To Frilled Dragon keepers:

V.hb · 10-09-04, 06:41 PM

I've noticed seasonal changes in my frilleds every year now. They are approaching 3 years of age, and each year they go off food for long periods of time.

They did have a slight temperature drop a couple weeks back which i've corrected but they're still off feed. They dont look ill at all, in fact they're extremely active and bright eyed. They're just not eating.

Anyone else run into this?

I've got a pair in a 6 tall 3x3 wide/long enclosure with two basking lights (one is a regular 60 watt in a dome, the other is a 90 watt halogen flood) One stays on at nighttime to keep the ambient in the low to mid 70's (the 60 watt) and when the other is on the ambient reaches 80 no problem with sufficient basking spots. They've always got an ample supply of fresh water and I mist them twice daily.

It becomes a bit of a pain when they go off food like this, so just wondering if anyone else has run into any similiar issues.
Thanks!

Frillie · 10-17-04, 09:31 PM

Hey

I have a pair in a 6x4x2 and I rotate the female with a third semi annually...

I have never run into this type of thing...mine are crazy for food all the time.

Well I hope you have a UVA/UVB fluorescent light as well as what you mentioned. If your daylight period is decreasing due to their proximity to a window or decrease on timer this could start a brumation period. Also if the temperature dropped for a relatively long period of time this could have started a brumation as well. When they go into brumation they stop eating long before they cool themselves down which could account for their activity. If they remain active and still refuse to eat it could mean a **** load of things...as long as they retain their body weight it isn't a big deal. If they start to lose a substancial amount of weight and still refuse food then you have a problem. Even if they pick it up later on when they come out of this "stage" it isn't good on their system to be going through drastic changes like that...

Basically the only thing that would account for this lack of eating is some sort of brumation. This could be caused by temp., daylight hours, or even their sense of season. Even if you keep everything constant you can't expect them to behave the same all the time. They can tell through instincts that the seasons are changing.

Keep the conditions constant in their environment and I'm sure there wont be a problem.

P.S. you have any luck breeding so far?

peace

Jamie · 10-18-04, 12:32 AM

Mine never go off food and I have had 6 clutches of eggs the last 2 years with my frilleds. We have had awsome success with breeding these guys with very little change of enviroment.

V.hb · 10-18-04, 01:57 PM

I haven't tried to breed them yet as my initial pair turned out to be males. My pair now definate male and female are the ones off food, I do think its due to a decreased photo period as they are near a window, and it did become cool. They havent lost any weight at all, and they look 100% healthy, so iam gonna rule out parasites although iam going to have a fecal done to be sure.

Thanks for the responses!