Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my bearded dragon does not want to become active. He just wants to lie around in his same spot that he spent burmating. If I put him under his light he'll go right back to his spot that he was lying in with the squinty eye look on. I can usally get him to eat some crickets (maybe 7 or 8 juicy ones) and nothing else but latly he does want them. I order some silkworms at the pet store and he doesn't like them, I think the feet of them bother him where they are real hairy he just spits them out. I haven't been able to feed him any veggies in about two weeks and even than it was like a bite every four days, when he was young in August and Spetember he ate veggies like crazy. He is fine looking except for some noticeble dehydration. His skin is wrinkly on his back a bit. I am suspecting parasite action but don't understand how or if he could have this problem. Any help would be very apprectated.

ps. If I left some ifo out you want I will reply with it.
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Lizard Smoke

Deffinitely double check your basking temps and cage temps with a digital thermometer with probe. Make sure the daylight time is at least 12 hours with 14 being best when you are not brumating him. Take him out of the cage and give him a nice lukewarm bath (about 70-75F water temp) so he can drink and rehydrate.

Offer him some gateraid or the Exo Terra electrolite drops to help with the effects of dehydration. Once he is well hydrated this may get his appetite back. If he is still lethargic, remains hiding and all his cage temperatures are fine and the lighting is fine (too hot may be why he's hiding, or too cold and he thinks its still brumation time), take him to a quality reptile vet. They can check im over to see if he has any problems explaining why he is lethargic or not basking as normal. If possible, when you go to the vet, bring a fresh poop sample as well, for a fecal (you can refrigerate the poop till you are ready to take your dragon to the vet, if he isn't pooping daily right now).
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PHLdyPayne

ok kool, i'm going to go to walmart to buy a digi themo tonite, but i won't be able to get to the vet when I want or right when he poops. So how long can I put the poo in the fridge for before it is un-testable?? also I just changed his uvb light today since it was awhile since it was changed last. I think his basking might be alittle too hot rather than too cold cause he is lying under the log which is on the basking side.If it is I will correct it. I actually did get himtoeat some butternut squash, and about 1 hour ago I got him to eat like 10 of those exo-terra canned silkworm pupae I picked up. It surprised me that he like them too. Oh ya I also always put the exo-terra clacimize and electrolize in the water dish but he never drinks it.
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Lizard Smoke

Not sure how long poop is in the fridge but a week should be fine. If you like, call your vet and ask how long you can store a stool sample in the fridge. Another thing you can ask, is if you can just drop off the stool sample while it's fresh. Some vets will allow this without seeing the actual dragon. I did this no problem when I brought a fecal in for my dragon. She was in good health but wanted to make sure everything was fine with her. They let me drop it off at reception, took my name, name of the dragon and some other basic info and did the lab work. If they do find parasites, the vet will want to see the dragon to get proper weights for dosage etc..

I am not sure those exo-terra canned silkworms are the best, other than an occaisonal treat. If your dragon seems keen on eating them though, try offering live silkworms. The worms have the extra benefit of having a high content of water, thus more filling without whatever chemicals and preservatives added to freeze dry them. Also I don't think the pupa is the best part to feed. The pupae has a tougher skin and this may not be as digestable as the normally very soft skin of the catapiller itself. As an added note, silkworms are very easy to keep and breed yourself, so you can cut down the costs of buying them. Eggs can be stored in teh fridge for up to a year or more, and you can bring out just a few eggs every other week so you have a constant supply (it's good to stagger them, as the silkworms will take 4 weeks or so to get to full size, plus up to 10 days to hatch)
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PHLdyPayne

ok great thanx for the info, you are a very helpful person. I am just going to wait for my beardie to poop so i can take it to the vet. I mesuaed his basking spot and it seemed normal 98f. Just have to wait for him to do his business so I can do mine.
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Lizard Smoke