Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Frank is about 9 months old is VERY big and pretty healthy. He recently has become sick though. He hasnt gone to the bathroom is more than a week. I have tried giving him a warm bath but he still didnt go. This all started about the time when i replaced his light bulb which burned out, I put a new "tight beam" bulb in. I dont know what the temperature is now though! Im looking for a thermoter (I know i HAVE to have one around here somewhere...) so I can check.

HE isnt eating much at all either. He got tired of his mealworms and wont eat them, and he wont eat his kale. I had some crickets so I gave him about 40 in two days and he ate all of them (but not NEARLY as excitedly as he used to, he usually eats all 40 in like 5 minutes, but it took him two days to eat 40 this time.)

I would give get a fecal done but the only good vet in my "area" is more than 2 hours away. and I dont have a car.

This is what I plan on doing:
1) test temp
2) (i ordered him some crix online just now) put the cricket tank in the basement so i will be more warm (outside right now, mealworms are in it. Im just gonna have to dump them because no one is eating them)
3) give him some parazap and calcium on crickets
4) give him warm baths

Anything im missing? He hasnt lost very much weight at all really, more wrinkles but nothing drastic. But im sure he lost more weight than is noticeable because there is probably quite a big lump in there. Im thinkin about giving him some mineral oil somehow. good idea? Wanna give me some hints on getting him to go?

thanks

Use a digital thermometer not one of the dial types. Do you ever see him basking in the light?

What are the ambient temps of the tank, not just the basking spot?

I'm thinking if you got a tight beam bulb and there is no other heat source for the tank you may have the basking spot hitting 130 degrees and the rest of the tank at 75 degrees so either he fries or is way too cold.

On the other hand from what I've read 9 mos is not out of the question for brumation. Make sure you accurately check those temps, though.

Good luck!!
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Rob Talkington

I agree, you want to make sure he has adequate temperatures to digest the food you are feeding. What kind of substrate is he on? How big of crickets and how many meal worms did you feed? Excess chitin can cause an impaction. Does he strain like he is trying to defecate, but can't? You can give some cat hairball laxative (Petromalt, laxatone, cat lax, etc) it him to help him pass the material if that is the case. I would give about 0.3 cc orally once a day until he goes. Keep up with the warm water soaks, and make sure your temps are correct.
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Stacey

Puree some carrots or squash and add that to his salads. If he doesn't eat it normaly, I would just rub a little bit on the side of his mouth with a finger. If he does a bluff response, you can carefully rub a bit of carrots on his lower jaw (unless he is likely to bite, then use a spoon or popsicle stick, so your fingers won't get nipped). Usually, once the dragon gets a taste of the pureed carrots, they will eat it on their own. Squash or sweet potato work as well. The main point is they have a high water content and can help re-hydrate your dragon.

Give him warm baths a few times a day and mist him. Check those temperature as well. You can buy a decent digital thermometer with probe at Wal-Mart or Home Depot for under $10.

I would stop feeding him mealworms altogether, they are better at the most, as an ocaisonal treat (maybe 1-3 at a time every month or so). Crickets are alright as a stable insect food but there are better things out there, such as silkworms (high water, soft skin, high calcium and protein), butterworms (even higher calcium and protien than silkworms, same soft skin), several types of cockroaches (hissing, lobster, deaths head and others).