Beardie brumating after eating, has not pooped in a long time!

[vjfox7]

My beardie is about 10yrs old. He has not eaten well the last few years and I have had to force feed him at times, then he would improve again (eating superworms that I dropin front of him). The last few (3-6mos) he has not been eating on his own much (will occas grab a superworm I drop in front of him). I started opening his mouth and sticking the superworm in, and he eats them. I had been giving him 10-15 superworms 1-2 times weekly for the last couple months this way. He won't eat much greens (I occas try to stuff some arugula in his mouth but he usually spits it out).

He also does not poop unless I let him soak in a warm bath, and tends to poop about once every 4-6wks.
I haven't had him to the vet in about a year, but the last time he went in we were doing similar feeding/pooping and he was maintaining his weight. Last poop was 09/29.

I have the cage setup per my vets recommendations, and the lights are on approx 14 hrs daily (6a-8p).
My vet said he would not brumate if I have the lights on this long.
2wks ago I fed him about 10 superworms and the next day he went to sleep in his hide.
I was just thinking I needed to give him a bath again to get him to poop when he went to sleep.
He has not come out since.

Not sure how long to wait before getting worried about him having not pooped, and gone to sleep on full belly!

 

[Sadie]

My beardie is about 10yrs old. He has not eaten well the last few years and I have had to force feed him at times, then he would improve again (eating superworms that I dropin front of him). The last few (3-6mos) he has not been eating on his own much (will occas grab a superworm I drop in front of him). I started opening his mouth and sticking the superworm in, and he eats them. I had been giving him 10-15 superworms 1-2 times weekly for the last couple months this way. He won't eat much greens (I occas try to stuff some arugula in his mouth but he usually spits it out).

He also does not poop unless I let him soak in a warm bath, and tends to poop about once every 4-6wks.
I haven't had him to the vet in about a year, but the last time he went in we were doing similar feeding/pooping and he was maintaining his weight. Last poop was 09/29.

I have the cage setup per my vets recommendations, and the lights are on approx 14 hrs daily (6a-8p).
My vet said he would not brumate if I have the lights on this long.
2wks ago I fed him about 10 superworms and the next day he went to sleep in his hide.
I was just thinking I needed to give him a bath again to get him to poop when he went to sleep.
He has not come out since.

Not sure how long to wait before getting worried about him having not pooped, and gone to sleep on full belly!

Please go over the UVB how old and where is it ? inside the tank for a long tube fixture please NO coils-- surface basking temps- how are you getting them? Please get a good staple feeder like dubia roaches silk worms or BSFL crickets is my last choice -- is he losing weight? How does he get water?

 

[vjfox7]

Please go over the UVB how old and where is it ? inside the tank for a long tube fixture please NO coils-- surface basking temps- how are you getting them? Please get a good staple feeder like dubia roaches silk worms or BSFL crickets is my last choice -- is he losing weight? How does he get water?

I last changed his light in September, I change it every 6mos (have a reminder set on phone), and use the ZooMed 10.0 UVB compact light, it sits right above his usual sitting spot about 5-6inches above him. I get them from Amazon, delivered to my house.

I haven't weighed him recently so do not know about his weight. I started giving him water again the few weeks before he brumated, 1-3ml although I cannot remember how often now. I was giving him some daily for awhile as he wasn't eating on his own. He has a dish of water but have never seen him drink from it. I mist him daily, squirt him down from head to tail.

I have difficulty stuffing other insects into his mouth when he is not eating

 

[vjfox7]

I last changed his light in September, I change it every 6mos (have a reminder set on phone), and use the ZooMed 10.0 UVB compact light, it sits right above his usual sitting spot about 5-6inches above him. I get them from Amazon, delivered to my house.

I haven't weighed him recently so do not know about his weight. I started giving him water again the few weeks before he brumated, 1-3ml although I cannot remember how often now. I was giving him some daily for awhile as he wasn't eating on his own. He has a dish of water but have never seen him drink from it. I mist him daily, squirt him down from head to tail.

I have difficulty stuffing other insects into his mouth when he is not eating

Should I wake him up to take him to the vet and get weighed? I don't have a scale to weigh him on at home.

 

[Sadie]

Should I wake him up to take him to the vet and get weighed? I don't have a scale to weigh him on at home.

