Old Guy Not Eating

[PastelBeardie]

When Jayden turned 12 years old in August of 2023, I said I'd be back to post more pictures when he turned 13 but never did. He's 13 1/2 now, and I'm concerned. He was taking crickets from my hands, but then he sort of wasn't all that interested any more. He won't eat his bugs or salads (he almost never eats his salad, but I put one in there every other day anyway), and today it took me a good 5 minutes to get him to take a dubia. The fat pads on his head are pretty much gone.

His heat bulb died two weeks ago so I replaced it. Today he got a new UVB bulb and a beardie bath. I'm hoping that helps, but I am concerned. What do you think? Here are a few pictures taken today. He black beards more than he used to.

 

[Sadie]

When Jayden turned 12 years old in August of 2023, I said I'd be back to post more pictures when he turned 13 but never did. He's 13 1/2 now, and I'm concerned. He was taking crickets from my hands, but then he sort of wasn't all that interested any more. He won't eat his bugs or salads (he almost never eats his salad, but I put one in there every other day anyway), and today it took me a good 5 minutes to get him to take a dubia. The fat pads on his head are pretty much gone.

His heat bulb died two weeks ago so I replaced it. Today he got a new UVB bulb and a beardie bath. I'm hoping that helps, but I am concerned. What do you think? Here are a few pictures taken today. He black beards more than he used to.


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He looks dehydrated how does he get water? Him being over 13 you have taken good care of him -- dragons will not eat if they are dehydrated -- please give him some water and let me know how that goes - we may haft to get some advice from Tracie shes the vet tech on the forum

 

[PastelBeardie]

He looks dehydrated how does he get water? Him being over 13 you have taken good care of him -- dragons will not eat if they are dehydrated -- please give him some water and let me know how that goes - we may haft to get some advice from Tracie shes the vet tech on the forum

He gets beardie baths for hydration and he had one today, but I can give him another one tomorrow and the following day and see how he does. Thanks.

Maybe with more hydration and a new UVB bulb he will perk up, I hope.

 

[Sadie]

He gets beardie baths for hydration and he had one today, but I can give him another one tomorrow and the following day and see how he does. Thanks.

Maybe with more hydration and a new UVB bulb he will perk up, I hope.

Ok wait a day or two for another bath too many will dry the scales out- did he drink out of the bath today - how old was the uvb? Do you have it properly placed for your screen on the tank - it will make a difference here

 

[PastelBeardie]

Ok wait a day or two for another bath too many will dry the scales out- did he drink out of the bath today - how old was the uvb? Do you have it properly placed for your screen on the tank - it will make a difference here

I'm not sure how old the UVB light was. It was over a year old, and that's the longest I've ever gone without changing the UVB bulb. (I know, I was bad.) I use the Reptisun 10 tube UVB lights. It is in the same place it's always been, with his basking spot right underneath it. I don't know if he drank or not, but he was in there for about 20 or 25 minutes.

 

[Sadie]

I'm not sure how old the UVB light was. It was over a year old, and that's the longest I've ever gone without changing the UVB bulb. (I know, I was bad.) I use the Reptisun 10 tube UVB lights. It is in the same place it's always been, with his basking spot right underneath it. I don't know if he drank or not, but he was in there for about 20 or 25 minutes.

Ok so the UVB could of been the not eating -- see how he does in the next week - the UVB should be changed out in 10 - 11 months from install -- they wont eat w/ out UVB-- unless you have a solar meter to get the UVI rays I would change your UVB out in those months I posted

 

[PastelBeardie]

Ok so the UVB could of been the not eating -- see how he does in the next week - the UVB should be changed out in 10 - 11 months from install -- they wont eat w/ out UVB-- unless you have a solar meter to get the UVI rays I would change your UVB out in those months I posted

Thanks, I will.

 

[nancie Cihlar]

He looks dehydrated how does he get water? Him being over 13 you have taken good care of him -- dragons will not eat if they are dehydrated -- please give him some water and let me know how that goes - we may haft to get some advice from Tracie shes the vet tech on the forum

My Lyny lived to 16yrs. Good luck!!

 

[PastelBeardie]

Well, he just had another beardie bath, and let out the biggest, how-did-that-all-fit-into-one-beardie poop I think I've ever seen. His fat pads on his head are looking better, and he took a dubia from me. He seems better.

 

[PastelBeardie]

A further update--he ate crickets the other day and has been getting beardie baths every other day, and I thought he was doing better, but this morning when I walked past his viv he was upside down next to his basking log. At first I thought he was gone, but then I saw his eye move. I put him back on the basking log and jammed it so that it can't roll. Sometimes it does roll, but he always just gets back on it. I'm hoping his age isn't catching up to him.

 

[Sadie]

A further update--he ate crickets the other day and has been getting beardie baths every other day, and I thought he was doing better, but this morning when I walked past his viv he was upside down next to his basking log. At first I thought he was gone, but then I saw his eye move. I put him back on the basking log and jammed it so that it can't roll. Sometimes it does roll, but he always just gets back on it. I'm hoping his age isn't catching up to him.

Ok please only one bath a week - the upside down is not good - they cannot breathe - I would get rid of the log if its rolling you dont want to take a chance of it happening again -

 

[PastelBeardie]

I need to clarify. His basking log has always rolled a little, and he adjusts his weight to stay on top, and gets back on top if he needs to. It does not roll around the viv, and I just jammed it with a ceramic decoration so it can't even do that. He is currently on top of it basking but is not at 100%.

 

[Sadie]

I need to clarify. His basking log has always rolled a little, and he adjusts his weight to stay on top, and gets back on top if he needs to. It does not roll around the viv, and I just jammed it with a ceramic decoration so it can't even do that. He is currently on top of it basking but is not at 100%.

I would keep an eye on it

 

[PastelBeardie]

I would keep an eye on it

I plan to do that. Thanks.

 

[PastelBeardie]

The not wanting to eat pretty much kicked off several weeks ago, when we had a storm and a power outage. The power was out all afternoon and most of the night. I got the backup propane heater going and it didn't get that bad at my house, but the viv got down to about 62 or 63 degrees. When it came back on, the heat bulb not longer worked and I replaced that. I keep a few extra bulbs in the house for when they stop working.

 

[Sadie]

The not wanting to eat pretty much kicked off several weeks ago, when we had a storm and a power outage. The power was out all afternoon and most of the night. I got the backup propane heater going and it didn't get that bad at my house, but the viv got down to about 62 or 63 degrees. When it came back on, the heat bulb not longer worked and I replaced that. I keep a few extra bulbs in the house for when they stop working.

Has his appetite picked back up and is he eating at all? Its that time of year when they slow down due to the weather - some are in brumation now

 

[PastelBeardie]

Has his appetite picked back up and is he eating at all? Its that time of year when they slow down due to the weather - some are in brumation now

Yes, he ate 20 crickets the other day and made a mess of his salad, but it doesn't look like he ate any of it, maybe a super worm. I put super worms in his salads.

 

[PastelBeardie]

He slid off his log and is hanging on to the side of it, head up and tail down. My last beardie did that sort of stuff in his last days, which makes me worry. He will be 14 in August if he makes it until then. He's black bearding and his mouth is open.

 

[PastelBeardie]

He just took a dub from me.

 

[Sadie]

He slid off his log and is hanging on to the side of it, head up and tail down. My last beardie did that sort of stuff in his last days, which makes me worry. He will be 14 in August if he makes it until then. He's black bearding and his mouth is open.

He has lived a long life - so you did good a job taking care of him -- the black beard is not good - makes me think hes not feeling well -