My bearded dragon is sluggish, not eating, and has a black beard. Is it sick?

Thanks for reaching out about your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons do not hibernate, so concerns would be around being too cold or being sick. It the environmental temperature is correct, a veterinarian should be visited to aid in the diagnosis and treatment. Good luck.

Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Monitor Drogon for difficulty breathing, blowing bubbles, lethargy, or odd sounds while breathing. These are symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. Parasites or URI may cause the condition you are seeing. Bump cage temps up by about 5F for a few days. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte twice daily for 15-20 minutes. Make sure the UVB light source is not older than 6 months and use quality vitamin and mineral supplements. If Drogon gets worse or does not begin eating soon, have him examined by an experienced herp veterinarian.

Check temps in the enclosure first. Low temps can affect digestion which could lead to regurgitation. It can also cause stress resulting in the black beard. Other potential causes include impaction, constipation, overeating (less likely with a decreased appetite) or infection (bacterial, viral, parasites). Survey the area in and around the enclosure for other negative stimuli. Reduce or eliminate if found. Continue soaks in a 50/50 mix of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide supplemental heat and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. Gently massage the abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. If symptoms persist, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Your vet may recommend x-rays to rule out or diagnose impaction, tumors or foreign body.

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specific advices, these signs are quite concerning. A skin rot in his case is on top of differential list and I would recommend immediate check up as antibiotic may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for reaching out about Bonita. Check and correct husbandry including temperature gradient (daily high and lows, warm and cool ends), UVB exposure and diet. Since this has been going on a long time, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide diagnostic/treatment plan. Try offering water and food via a syringe prior to the vet appointment. Intestinal infections or parasites, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), other infections and more are all possible. Good luck.

The black beard Is indeed an indication of stress or anger. It may be due to his new surroundings or something could be wrong in his environment. You can review care and feeding here: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html Confirm proper temps and humidity. Also, provide a hide large enough for him to enter on each side of his enclosure. As long as Boris is at least 16-17 inches long, superworms are fine to feed. Gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. For variety, you can offer appropriately sized crickets, dubia roaches or phoenix worms. Try offering greens in the morning about an hour or two after the heat lamp comes on. He may be hungrier at this time. Once he eats his greens, you can offer prey. Sometimes, a sprinkle of dried mealworms on the greens will stimulate the appetite. Since he is "new" to you, an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions.

Thanks for reaching out about Zeplyn and including photos. The understanding is Petco will buy back with you being able to re-purchase. Check with them. Anorexia is often causes by intestinal parasites or infections, so a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and a diagnostic/treatment plan. Check and correct husbandry including temperature and gradient, UVB exposure, and diet. Good luck.