Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my white collared lizard for about 5 years now and it has always been very healthy and active. However, about 3 weeks ago, it stopped eating and will only drink from a dropper. It has had several episodes of turning upside down and appearing to be dead, but when I spray it with water it "wakes up." It opens its mouth like it is gagging or has something hung in its throat and its belly has a blackish tint and looks like it is bleeding under the skin between its back legs. The temperature seems to be fine, but it's not laying on the heat rock like it used to. It appears very lethargic and weak. I have researched, but have no idea what might be wrong with it. Anybody have any ideas?????

As badly as I wish I had an answer for you or could help in some small way, I have no idea what could be wrong with your guy. It is a good thing however that he drinks from his dropper.
If he is severely dehydrated, you must keep getting water into him.

It sounds very serious though, if he lays on his back and does not move. This is quite abnormal.

When you say you are spaying him, and he moves with his mouth wide open, this just sounds like ( a freaked, lizard , a defense thing)

I think also the blood under skin between back legs is also a big warning of something we can not handle. I would have to say see your vet for answers, and let us all know what he found.

I hope everything will be okay, and sorry there was not something easy to tell you, take care,

Eve

Oddly enough, after I posted this message, the lizard starting getting a little better. I got up several times during the night to make sure he hadn't flipped upside down. He only did one time and when I touched his tail to turn him over, he flipped over on his own, which is a good sign considering I was having turn over myself before. When I got up this morning, I noticed he had "used the bathroom," which he hadn't done in several days. I don't know if pumping water into him all day yesterday had anything to do with this or not. He is still pretty lethargic and I would like to have him seen by a vet, but I'm having a hard time finding one that will see reptiles. I'm starting to think he may have/have had some sort of intestinal blockage?????

If you think he could have a blockage, you can try a warm soak, in shallow warm water,but its hard keeping them in there you can have him in your hand, while soaking.

What kind of substrate do you have in your tank? Could be impacted. Could be having some sort of seizures, many things are a possibility.

** I would make sure he continues to get plenty to drink, because you told me he did not eat for a few weeks. They can go without food, but they have to stay HYDRATED !
So maybe he is severely DEHYDRATED !

Hope he continues to perk up !

Eve

I am sad to say that Desi died this morning. It's funny: he was almost back to normal yesterday - crawling all over the place, laying on his rock, etc. He even ate a little bit. I wasn't sure if he was dead or not at first(since he had been flipping upside down and appearing to be dead for over a week). He wasn't upside down this morning, so I let him lay there for a while, but sure enough he had died. I'm not sure what the normal life span is for collareds, but I had him for around five years.