Hes not eating because of the UVB-- if its a compact bulb they are inadequate and you need to get a long tube fixture as soon as possible -- compact bulbs are a hazard to dragons and should not be used -- he is not getting the UVB he needs and that is why he is not eating- he is getting sicker and sicker please invest in a Zoo Med w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia Pro T5 12% bulb 24 watt or a Sunblaster Nano Tech w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb -- I can post links for all those fixtures - you want a 24" fixture-- you can get a kitchen food scale from Walmart - weigh in grams - dragons do not drink from water bowls typically so please continue to offer water and I would start getting some nutrients into him - you can order some Oxbow Critical Care off of Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Critical-Care-Supplement-1-Pound/dp/B0021WRJFE?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
this stuff is really good but it is thick so you will need to water it down - get some 3ML syringes and start slow amounts and slowly build up but once you get the new UVB his behavior should change--- the distance and placement for the UVB will be determined by the screen on the tank - please let me know when you get it --

 

[vjfox7]

Hes not eating because of the UVB-- if its a compact bulb they are inadequate and you need to get a long tube fixture as soon as possible -- compact bulbs are a hazard to dragons and should not be used -- he is not getting the UVB he needs and that is why he is not eating- he is getting sicker and sicker please invest in a Zoo Med w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia Pro T5 12% bulb 24 watt or a Sunblaster Nano Tech w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb -- I can post links for all those fixtures - you want a 24" fixture-- you can get a kitchen food scale from Walmart - weigh in grams - dragons do not drink from water bowls typically so please continue to offer water and I would start getting some nutrients into him - you can order some Oxbow Critical Care off of Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Critical-Care-Supplement-1-Pound/dp/B0021WRJFE?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
this stuff is really good but it is thick so you will need to water it down - get some 3ML syringes and start slow amounts and slowly build up but once you get the new UVB his behavior should change--- the distance and placement for the UVB will be determined by the screen on the tank - please let me know when you get

 

[vjfox7]

Can you explain the rationale for the change in light, and the reason for 24 inches or longer?
(Not arguing, just want to understand).

I think what triggered him to brumate is the temp in the cage. Its only 80 under the light, I need to get a warmer light now that it is cold (he did goto sleep right after the weather cooled down here).

If I change to a tube light, I will have difficulty adding a light for warmth, also. I will add a pic of the enclosure to show you. I can move the wooden lid over which can house a tube light, but then there is no way to add the one for warmth.

 

[Sadie]

Can you explain the rationale for the change in light, and the reason for 24 inches or longer?
(Not arguing, just want to understand).

I think what triggered him to brumate is the temp in the cage. Its only 80 under the light, I need to get a warmer light now that it is cold (he did goto sleep right after the weather cooled down here).

If I change to a tube light, I will have difficulty adding a light for warmth, also. I will add a pic of the enclosure to show you. I can move the wooden lid over which can house a tube light, but then there is no way to add the one for warmth.

Coils are inadequate w/ giving off correct UVB -- they need UVB to survive and long term use is detrimental to the dragon -- we do not recommend coils AT ALL - seen too many deaths and health issues - his surface basking temps should be 95-100 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer A MUST - please get all these things changed out as soon as possible --- I can post 3 good links for a good UVB for you

 

[vjfox7]

Links would be great. What about basking lights? I’ve heard some of those can be bad for them.

 

[Sadie]

Links would be great. What about basking lights? I’ve heard some of those can be bad for them.

Flukers basking - found at walmart.com search their website- exo terra intense or Arcadia halogen- those are examples- No off white No yellowish No colored or Daytime bulbs please I will post the links for uvb's in the morning

 

[Sadie]

This fixtures are for a 40 + gallon tanks -- they are 24"
Arcadia Pro T 5 12% bulb https://www.pangeareptile.com/colle.../products/arcadia-prot5-12-uvb-bulb-with-hood
Zoo Med this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you need a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 I will post a link for that

Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood (24 inch)

joshsfrogs.com

Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent T5 HO Bulb (22", 24 Watt)

joshsfrogs.com

this fixture you will need to change the bulb out to the Reptisun I posted and you want the 2 ft or 24" fixture
Sunblaster Nano Tech https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
when you get the UVB please post back on here so I can help you get it set up for the tank - your screen on the tank will determine where it needs to go distance and placement

 

[vjfox7]

