Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello:
i have had a pair of chuckwallas for about 4 weeks, and they are hardly eating at all. they will pick at flowers and eat a bit of carrot but will not touch greens or any kind of fruit.

they are noticeably losing weight and the male especially is getting thin and bony through the hips and tail.

i have them in a glass tank 48"x19", with cedar mulch and rocks and bricks. the hot spot is about 95 degrees, the cool side about 75, and about 75 at night with a small black bulb.

i have seen them both drink water from a dish, but they just wont eat.

any suggestions would be helpful.

thanks, wes
-----
'the dragon does not concern himself with the grasshopper.'

Are they wild caught? I live in AZ and keep some wild caught chucks and they really like wax worms (moth-larvae) or super worms. I mix the worms with chopped greens and hibiscus and they pig out. If I just offer greens they will not eat. Also, make sure you have a good UVA and UVB emitting bulb as this will increase their appetite. Your hot spot sounds too cold to me. All my chucks like 110 - 125 degrees for a hot spot. Maybe up the wattage of your bulb to get some more heat. If you can have them outside sometimes for real sunlight that will help as well.

Keep Us Posted,

Geoff

Did ya get those perry Dickersonae all taken care of? Hope so ! And where are you chuck pics? You have a big wc male I love! Eve

I will try to post some action pics of the Dickersonae tonight as I am feeding them superworms after work and they go nuts for them. They are eating great and the female is getting her color back. I had her outside in the Arizona sun for a couple of days to help get her appetite back. We are still hitting the low 100's here. I will also post some pics of my wild caughts out basking on their rock pile in my lizard pen.
-----
Thanks and Take Care,

Geoff Orr