Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My dragon has not been eating at all, but after lowering the basking light to within 4 inches of the basking area, and placing him there plus bathing him (he poops regularly). He is starting to slowly get his appetite back.

Yesterday, he voluntarily snap up a large supermealworm. Today, I handfed him...well sort of, had to push the superworm against his lips to make him open his mouth to much it. He ate about 4 to 5 large superworms in this manner...accidentally chomped on my finger too..ouch.. Still not eating his greens. He's lost a bit of weight and I will continue handfeeding him til he's a good weight.

Some details: He has a UVB tube and basking light. He's an orange trans abt 13.5 inches, weigh abt 117grams..ya very light...he's given a dish of veg everyday which he does'nt touch at all. Other then that, he's alert and lively.

Has he been tested for parasites? What are his temps (basking, hot & cool sides.) You mention his length and weight, but what is his age? Maybe he's trying to brumate? What are you using for UV light and heat (need specific types of bulbs, and watts, please.)
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0.1 American Bulldog - Maui
0.1 Shiba Inu - Mako
1.0 American Pit Bull Terrier - Magnum TT, CGC, TDI
2.0 White DSH Cats - Lucaya (Luke) & Fiji
1.0 Sunrise Corn Snake - Sunny Tequila
1.0 Orange Bearded Dragon - Orin
1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko - Ed
0.1 Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink - Zambuka
0.1 Spider ball python - Arana
0.3 Pastel ball python - Dia & Gembi & Sally (this name subject to change)
0.1 Normal ball python - Malia
0.1 Hypo boa - Cobra (she's mean)
1.0 Albino boa - Willie
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - unnamed

something i have noticed with our dragons
and that is as soon as the weather begins to change
and it starts getting cold outside the dragons seem to notice
and start slowing down there eating and arent active as normal.
this is when we start brumating the dragons we want to during the winter,it is a graduale process.
it is possible that your dragon is doing the same.
just my thoughts
Randy

Its been pouring rain ... I do think the weather's wreakimng havoc. I live in a tropical climate but we all know how messed up the weather has been...15% in Bangkok...almost freezing in Chiangmai

Since you lowered your basking spot light you mentioned he was more inclined to eat. THis is a good indication your basking temp is probably not hot enough or overall ambient temperatures.

First thing I recommend is getting a digital thermometer with probe (if you don't already have one) and measure the temperatures on the basking spot, the floor near the basking spot and the cool end. Also, measure the ambient temperature (just dangle the probe roughly mid point over the warm end of the cage) at both ends of the cage and record these temperatures.

Ambient temperatures in the warm end should be 80-90F with basking temps at lest 95F with higher temps as the dragon progresses to higher points on the basking area (thus a range of 95F-120F). The cool end of the cage should have ambient temperatures of 70-80F or room temperature as long as it doesn't drop below 65F at night.

4" from the basking spot for the basking light is rather too close..better to raise it back to at least 6" and increase wattage of the bulb. What concerns me with the basking bulb being so close is that a dragon has a much higher chance of getting into contact with the hot bulb and burning himself)

To further help you find out why your dragon his not eating well, please provide all the information you can, as suggested by other posters. The more information we have of your current setup and history of your dragon, the better we can pinpoint why he isn't eating.
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PHLdyPayne