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I inherited a desert horned lizard (platyrhinos) 4 days ago. His previous owner had him for about 3 months, and fed him only 2 millworms every 2 days no ants no crickets nothing but millworms. he came from the wild. When I first got him he had to live with a BD for 1 1/2 days, I think this really stressed him. his tank set up is 105 hot 80-85 cold, lighting 3%UVB 7%UVA, with a infrared heat lamp 75W, 25ft long tank, sand. I have offered him small crickets, ants, and mill worms. He has eaten nothing for 4 days. last night I gave him a warm bath he was very mellow, he didn't fight maybe he is to weak to fight? this morning when I turned on his light he was streaching out his back legs almost as if he was trying to poo. HOW LONG CAN HE GO WITHOUT EATING OR DRINKING? IS HE TRYING TO HIBERNATE? IS HE GETTING READY TO SHEAD?(NO SIGNS OF SHEADING). This is my second HL, had the 1st one for 9 months he was normal till I pulled an ant stinger out of his head. It was all downhill from there. I really want him to pull through this, he is so cute. I WELCOME ALL SUGESTIONS. THANK YOU........

HE IS NOT BREATHING FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN TAKING BIG BREATHS IS HE CONSTIPATED OR SICK FROM A PARASITE OR SOMETHING?

Force feeding is a stressful thing to a horned lizard and also is a last ditch effort, I would not reccomend it. Please post a picture so we can see what he looks like. Its hard to give advice, by the way dealing with sick horned lizards is a hit and miss proposition at best unless your a veternarian of which I am not. So what ever advice any of us give on the forum does not apply to someone elses horned lizard. Only the person we worked with step by step trying to figure out the best and least stressfull path to take. So it is hard to give advice, and as I stated before when a horned lizard does get sick they are very hard to turn around. What your describing sounds like some sort of respritory issue but I have also seen animals with Parasites have these smae type actions as well.
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

It sounds like this lizard is stressed from a respiratory issue of some kind, as stated in the previous post. It is important that this lizard be seen by a qualified reptile veterinarian. A good reference for finding a reptile vet in your area is the ARAV site (www.arav.com). As to your question of whether or not it is a good idea to force feed a horned lizard, it depends on who is performing the force feeding. A veterinarian, yes, an amateur hobbyist, probably not, especially since Phrynosoma have a very delicate feeding apparatus (tongue, esophagus, etc.). What is likely more important at this point is fluids and an antibiotic to correct the respiratory issues this lizard is experiencing. If your goal is to help this lizard, a visit to a reptile vet is definitely in order.

This as you said is probgably a respiritory issue, however I have also seen horned lizards with a serious parasite infection do the same thing. Without a picture to see the condition of the animal it is hard to give sound advice. I probably would recommend a vet with has experience with reptiles in order to deal with the situation.....The fact of the matter is after a certian point in time there is little chance of turning them around.......I have done it both ways with a vet and without pulling on the knowlege of collective friends and have come up empty in trying to save a horned lizard.......Cheers! Have you had much luck at turning around sick horned lizards? If so I would like to find out what you did in those circumstances....Thanks!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

thanks everyone for all your advice. Itook him to get some sun this morning and he died

I'm sorry for your loss---
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]