Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My fierce collared isnt so fierce anymore He dont move much and practically sleep all the time. He,s about 5 or 6 years old. Is that old for a collared ? I cant find precise info on the lifespan of collared. He dont eat at all, impaction may be a cause...I usually feed him on a big flat rock to avoid impaction . If impaction is the case, how to help him ? I call a vet but he dont want to see him, "he's a too small lizard" he feared that he cant help me.

Any hint is appreciated.
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.0 rescued iguana (Gomez)
1.2 Cats

I'm pretty sure he's at a "ripe" age, but I doubt dying. Of course, I'm no expert. My advice: Tell that vet off and go find a specialist. If it's impaction it may require surgery, or medicine? I'm not sure about the latter. The fact that it's winter time, he may be trying to brumate? Eve, Vonnie, or someone along those lines will be able to tell you more, sorry. Good luck!
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Amanda

I tend to second Amanda's sentiments about telling the vet off... Find one that specializes in reptiles (I believe there are several vet reference links even thru this site, or try herpsearch.com and search for herp vets).
Good Luck!

someone thinks i am smart with collared lizards! i don't know to be honored or worried
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

well, i am not sure of life spans either. i know someone on here has a 9 year old collared, though.
what exactly is he doing, just not waking up? does he have spasms in his back legs, or any of his legs? has he used the bathroom in a while? do you think that he could just be trying to hibernate for the winter? i would also recommend trying to find a new vet or at least asking the other vet to help you again.
if it is a mild impaction you can try soaking him in warm water for like 10 minutes. actually below is a link eve gave us one time. it has alot of good information on it. i am pretty sure english is not your first language, i forget where you are from, but if you do not understand anything on the website, please email me and i will help you with it. i hope he is ok

http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections index-req-viewarticle-artid-87-page-1.html
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

I have read that the lifespan in the wild is about 5 years, but that they can live 20 years in captivity. Eve will know and it probably won't be long before she gets a chance to answer you.
That vet sucks, the very least he could have done was check some fecal samples under a microscope for parasites. Hopefully you can find one who sees reptiles. I would go back to basics: Is the temperature right? Is there plenty of UVB light, or are the bulbs too old? How long has this been going on? Was there a change in environment or anything else about the time this started? Was it a gradual change or a quick one? Is the belly hard or the back lumpy? Why do you suspect impaction? Sorry for all the questions, but it will help us help you. Hope your guy gets to feeling better soon.
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Valerie

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.--

God bless the USA

so 5 or 6 is not very old.

1. The first thing I would ask is how long has Ganymede been NOT eating and laying around?

2. And since he has been doing this, has he lost wieght?

3. Any other signs of illness, other than not eating and not active?

Could very well be brumation, does he usually brumate? If so is this the way he acted when he did, can you remember?

Try and answer some of these questions being asked first so we can atleast rule out brumation.

He was just fine in a post of yours about 2 weeks ago.

Get back when ya can with some answers, so we can see!
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Eve / PHEve

First it's a couple of days (maybe even a week or two)since he slow down on food, yes he has lost a little weight. No tremors or anything on his back leg. In fact today i touch him a bit and he almost jump to the roof of his enclosure. He has never brumate before...Can you tell me of an easy way to do it ? I'll read on that.
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.0 rescued iguana (Gomez)
1.2 Cats

It sounds as though that may be what he is doing. This is the season brumation occurs, in the fall or winter.

Your collared will become less active and eat less (or stop eating all together!) Lay around and be inactive, and get you very worried :0)

I would keep an eye on him to make SURE hes okay, If there are no other signs of illness, he may just want to sleep.
Before I would attempt to fully brumate him I would just watch him a few more days to see how he is.

BRUMATION

To brumate, people will let them go for about 7 days with no food. Then turn off the basking light.
In about 10 days after the basking light has been turned off, you can then turn off the UVB light.

I do not know how cold it gets there, I believe quite cold. I leave my guys at room temp, but most people have the temps cooler at about 55. You can allow them to take a rest for anywhere from 4 weeks to a few months.

IMPORTANT **** At any time if your lizard appears to be losing weight while in brumation, STOP!
And do not brumate any longer.

BUT if all is fine, you have to continue to check on them and give them some water a couple times a week, so they do not dehydrate.

When ever you decide the nap is over, if it were 4 weeks or whatever, you them REVERSE the steps, you did before the sleep.

First you turn the UVB light back on, then after a while turn the basking light back on(the heat) and then when he is fully awake and heated you begin to feed him again.

Laurent, I sure hope thats all it is. I have a few that have not eaten in a week or more also. But I make sure they are fine before I brumate also.

Let us know how he is !
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Eve / PHEve

Thats just what he do for a week or so now, he gets up, get on his basking rock, then sleep all day, then back into hiding to sleep more. Let me get this straight.

1- Uvb off
2- Next day heating light off (i can bring him downstairs, it,s about 68f there)
3- Check him daily (what to expect ? will he get out of hiding?)
4- in 4 weeks slowly get him out of brumation by uvb first then second day heat ?

Should i continue to feed him ?

Thx ! you help me greatly
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.0 rescued iguana (Gomez)
1.2 Cats

1. Do not feed for atleast 7 days (he has already done that)

2. Turn off the HEAT, (basking light first)

3. In 10 days after you shut of heat, THEN shut off UVB

He should just sleep, wake him maybe 2 times in a week and offer him water, drip some on his nose with an eyedropper, so if he will lick it.

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Decide how long you would like to brumate him for, I would just try 4 weeks , THEN this is what you do to wake him up slowly

1. Turn on UVB FIRST this time,

2. A week or so later turn on HEAT (basking) He should begin to wake up.

3. Then when hes all heated up offer food

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Yeah you could take him downstairs.

As I said before IF you notice him getting THIN while hes sleeping (brumating) just STOP.

Do you understand now, or would you like me to try again?
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Eve / PHEve

Well...i guess i might have read it a little fast to get it backward, lol. Just to be on the safe side ...i'll print it

I never try to brumate him before so i guess i'm a little nervous.
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.0 rescued iguana (Gomez)
1.2 Cats

I dont like to brumate them, LOL I worry also. But in order to breed you have to brumate. And some lizards just do it on their own, they want to sleep.

Just make sure hes okay other than being sleepy. If hes a good weight, and looks healthy, he should be fine.

Check on him every couple days, and give him some water.

we are always around buddy if you want to ask something, someone here will help!

Good Luck,
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Eve / PHEve

I believe, if kept in prime conditions. A five year old Collared shouldn't be showing old age signs. What about parasites? Thats a crazy vet man. If he thinks a Collared lizard is too small, whats he gonna do when somebody shows up with a pet fly? Some vets just prefer cows.
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon
0.1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 Easten Collared Lizards

Let there be Lizardz
- Scott