Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 2 year old male beardie has been acting strange lately. He all of a sudden has become almost apathetic. His appetite has slowed largely. He never was the best eater (doesn't eat his greens hardly too), but lately he seems scared of the crickets when it is meal time. He also seems to spend a lot more time just laying down in the sand under his heat light, or just basing. His tail fat has also gone down over the last week or so. I am taking him to the vet on friday, is there anything I can do for him in the meantime?

Personally, sounds like a few things could be going on...

First off, it is getting colder. Depending on where you live and how the temperatures are there, he could be getting ready to brumate. Often times during the winter, despite all we try to do to stop it, beardies brumate and basically sleep for days, weeks, sometimes months on end. They often will wake up for brief moments to maybe snag a quick meal, and then go right back to sleeping.

Also sounds like perhaps your beardie might be a little dehydrated, or possibly have a blockage and a lack of desire to eat. Either way, try soaking him and some warm water when he is awake. Make sure not to fill the water up too much, before you know it your Beardie may fall asleep in the water and try to drown themself (no joke, my beardies fall asleep all the time when I give them warm baths!!).

If your beardie is losing weight, taking him the vet isn't a bad idea at all! Good luck!