that something is bothering her though. I'd err on the side of caution and have her checked out by a reptile vet if you can. If she usually lays eggs and hasn't this year, that's also a flag that perhaps something has gone wrong with the eggs which can become very dangerous. I would definitely mention that to the vet and have them look for problems there.

Our vet is about a HR away But this is unusual for her so I will probably call. She lightened up after we out her back in her tank.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's probably worth getting checked out. The change in egg laying behavior would have me a bit concerned. If there is a problem, it may be fixable if caught early enough. If there isn't a problem, then it's still worth checking if just to have peace of mind.

 

[Fury1212]

It's probably worth getting checked out. The change in egg laying behavior would have me a bit concerned. If there is a problem, it may be fixable if caught early enough. If there isn't a problem, then it's still worth checking if just to have peace of mind.

So once a Beardie starts laying eggs, she will never skip a year?

 

[CooperDragon]

Not necessarily. It may be normal for her to skip a year. I'm just saying that the black beard combined with the change in laying behavior would raise a flag in my mind and make a checkup worthwhile.

 

[Fury1212]

Not necessarily. It may be normal for her to skip a year. I'm just saying that the black beard combined with the change in laying behavior would raise a flag in my mind and make a checkup worthwhile.

For sure, that question just popped into my mind so I thought I'd ask. Thanks for taking the time to respond