WARNING: LONG POST
Approximately 2 weeks ago I purchased this beardie from a local pet store. It was recently sold to the pet store with a batch of other citrus beardies, but this one was in quarantine due to it not eating. It seemed very stressed and the more I held him the more he seemed to calm down, so I decided to purchase him then and there.
As soon as I got him home I put him in a temp 40 gallon as I went and bought a new 4x2x2 enclosure and stand. I offered him a couple of mealworms which he immediately ate! The next day he started the behavior shared in the video. I immediately scheduled a vet visit with our local vet that deals in exotics. I showed him the video, he checked the beardies eyes nose and throat and checked the body for any possible breaks or abnormalities. His conclusion was there was no bacterial infection present, the throat was red so he didn't rule out a possible viral infection but did not feel that there was any need to do any more testing at the time.
I went back to the pet store where he was purchased and talked to one of the gals working there about the issue, at which point I was told by the gal that she witnessed another employee force feeding him a dubia that was way to large for him, and that it possibly tore up his throat, which is why the vet saw redness in the throat.
The behavior exists to this day still.
The beardie, which I have named Lizzy Borden after the 80's LA Band, will not take greens, will not touch hornworms, will occasionally take dubias, but will without hesitation take mealworms, which makes me worry if the breeder was feeding them superworms to speed up growth. I have recently began a regimen of mixing critical care, vitamins, and calcium into a slurry and force feed him 2 dubias that I drench in the slurry, followed by a hornworm for hydration. He seems to defecate every other day and no obvious signs of impaction.
Today I gave him his first bath because I felt he was dehydrated. I added electrolytes to his bath in hopes he would drink, which he did for almost a solid minute.
I am currently looking for another exotic vet to take him to, there aren't many in my area, so it might be another week before he is seen. Other then the obvious malnutrition and dehydration, he doesn't show any other signs of distress, is quite active, and is starting to bond.
Just curious if anyone has witnessed this behavior before that might help me lead to a answer.
Thanks in advance. I am currently preparing a bioreactive enclosure for him and want to make sure he is in good health before putting him in the substrate.
