Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone my male lizard has stopped feeding for a few weeks now, hes extremely lethargic, eyes closed and doesnt do much. hes very skinny lost alot of weight and he has just been doing very poor. im not sure what to do with him. im feeding him repti-aide solution, so ill see how that goes any help would be great
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

Guy, sorry to hear this. Are your using UVB that is not old? Dusting crickets with calcium/D3? Check him for mites? Look in vent area, feet, any place that looks red/ roughed up scales?

Can be so many things, parasites/ worms lack of calcium absorbtion from lack of D3 makes them lethargic and anorexic, contipated. Any twitching in toes or anywhere? Try and answer some of these questions it helps to try and figure things out.
Also Have to say what I'm supposed to say,,, Have you called your vet? May be a good idea, since we can not see him or knwo exactly whats going on. But I personally woudl make sure he is well hydrated, by droper or needless syringe, I would squirt small amounts of water or electrolytes as far back in his throat as possible, at least 3 - 4 times a day.

Don't wait to long these guys go down quickly when in that condition. I hope he will be okay!
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PHEve / Eve

UVB lamp is new
he doesnt like crikets, only eats worms, dont dust them (maybe i should) black bumps on tail, not sure if they are mites

no toe twitching
his are completely closed, and he just rests.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

UVB lamp is new
he doesnt like crikets, only eats worms, dont dust them (maybe i should) black bumps on tail, not sure if they are mites
no toe twitching
his are completely closed, and he just rests.
update
i gave him an oil bath and his eyes are open, but i noticed hes gasping alot.
i think i will contact my vet, i have not, because i thought i could handle this on my own, but he has gotten worse very fast. no tail fat on him nothing, he was doing fine a month ago eating doing great all the sudden started getting very bad. he has fluid in his eyes as well?
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

Get to the vet ASAP!

Have you checked your temps lately? Do you keep crix in the tank overnight?

whats RI?
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

>>whats RI?
when i said gasping i should have been more specific he doesnt do it alot but occasionally he will gasp, i dont think hes have trouble breathing, i think its something else. all the same ill contact a vet.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

That was thin over winter? I notice that you have three males and two females. Do you have those three males together in one tank? If so, please remove the thin one ASAP, and please consider separating all of the males.

I agree with Eve that a vet visit is definitely warranted. I hope he gets better soon.

yeah he is
hes never been the healthiest lizard.
i didnt brumate him and i think thats why he wasnt eating, so that made it worse, then he started eating again, really well now hes not eating at all, and hes very thin.
i think he was a wild cought and just hasnt adjusted well to captivity. any tips on what i can do right now till i get him to a vet?
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

Do you have all three males together in one tank? If so, please separate them.

You need to try to keep him hydrated, as Eve said. If you want to use the reptiaid, it has electrolytes, but you should make it thin so that he gets more fluids.

RI is respiratory infection. You say he has watery eyes, and that could mean that he has a respiratory infection and needs to be on antibiotics. You also need to make sure your day temp gradient is good, ie, basking and overall. Have you checked your temps lately?

he is alone, i have him in his own tank with lights and everything. no crickets, cuz he doenst eat them, hes all alone.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

And keep him warm. Try to keep his overnight temps in the 80s, and make sure the basking and overall temps are good.

I sure hope he gets better soon. Can you get in to see the vet soon?

i switched out my 100 watt for the 75 watt cuz i thought maybe it was too hot in there for him, to lower the temperature, and i thought the high heat was making him dehydrated. i will continue with the repti aide.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

You have all the same symptoms of the RI my lizard is just getting over, get it to the vet for a course of antibiotics!

Guy you mentioned black bumps on tail/ this guy could have a bacterial infection, or before you get him to vet, do something for me, take a moistened q-tip even take some of the cotton off leaving a more firm tip and rub it over one of the black bumps not hard but... with some pressure, see if it lifts off, may take a couple times if rubbing it. Just try and see if it lifts up.

Before you get him to the Vet you are indeed going to have to hand feed/hydrate as I said to keep his strength up or you will loose him. Remember small amounts but more frequent, be careful not to choke him.
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PHEve / Eve

i took steve to the vet today and he did indeed have a respritory infection. vet gave him anti-biotics, along with an energy booster(similar to the reptiaide except more concentrated) and an iv shot. she told me to keep up with the reptiaide, the respritory infection was caused by stress, and once hes over that (should be better by tuesday) i have to keep up with his feedings. eve do you still want me to swab his tail? if it is a bacterial infection shouldnt the antibiotics take care of that? thanks everyone!!
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

Ya know anytime people have a collared that has his eyes closed and you notice watery or crust or deep breathing, usually you will find that they have a bacterial/resp infection. Yes try doing that on the tail. I'm just curious
And for sure keep this boy by himself. I also would kick up his heat while sick, and keep a low watt heat on him through the night as well while sick. ALSO remember while on antibiotics they can dehydrate even more so. so make sure you get those fluids in him.

Glad ya got him to the Vet, nice going Guy
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PHEve / Eve

Sure hope he's bouncing back , let us know.
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PHEve / Eve

hes doin alright, hes eating his reptiaide quite well, opening his eyes a little too, still lethargic tho, so im not sure if its a slow process for him to recover, or if hes not getting better, but he doing ok. alot more active tho.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky clarice)
1.1 firebelly toads

Glad to hear, I sure hope he will recover quick, it stinks whne they are sick keep us updated on Stevie
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PHEve / Eve