Hi!
For the last couple of weeks, my Bearded Dragon's appetite has been decreasing gradually.
It started in a very subtle form but in the last 3-4 days it has reached a minimum where he doesn't eat anything unless I trick him to eat.
In these last 4 days he just don't get up in the morning and if I pick him up and place him in the basking spot, he after a while returns to "bed". He's not sleeping, he's just there laying down.

I've been reviewing any possible changes to his routine and apart from 1 more hour of day since last weekend and the "reptile room" is now a little darker (because I've placed a reflector in a long fluorescent tube that was lighting my gecko enclosures) there was no other significant change.
But anyway, in the last week I've tried a couple of things like pumping the medium temperature a bit up and down (nothing much, just 1º C), adding more light to the room and then to his enclosure, sun baths, etc... In the last 4 days I even tried to give him just meallies and waxies but he doesn't even touch them.

I found it hard to believe that a brumation is coming, he's just one year old and it's the wrong time of year so I'm wondering if it can be internal parasites.
Don't really know how reliable are the claims that crickets can transmit them but I see no other option than that.

What do you think?

Thanks!!
Ricardo

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

It could be parasites, you may want to get him to the vet, and are you sure its a him?

Crickets can transmit parasites, best thing to do is to get a fecal sample to the vet and have it checked. I have a female that is lazy and sleeps alot, but she eats great, lol...so I'm not sure whats going on with your guy, never hurts to get testing done to be safe.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Friday I thought of that when he pooped but labs are closed in the weekend and the herp vet is not working also.
And since he hasn't eat in the last few days, I doubt I can collect a sample to test.

Savannah, yes I'm sure. Is this a female sign of something? He had his first sperm plug a few days ago so I guess he must be going through some disturbing hormonal process but that alone doesn't seem to justify it.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

I was thinking if he was a female it could have something to do with being gravid, but I dont know alot about Bearded Dragons

I ended up force feeding him so that tomorrow I can send a sample to the lab.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

Good call, i woulda done the same proly lol

Ok, I got the result a couple of hours ago and it's negative, no parasites found.
I've a mixed feeling, a part of me says "Yay! No parasites!" and another says "Oh, no! Then what can it be?".

I have a vet appointment Thursday morning. Due to the negative results and considering I've never been to the vet before, what can I expect from the vet? Blood exams for example?

Any suggestions to increase his appetite again, a pinkie for example? Anything else?

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

well Im glad its not parasites, but now Im stumped. Try wax worms, butter worms and pinks, good luck!