Bearded Dragon Not Eating or Drinking

[beardydad]

First-time bearded dragon owner, looking for advice

I've had my bearded dragon, Charizard (Riz) for a little under two weeks. He is around 3-4 months old and completed a full body shed when I first got him.

For the first two days, he was eating well—greens, roaches, locusts, and crickets—but then he suddenly stopped and has been very sleepy since.

In the past 8 days, he's eaten only 1 roach and 2 calci-worms, and no vegetables. I provide fresh greens and water daily in his vivarium and offer bugs 3 times a day, but he either ignores them or closes his eyes.

We took him back to the pet shop, where they said he looked dehydrated. They gave us Repti Boost and advised bathing him twice a day. I've been doing this for 3 days and feeding him water with a syringe, but there hasn't been much improvement.

He seems to prefer staying on the warmer side of the enclosure most of the time and is usually under his basking light but not always basking directly.

His setup:

4x2x2 tank

12% Arcadia T5 UVB

100W basking bulb / Deep Heat Bulb for night time (though its never been cold enough to switch on)

Temps: 38-40°C in the basking area (he avoids it when it's over 40°C) and 26-27°C on the cool side.


Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Sadie]

First-time bearded dragon owner, looking for advice

I've had my bearded dragon, Charizard (Riz) for a little under two weeks. He is around 3-4 months old and completed a full body shed when I first got him.

For the first two days, he was eating well—greens, roaches, locusts, and crickets—but then he suddenly stopped and has been very sleepy since.

In the past 8 days, he's eaten only 1 roach and 2 calci-worms, and no vegetables. I provide fresh greens and water daily in his vivarium and offer bugs 3 times a day, but he either ignores them or closes his eyes.

We took him back to the pet shop, where they said he looked dehydrated. They gave us Repti Boost and advised bathing him twice a day. I've been doing this for 3 days and feeding him water with a syringe, but there hasn't been much improvement.

He seems to prefer staying on the warmer side of the enclosure most of the time and is usually under his basking light but not always basking directly.

His setup:

4x2x2 tank

12% Arcadia T5 UVB

100W basking bulb / Deep Heat Bulb for night time (though its never been cold enough to switch on)

Temps: 38-40°C in the basking area (he avoids it when it's over 40°C) and 26-27°C on the cool side.


Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

It sounds like brumation -- where is the T 5 in the tank? How far is the UVB from basking decor piece and it should be directly over it -- how are you getting the surface basking temps? Please lay off the bathing- you can tell by the poop if hes dehydrated- the urate will be dry and crusty looking -

Brumation in Bearded Dragons

Written by Denise R. Bushnell in June, 2008 For those who are not experienced in the hobby, and who keep Bearded Dragons as pets, one of the greatest sources of worry is when, for one reason or another, our beardies refuse to eat for long periods of time, or become increasingly inactive and...

www.beardeddragon.org

Practical tips: A healthy brumating bearded dragon

Georgina Rayner of Swell Reptiles, UK in November, 2015 Practical tips to help keep your bearded dragon healthy during brumation Reptile brumation occurs differently depending on each reptile’s bodily processes, from species to species. Environmental factors and the natural genetic instinct in...

www.beardeddragon.org

 

[beardydad]

Ive attached a picture of the T5 in the tank. 32watts and located just off the centreline of the tank. The UVB is around 8inch from the basking decor. And I take the temps with both probe and heat gun.

I thought that only adult dragons brumate?

His poo when he does is not dry for crusty, quite the opposite.

 

[Sadie]

Ive attached a picture of the T5 in the tank. 32watts and located just off the centreline of the tank. The UVB is around 8inch from the basking decor. And I take the temps with both probe and heat gun.

I thought that only adult dragons brumate?

