Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,

I have been noticing lately that my 4 month old (8" bearded has been eating less and less of his crickets and it's starting to show .. I've use to see him eat almost 20 at once.. But now he's down to 3 or 4 and then looses interest in them and wants out of the cage immediately.. And he still refuses to eat any veggies even when tricked.

Nothing has changed in:
Temp (105-112)
Humidity (low)
hours of light(15-16)
feeding technique (still fed in a separate tank)
I handle and bathe him daily (always baths within 2 days)

I know he's not dehydrated because his skin still retains it's tension when pulled (slightly)..

I'm wondering if he has something goin on inside him like worms or a virus because of his cricket diet?? If so what Product should I pick up to clean his system out ??

Any help on this subject would be appreciated...

I would #1 get a feacl done a the vet. Parazap is a great product for getting rid of unwanted bugs in the belly. After 5 days of treatment, if it is parasites, he should start eating good again.
Also is he going into shed? Sometimes dragons start loseing their appetite when they go into shed.
Are the stools runny or unusually slimy wet? That's a good sign of parasites.
Hope this helps.

Robert

his stool is still normal by might need a fecal by a vet..

What's this ParaZap ?? seems only available online.. what other products would be available through a local reptile retail place ??

And I do know I have seen him eat less when shedding .. But he's not sheddin at this point and just looks a lil thinner than usual in the last few days..

Note: I was told by a worker at a local reptile breeder in RI (where I buy crickets) that it could just be a winter seasonal thing.. since he still eats but just not as much.. But I don't think he would be fully Bruminating since he's a baby.

Parazap should be available at any pet store. I know that there is opnly one here in Tulsa that doesn't carry it. Even if you have to order it you can get overnight shipping. Try beardiecrazy.com. Tracey has it for sale and can give you overnight on it.

Robert

I don't know of anything other than parazap that you could get online or at a store. I really would recommend getting a fecal done on him though. I would go ahead and purchase some parazap and keep it around though. I had a hard time with my youngest beardie and I took him to the vet three times and they kept saying that he was fine and so meanwhile I was giving him parazap because I had a bad feeling. At this point he was down to .8 ounces and how he lived I do not know. Anyway he slowly started eating and I took him in again and told the vet that I wasn't taking him home until he checked him again and surprise they found three types of parasites. If it weren't for parazap getting him to eat a little bit I think he would have died before the vet diagnosed anything. Since then I of course have changed vets but I have a stash of parazap at home in case. He might be adjusting to winter or feeling some stress for some reason but fecals are pretty inexpensive. My new vet does them for 7-10 dollars. Better safe than sorry.