Reptile & Amphibian Forums

recently my mali hasn't been eating a lot and he (i'm pretty sure it's a he) just stays in the shoebox I gave him all day. is something wrong or is it just hibernating or something? what should I do?

Mine is doing it too. I'm pretty sure its just that time of year. Double check your temps and if he keeps doing it and starts to lose weight or anything you can take his hide away from him durring the day.
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Former user Gimptafied

mine too. bright lights, temps up to par...all means nothing.lol.
the ones that are used to slowing down are doing it again, I can't stop them.
last year they(my mali's) did it from Nov to early Jan.
i have 2 young microlepis still coming out every day but they slowed down a little, too.
boost up the temps in Jan a little and increase photoperiod.
my egyptian brumated even longer and started coming out more and got more active late February. but he came out almost everyday during winter for a short time,the mali's i would see only once a week.

>>...if he keeps doing it and starts to lose weight or anything you can take his hide away from him durring the day.

Don't take his hide away. Removing a hide will only ADD to any stress. If you suspect something is wrong, take him to a vet.

As suggested, make sure your cage is of appropriate size (4' x 2' is good) with an appropriate temperature gradient, measured with accurate digital or infrared thermometers. Monitor his weight with a gram scale to be sure he doesn't lose more than a couple of grams.

It might just be winter slowdown, but we can't tell with the details you've provided. If you give us more information about his habitat and history, we might be able to help more. Hopefully it's just a normal winter snooze.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
1.1 Collared Lizard (Ripcord and Rorschach)
2.0 Green Anoles (Bowser and Sprocket)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

Obviously if it causes yours to stress and glass dance all day you wouldn't want to take his hide for the whole day. If you have a well adjusted lizard with a simple case of winter sleepy you can give him a wakeup poke and he'll most likely just go about his normal uro day. I give mine until late afteroon. If she hasn't come out for more than 2 days I take her hide. She walks to her spot and basks, then eats and I put the hide back.
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Former user Gimptafied

Mine, too. Comes out every two or 3 days, and eats, but otherwise is snug and cozy in her hide the rest of the time.