waxy and cool side

[KarenInCA]

So, my guy is getting ready for a huge shed. His entire body is waxy. He is pooping good, and eating okay (less feeders than usual but good salad eating).
Some of the things Im noticing though, is that he tends to be more lethargic than normal, and today I gave him a really long bath, which he fell asleep in (normal for him) but then I took him out and he cuddled up to me as if it was night time, and he is dead weight on my chest right now, as if it's 9pm (it's 5pm here in CA). I almost hate to wake him to feed him his dubai, he's sleeping so soundly.
As most of you already know, we've had him for a little over 3 months now, and he's about 10 months old. He's had two full body sheds since we've had him, but he never felt all waxy over his entire body like he does now.
Since he started feeling waxy (about 3 days now) he tends to stay on the cool side, or lowers himself to a point that is not directly under his basking spot most of the time these past couple of days, as well as being more lethargic than normal.
Is this common when a big shed is coming on? Or should I be concerned that something else is going on with him?

 

[cfjustin]

So, my guy is getting ready for a huge shed. His entire body is waxy. He is pooping good, and eating okay (less feeders than usual but good salad eating).
Some of the things Im noticing though, is that he tends to be more lethargic than normal, and today I gave him a really long bath, which he fell asleep in (normal for him) but then I took him out and he cuddled up to me as if it was night time, and he is dead weight on my chest right now, as if it's 9pm (it's 5pm here in CA). I almost hate to wake him to feed him his dubai, he's sleeping so soundly.
As most of you already know, we've had him for a little over 3 months now, and he's about 10 months old. He's had two full body sheds since we've had him, but he never felt all waxy over his entire body like he does now.
Since he started feeling waxy (about 3 days now) he tends to stay on the cool side, or lowers himself to a point that is not directly under his basking spot most of the time these past couple of days, as well as being more lethargic than normal.
Is this common when a big shed is coming on? Or should I be concerned that something else is going on with him?

Sounds like he's having a little tough time Sounds normal also. Just give him baths(twice a day for shed this big), he's probably avoiding the direct heat due to shedding. Give it a couple days

 

[KarenInCA]

Thanks. One of my concerns is that he will not digest his food good enough if he is not directly in his basking spot after eating.
I woke him after my first post, and put him into his basking spot, and after about a half hour there, I brought out the feeders. He livened up a LOT after showing him the dubia, and he rushed out of his viv and circled the feeding tub. He ate probably about 30 medium dubia, and then one large horn worm, and then looked at me like he had just finished a Thanksgiving dinner. I probably should have left it at the dubia but he loves hornworms so much and he was so happy to eat that I obliged.
I then put him back into his basking spot where he stayed for about 45 minutes, then he jumped down, and into the cool side again for about 15 minutes, now he is back half way up his basking branch.
The temp in the basking spot is 100 in one far area and 104 in the other far area, where the lamp is situated.
Im assuming that when their skin is waxy, it probably heats up faster (like wax itself would).
When I move the lamp so that it's off further away, it goes down to about 96-97, but I don't want it to be too cool so that he can't digest his food after he eats. Would it be okay to do that for a few days, or could it cause digestive and health problems?
Can he overheat during times like this? And get heat stroke, like humans or other pets can if they overheat?
Should I feed him less live feeders for a couple of days on purpose, so that he doesn't have to bask so long after eating?
We don't keep a water bowl in his viv, but should we for times like this, or is he too big and too old to even care about a water bowl at this point?

 

[cfjustin]

Thanks. One of my concerns is that he will not digest his food good enough if he is not directly in his basking spot after eating.
I woke him after my first post, and put him into his basking spot, and after about a half hour there, I brought out the feeders. He livened up a LOT after showing him the dubia, and he rushed out of his viv and circled the feeding tub. He ate probably about 30 medium dubia, and then one large horn worm, and then looked at me like he had just finished a Thanksgiving dinner. I probably should have left it at the dubia but he loves hornworms so much and he was so happy to eat that I obliged.
I then put him back into his basking spot where he stayed for about 45 minutes, then he jumped down, and into the cool side again for about 15 minutes, now he is back half way up his basking branch.
The temp in the basking spot is 100 in one far area and 104 in the other far area, where the lamp is situated.
Im assuming that when their skin is waxy, it probably heats up faster (like wax itself would).
When I move the lamp so that it's off further away, it goes down to about 96-97, but I don't want it to be too cool so that he can't digest his food after he eats. Would it be okay to do that for a few days, or could it cause digestive and health problems?
Can he overheat during times like this? And get heat stroke, like humans or other pets can if they overheat?
Should I feed him less live feeders for a couple of days on purpose, so that he doesn't have to bask so long after eating?
We don't keep a water bowl in his viv, but should we for times like this, or is he too big and too old to even care about a water bowl at this point?

