Dragons that are subjected to extreme cold temperatures regularly may have difficulty digesting their food.
Bearded dragons (also known as “beardies”), a type of Pogona vitticeps, are becoming the most famous lizards kept in captivity as house pets.
They are popular reptile pets since they are medium in size, have a usually placid disposition, and are relatively easy to care for.
They are usually carnivorous with a strong appetite. A bearded dragon that isn’t eating might be alarming and a sign of a larger health problem. Your bearded dragon mouth open could be a sign.
They, like any pets, can develop health problems as a result of a bad diet or lack of care and husbandry. A lack of appetite is the most prevalent symptom of an unhealthy bearded dragon.
Continue reading for a list of the most common reasons that bearded dragons avoid eating.
Reasons Your Bearded Dragon Is Not Eating
Shedding
Ecdysis is the process through which bearded dragons shed their outer layer as they mature. Their skin turns white and papery, and it peels off in patches as a result of this process.
The frequency and duration of shedding differ considerably based on the bearded dragon’s age.
A large adult’s skin can require up to two weeks to entirely shed. In a day or two, a youngster may be done shedding. As they grow at their fastest, younger dragons can shed once a month, twice a week, or once every two weeks. Only twice a year, older adults may shed.
Try to check if your bearded dragon is about to shed. This is the reason if you observe white papery skin.
Brumation (Semi-dormancy / Lethargy) Takes Place
Generally, bearded dragons’ appetite must be steady. However, they also go through a “brumation” stage in the cold months when room temperature and sunshine hours drop, during which they will eat little or nothing at all.
Brumation is a natural process that continues anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It comparable to hibernation.
They require less light from the sun during this time because they would be hidden in a burrow in the wild. Even though they are not consuming, their weight must not fluctuate during this time, therefore weekly weigh-ins are important. It’s okay to keep doing this during brumation.
Uncomfortable Impaction
Bearded dragons’ impaction is humanlike constipation, hence they will not consume during this time. When an animal’s intestines or gut become clogged with undigested debris, impaction occurs.
This is triggered by an excess of a specific food source in its diet. Such as too many live bugs or nutrition with a poor ratio of bugs to veggies. Impaction can occur as a result of your beardie accidentally consuming substrate that he or she is unable to digest.
Impactions can be pretty unpleasant, so keep an eye on your bearded dragon and take them to the doctor if it doesn’t improve.
Mental Distress
Bearded dragons can indicate their grief by refusing to eat. Consider whether you’ve done anything recently that may have scared out your bearded dragon, like changing its diet. It will recognize and become sad if you stop feeding it a specific vegetable.
Minor adjustments in its environment, such as moving items around or changing the temperature and lighting, might also contribute to a poor appetite. Check your lamp’s efficiency regularly since temperature and illumination are critical to your beardie’s wellbeing.
Large adjustments, such as transferring your tank or washing it thoroughly, can lead your bearded dragon to get stressed and lose its appetite.
If you have more than one dragon in a tank, see if one is becoming more aggressive and bullying the other. Particularly if your male is in heat and becomes hostile with your female. Bearded dragons love solitude, so it’s best to keep them in different enclosures.
Minor adjustments will ultimately be approved by your beardie. But if it keeps on rejecting food, your new system might not be effective or lead to another problem.
Illness
If you’ve eliminated environmental parameters and other evident medical issues, your bearded dragon may be suffering from an ailment that needs a visit to a professional veterinarian.
Collect some of its excrement with a clean plastic spoon and place them in a clean container if possible. Your veterinarian may be able to diagnose your bearded dragon’s ailment using information from its droppings.
What Is The Maximum Time A Bearded Dragon Can Survive Without Eating?
Adult bearded dragons with normal fat store levels could go up to two months without eating! It is, nevertheless, neither acceptable nor advised because it can lead to malnutrition and other problems. Brumating beardies can go for weeks without feeding, but they still require water daily.
Younger bearded dragons should not go without food for lengthy periods as they require a lot of protein and nutrients to grow. You should probably take your young bearded dragon to the vet if it is not eating.
When Is It Time To Visit Your Vet?
Whenever in doubt, consult your bearded dragon’s veterinarian. Several health problems can be treated more easily if they are diagnosed early on. You could also do a detailed check using the checklist above and attentively observe your dragon to rule out any possible causes of its appetite loss.
If there are no apparent signs of distress or injury, such as inflammation, pus, or pale skin, and your beardie’s enclosure is in good condition, you should take him to the veterinarian for a consultation.
Final Words
Your bearded dragon isn’t consuming for a range of factors, many of which are minor and quickly fixed. Your bearded dragon must be alright as long as this behavior does not happen repeatedly or for an extended length of time (over a week).
Simply keep an eye out for the reasons stated above and keep a close eye on your bearded dragon, particularly if it exhibits indications of malnutrition or begins to lose excessive weight.
It could be due to a change in mood or minor tensions like shedding. However, it’s important to detect ailments soon rather than late, so don’t be overly protective. If you have any doubts, speak to your veterinarian.
