Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pastel bearded that is about 3 months old. I have had him for 3 weeks. He's in a 40 gallon breeder with a 24 inch uvb lamp. His basking spot is a log that ranges from about 98 at the bottom and 108 at the top. He had been eating around 40 crickets a day, dusted with calcium one feeding per day, with the occassional wax worm, and he'll pick at veggies.

About 4 days ago he started shedding. I put him in a warm bath a couple times since, and he'll lay in his water dish and then I mist the top of him when he does that. But he has not eaten hardly a thing, veggies or crickets, in those 4 days. He's alert and interactive, he's still pooing almost daily, and he appears fine otherwise (no discharge from eyes, nose, no bumps etc)

I have read that during shedding their appetite wanes. How long does this last, however? If I hold a cricket, he'll lick at it once or twice, but he won't take it. He doesn't seem to be quite done shedding, his legs are still a bit white and he had a few flakes on his head yesterday.

I'm just so used to him eating well, and regularly, that I'm started to get worried about his not eating, even though he seems otherwise healthy.

Also, I have noticed that since I started feeding the crickets some of that fluker's cricket food (orange moist cubes sold in a jar) that that correlates with his appetite decrease. I did try feeding him crickets that had had fruit instead of that, but it did not make a difference.

Tips? Suggestions?

I too have read that they eat less when shedding. But, have never experienced it. Not much help. Huh?

Well, I feel that you should get a fecal done at least once a year. Twice is better. So I'd do that just to be on the safe side.

I'm also an avid believer in weighing my Dragons. It's really the best way to monitor their health. When there're sick they loose weight rapidly. By the way how big is he? Length or weight?

Out of 3, two are down for the winter. One stopped eating completely on Nov. 5th. I woke her yesterday for a bath and to make sure she was OK(could'nt take it any longer) after drinking water she actually weighed 1 gram more than the last time I weighed her. So I felt relieved and she went back to sheeping in her spot. Tried to feed her but she had no interest.

The one of mine that is still awake is very sporatic about eating this time of year. Keep in mind that in the wild they breed in the spring/summer and then Brumate in the winter. If yours is 3 months old then it was born in October and just may be feeling the need to slow down now even though he is still small.

Personally, I'd get the fecal done and wait and see what happens. A scale would be great to see if his reduced eating is causing him to loose weight or not. Hope this helps.

That would make sense, since I do live in ND, and maybe winter time is obvious to him. hehe.
He is about 7 inches, I would have to measure to be sure though. I will weigh him tonight and check on the fecal. Thank you.

I'd raise your temps a little bit. At 7" I'd get closer to 115 at the top of the log. This will increase his metabolism and may make him more hungry.

Also you have a 40 gal breeder you said. That's 36 x 18 x 18 High. I don't know what UVB you are using but it probably needs to be within 12" of at least the basking spot. I use Zoomed Reptisun 10.0 which can be as far as 20" since my tanks are 17" High.