Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been having a hard time getting my ant orders...and he won't eat them unless they area alive. He's looking very lethargic and I'm worried about him. He's also had since I got him, a white powdery substance around his nostrils. I got pin head crickets( which might be a little small for him) and I haven't noticed him showing any interest in them. I have also noticed he seems to like to soak in his water bowl which sometimes gets quite cold, and I thought that was kinda strange being that he's a desert liz. and would seem that he would enjoy the heat more.

The white stuff is salt on the nose and is part of them expelling salts from the body and is commonly observed nothing to be worried about, do feed him some crickets, ants should be avaialble soon, also might try wax worms as well. Don't know what temps you have but sometimes lizards do soak, but if he is getting weak this would ocnern me, get some food in him as soon as possible.........
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www.phrynosoma.org

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

I have one suggestion on the water bowl. Make sure it is close enough to the basking light that it gets some warmth from it. HLs do love water, even though they are desert animals and also like the sun. Not all HLs will do this, but it is a good sign that he is soaking in the bowl.
Ants are critical and need to be provided. You didn't say what species of HL you have. This can be important to know regarding what kind of ants he might be more attracted to. Also, if you can get him some good sunlight that might help increase his appetite.
If you can let me know the species I can give you a little more info on the type of ant you might have the most luck with and may even be able to provide some. They are just starting to become active here so I am able to gather them in small numbers right now.
Let me know if I can help.
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www.phrynosoma.org

Phrynosoma platyrhinos...I read about them on the link you gave me...I would like to know more about the vegetation he may be able to eat if you see anything on that any where else, that would be cool...but I gave him some wax worms yesterday after work and he seems to be perkier, but I'm thinking his basking area might not be warm enough. I have a heat light on his cage and right now he's in about a 5 gal (I think)....

He really is going to need a much larger tank than that. Aside from it being just too small for the animal, if you get the right lighting set up he will roast as the heat will not dissipate well in that small of an enclosure.
His long term chances at life are slim in that kind of arrangement.
Sorry to bear that bad news but thats the way it is.
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www.phrynosoma.org

the enclosure was not intended for long term living...ive been waiting on a custom built one for him and my other reptiles...but thanks for your help.

Very cool! YW.
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www.phrynosoma.org