anyone with frilled dragon exp, help needed.

[V.hb]

Over the past month or so my male frilled has slowed eating down incredibly fast. He still appears alert. bashful as always.. Was feeding on crickets and mealworms (supplemented when needed)


I've got all his temps up to par, everything is good. He hasnt been exposed to anything, or any new arrivals. He's in with my female. Both of them are approaching maturity, she eats like a champ he doesnt. Even seperated he slowed down. It's odd.

Just wondering if anyone else has seen this happen in this species. Thanks

the only thing i can think of is over the winter (being cold) i left them on a 24 hour photoperiod since it was a rough winter.. just tried to keep them warm. Since the warm weather is here, i ve turned off the lights. so now, its a 12/12 schedule. nitetime temps no lower then 75.

[geckoguy157]

i think iguanalady has frilled dragon's but i am not 100% sure if thats amanda frenrick's name on here then she does so she would probably be able to answer your questions

[ectotherm]

I'll confess that I have no experience with frilleds, but have kept water dragons (another agamid) for years. Can only relate my latest experience - which was an apparently healthy 4.5 yr. old male had decreasing appetite, to the point of taking no food voluntarily. The problem was not discovered until my vet performed a full blood profile which revealed severe kidney disease. I'm still wondering where I went wrong, or what I could have done better.

Certainly not saying this is the case with your fd - but if he continues to reject food, a vet visit is in order.

I know nothing about your husbandry routine, so I'll throw out the usual steps for remedy:
Hydration (I used rubbermaids for soaking for long periods)
basking temps
temp gradients in enclosure
change up diet: try nightcrawlers, waxworms, superworms, perhaps roaches if available or even a pink if it will turn him back on to eating.
If all is unsuccessful, head to the vet with a fresh fecal to rule out parasites/bacterial infection.

Hope others have more specific information to offer you - and hope your frilly starts eating like a pig soon.

[V.hb]

Thanks for the pointers. It's really odd. Hes been fed mostly mealworms and crickets, and now hes at the point where he just doesnt touch either.


Not sure where a kidney disease would come from, I know alot of fatty foods can cause this, but gutloaded mealworms and crickets are not going to do that. I know people who feed pinkies to their agamids on a regular basis usually run into trouble. who knows?