This fixtures are for a 40 + gallon tanks -- they are 24"
Arcadia Pro T 5 12% bulb https://www.pangeareptile.com/colle.../products/arcadia-prot5-12-uvb-bulb-with-hood
Zoo Med this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you need a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 I will post a link for that

Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood (24 inch)

joshsfrogs.com

Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent T5 HO Bulb (22", 24 Watt)

joshsfrogs.com

this fixture you will need to change the bulb out to the Reptisun I posted and you want the 2 ft or 24" fixture
Sunblaster Nano Tech https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
when you get the UVB please post back on here so I can help you get it set up for the tank - your screen on the tank will determine where it needs to go distance and placement

I got a reptisun 24" T5 HO terrarium hood which I thought had a 10.0 uvb bulb, but actually came with a 5.0 bulb.

It says to put it outside the screen? I thought when I ordered it that it would go inside. From the documentation it looks like he needs to be 5-6 inch below it.

 

[Sadie]

I got a reptisun 24" T5 HO terrarium hood which I thought had a 10.0 uvb bulb, but actually came with a 5.0 bulb.

It says to put it outside the screen? I thought when I ordered it that it would go inside. From the documentation it looks like he needs to be 5-6 inch below it.

Depending on the screen will determine placement and distance--- did you change the bulb out? Show me the screen and I will help you get it placed

 

[vjfox7]

Depending on the screen will determine placement and distance--- did you change the bulb out? Show me the screen and I will help you get it placed

This is the screen I have. The problem is that my terrarium is 5ft long x 18in wide x 2ft deep, but the opening is only 22in long. It has a glass piece across the top in the middle, which leaves 22in on each side. So the only way to make a 24in light fit is cross-wise, but I don't feel like it is getting enough light on top of him that way. Right now the temp at top is 97 but he has moved away from it. I guess I can put in a lower watt basking bulb.

Maybe I can remove the glass piece, but it is glued on there. Or I can put the Uvb in the wooden part of the top, which raises it even higher.....

 

[Sadie]

This is the screen I have. The problem is that my terrarium is 5ft long x 18in wide x 2ft deep, but the opening is only 22in long. It has a glass piece across the top in the middle, which leaves 22in on each side. So the only way to make a 24in light fit is cross-wise, but I don't feel like it is getting enough light on top of him that way. Right now the temp at top is 97 but he has moved away from it. I guess I can put in a lower watt basking bulb.

Maybe I can remove the glass piece, but it is glued on there. Or I can put the Uvb in the wooden part of the top, which raises it even higher.....

Leave it on top of screen it is a wide hole and it can sit the way you have it but you need to get a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches -- how long did he sit under the 97 temp? Did you change the 5.0 out for the 10.0 -- it needs to be changed to that bulb for it to be able to sit on top of screen

 

[vjfox7]

Leave it on top of screen it is a wide hole and it can sit the way you have it but you need to get a piece of decor directly under it 8-10 inches -- how long did he sit under the 97 temp? Did you change the 5.0 out for the 10.0 -- it needs to be changed to that bulb for it to be able to sit on top of screen

I need to order the 10.0. I just set it up today and realized it wasn't the right bulb.

 

[Sadie]

I need to order the 10.0. I just set it up today and realized it wasn't the right bulb.

Ok you will need to get the distance to 6-8 inches unobstructed to make it work-- 5.0 bulbs cannot go thru screens and not as strong as the 10.0- they also have a shorter life - 10.0 bulbs need to be changed out in 10 - 11 months-- 5.0 5 months--

 

[vjfox7]

Ok you will need to get the distance to 6-8 inches unobstructed to make it work-- 5.0 bulbs cannot go thru screens and not as strong as the 10.0- they also have a shorter life - 10.0 bulbs need to be changed out in 10 - 11 months-- 5.0 5 months--

I got the 10.0 bulb today and put it in.

 

[Sadie]

I got the 10.0 bulb today and put it in.

Ok so do as I had posted before get the basking decor directly under the UVB 8-10 inches and watch his behavior --

 

[vjfox7]

So he did well for awhile, perked up and seemed to gain more energy. However the last couple months he comes out in the morning and suns himself for a few hours, and then goes back in his hide. I have continued feeding him (he still is not wanting to eat on his own) from 1-4 times weekly, and he is defecating regularly. The lights are on 14hrs daily. I don't know why he continues running back into his hide every day and not continuing to sun himself under the lights.