His poo when he does is not dry for crusty, quite the opposite. View attachment 36196

You are right I missed the age -- he is too young to be brumating --- the distance looks farther than 8 inches - the basking light looks to be giving off a yellowish hue -- you want a solid clear bright white bulb like a Flukers basking Exo Terra Intense or a Arcadia Halogen bulb -- please drop water on the dragons nose and see if he will lick--- they do not drink from water bowls -- watch his poop it will tell you if hes dehydrated -- urate will be dried out looking and crusty -- dark poop should be well formed and moist looking -- get him some bsfl www.symtonbsf.com -- they are good salad lures drop in front of him first thing in the morning - feed 20-25 at a time if he eats them too fast they will come out undigested -- you will need a bowl like this https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
please get the basking bulb changed out see if that makes a difference in his behavior

 

[Princess Emily]

It sounds like brumation -- where is the T 5 in the tank? How far is the UVB from basking decor piece and it should be directly over it -- how are you getting the surface basking temps? Please lay off the bathing- you can tell by the poop if hes dehydrated- the urate will be dry and crusty looking -

Brumation in Bearded Dragons

Written by Denise R. Bushnell in June, 2008 For those who are not experienced in the hobby, and who keep Bearded Dragons as pets, one of the greatest sources of worry is when, for one reason or another, our beardies refuse to eat for long periods of time, or become increasingly inactive and...

www.beardeddragon.org

Practical tips: A healthy brumating bearded dragon

Georgina Rayner of Swell Reptiles, UK in November, 2015 Practical tips to help keep your bearded dragon healthy during brumation Reptile brumation occurs differently depending on each reptile’s bodily processes, from species to species. Environmental factors and the natural genetic instinct in...

www.beardeddragon.org

This happened to us when we first got Emily. Long story short she had a parasite and needed rx and rx food. That was hard but we did it (humanely... I did not force her mouth open but we worked together and it took time to do this) and finally she got better.
I'd recommend getting her stools checked st the vet

 

[beardydad]

Hi both, thanks for replying.

He took a turn, and started to get really sick, so took him back to the pet shop, who took him and his 2 siblings to the vets and they are all diagnosed with adenovirus. His siblings died at the vets and our dragon cannot return home and will be returned to the supplier.

We do want another dragon but not right away and have to disinfect everything and throw away all food, wood, substrate, which the supplier said they will replace free of charge.

 

[Sadie]

Hi both, thanks for replying.

He took a turn, and started to get really sick, so took him back to the pet shop, who took him and his 2 siblings to the vets and they are all diagnosed with adenovirus. His siblings died at the vets and our dragon cannot return home and will be returned to the supplier.

We do want another dragon but not right away and have to disinfect everything and throw away all food, wood, substrate, which the supplier said they will replace free of charge.

I am so sorry to hear about the dragons- why can you not bring yours home? We have a few people on some another forum that has adeno -- Tracie on here the vet tech is currently doing research on this topic -- posting this to her so she can speak w/ you
@Drache613

 

[Princess Emily]

Hi both, thanks for replying.

He took a turn, and started to get really sick, so took him back to the pet shop, who took him and his 2 siblings to the vets and they are all diagnosed with adenovirus. His siblings died at the vets and our dragon cannot return home and will be returned to the supplier.

We do want another dragon but not right away and have to disinfect everything and throw away all food, wood, substrate, which the supplier said they will replace free of charge.

I'm so sorry!!! That's sad. They quickly become part of the family.

 

[beardydad]

I am so sorry to hear about the dragons- why can you not bring yours home? We have a few people on some another forum that has adeno -- Tracie on here the vet tech is currently doing research on this topic -- posting this to her so she can speak w/ you
@Drache613

The vet thinks he won't last the month. As first time beardie parents, the stress of that every day is too much. He has been sent back to the supplier and we are getting a new beardie in a few weeks time. There is a lot of disinfecting to do. The petshop has advised us to throw all wooden items and substrate in the Viv away, as the suppliers will be replacing everything free of charge.

 

[beardydad]

I'm so sorry!!! That's sad. They quickly become part of the family.

Thanks, It is really sad. In the short space we had him (2 weeks) he did become part of the family. He was absolutely gorgeous golden beardie and was so friendly.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

So sorry your little one is having trouble. He
tested positive for Adeno.
What type of supplementation are you giving
right now? I would recommend some milk
thistle to help with liver function.
Are you able to keep him a little warmer overnight, around 75-80F to help boost his
immune system.
Are you syringe feeding right now?

Tracie

 

[Princess Emily]

Thanks, It is really sad. In the short space we had him (2 weeks) he did become part of the family. He was absolutely gorgeous golden beardie and was so friendly.

I'm sorry! Even in 2 wks they quickly become one of the family! Agreed, what a beautiful guy!