From experience I would feel safe to tell you that even though he doesn't seem to be basking, he still is. You might not see it but he will run there bask and run around. Shedding is a tough time for them, Daisy runs around her whole enclosure because she is so uncomfortable. They will still digest their feeders as long as the temp is correct.

Most of the time they aren't basking is because of their itchy skin. They run around to loosen it up, puff their beards, scratch themselves(just like dogs do) because they want it off quick.

Overheating isn't an issue as long as he is gaping and purging if he gets too hot. Feed him same amount of feeders, make sure he is well hydrated with baths and proper hydration of the dubia roaches( and other feeders). What is his humidity at? If it's below 25% i'd bump it up a little bit during the day so he's a little more moist. Make sure night time humidity doesn't increase.

 

[KarenInCA]

Thanks.
We don't have a humidity gage. Living in CA, I assumed we would not need one, because it really doesn't get humid here. I assumed it would be needed only to make sure the humidity doesn't go up.
So then, for now, maybe I SHOULD put a shallow water bowl in his viv. Would it hurt to bump up the humidity a couple of days, even if I don't know what it is now? We will have no clouds in the sky for the next week, and the temps here are around 90, also for the next week, but a little bit of breeze. It's not Arizona weather and super dry, but it's not east coast weather either. We live near Sacramento, which is fairly far from any Pacific Ocean area (about 3-4 hours inland).

 

[cfjustin]

Thanks.
We don't have a humidity gage. Living in CA, I assumed we would not need one, because it really doesn't get humid here. I assumed it would be needed only to make sure the humidity doesn't go up.
So then, for now, maybe I SHOULD put a shallow water bowl in his viv. Would it hurt to bump up the humidity a couple of days, even if I don't know what it is now? We will have no clouds in the sky for the next week, and the temps here are around 90, also for the next week, but a little bit of breeze. It's not Arizona weather and super dry, but it's not east coast weather either. We live near Sacramento, which is fairly far from any Pacific Ocean area (about 3-4 hours inland).

I live right in the Elk Grove area, so my humidity with a small bowl will stay around 25%. I think you'd be fine with that. Use a small bowl

 

[KarenInCA]

Thanks for the humidity advise. I took out his sleeping blanket on the cool side, and added his water bowl that came with him. I then showed him the bowl and tapped my hand in it to make ripples several times and it caught his attention. When I took my hand out, he actually went inside, and dunked his head in it several times and tried to splash the water onto his back. Then he took his time and (for lack of a better word) slithered up his basking spot (probably to scratch his belly), and kept trying to "splash" air up his back as if he was still in the water.
He is now at the top of his basking spot again.
I always assumed he would ignore water in his tank, and maybe now he is interested because of his shed coming on. But I should have known. He is really a water dog, born into a bearded dragon body (he loves his baths any time)

 

[KarenInCA]

So how long does it take for them to actually start the big sheds after feeling really waxy? I keep thinking Im going to come home and see him looking like he's in the middle of it, and so far, he has just been miserable for about 3 days now. The water in the tank seems to make him feel less miserable though, and it sure was cute to watch him try to splash water onto his back, even though he was too big to get it there.

 

[cfjustin]

So how long does it take for them to actually start the big sheds after feeling really waxy? I keep thinking Im going to come home and see him looking like he's in the middle of it, and so far, he has just been miserable for about 3 days now. The water in the tank seems to make him feel less miserable though, and it sure was cute to watch him try to splash water onto his back, even though he was too big to get it there.

Sheds can last some time, I'd say probably a week more would work maybe earlier.