L
LadyJ
Guest
Hello everyone, just wondering if I should be concerned over my blotchies behaviour.
For the past few weeks or so he (Arby) has been acting a little differently to normal - he seems to have slowed down a lot, becoming lethargic and barely coming out from his hide (at least from what I can gather, I'm not home during school hours), he's not eating and has gone from reduced food intake to none, he seems fixated and glassed over with his stare... looking blankly into nothing and becoming none responsive and he also seems to have his mouth constantly somewhat open (not gaping, this is only very very slightly open) and 'licks his lips'. From when I've had him I've noticed a small blemish on the scales around his mouth, near that back of the mouth (could this be stomatitis [mouth rot]?) He also seems to carry himself differently... dragging more than usual and has a very subtle jerkiness or sorts when raising or moving his head.
I'm not sure what to think...I truly adore this reptile and miss the days I would see him enjoying his enclosure and moving around quite happily, coming out to readily bask and eat.
On to husbandry, he's housed in a 3ft enclosure, has two hides (one at the warmer end [terrocotta pipe to absorb heat] and one at the cooler end [natural bark hide]), readily available water, large basking rock, kept at a temperature of 25 degrees on the warmer side and 18-20 on the cooler and has a UV-B light. All lights are turned off at night. The substrate is high-quality, short fake grass and his enclosure is disinfected every few days with a weak (1:10) bleach solution before thoroughly cleaned again with warm water.
He's fed on a diet of grated carrot, chopped apple, chopped brocilli, green salads and mealworms (fed sparingly), snails and premium dog-food.
I'm not sure whether to take him to the vet or whether he's trying to enter brumation or something else I've missed as a first-time blue tongue keeper.
If suggested to take him to the vet, can anyone suggest a vet in Victoria?
Thank you in advance, I would love any suggestions and I'm open to anything.
:|
EDIT: I'm not sure how old this boy is, but I've had him for only a few months now. I purchased him from the Trading Post from a man selling it on behalf of his young cousin who decided it had lost its novelty... he was housed in a small fish tank with no heat, just a burning hot heat-rock (burnt my hand at the touch) and no hides with mulch chips as the substate. Call him a rescue of sorts... he was very small when I recieved him but has grown much larger and seemed to have 'fill-out' since I got him.
For the past few weeks or so he (Arby) has been acting a little differently to normal - he seems to have slowed down a lot, becoming lethargic and barely coming out from his hide (at least from what I can gather, I'm not home during school hours), he's not eating and has gone from reduced food intake to none, he seems fixated and glassed over with his stare... looking blankly into nothing and becoming none responsive and he also seems to have his mouth constantly somewhat open (not gaping, this is only very very slightly open) and 'licks his lips'. From when I've had him I've noticed a small blemish on the scales around his mouth, near that back of the mouth (could this be stomatitis [mouth rot]?) He also seems to carry himself differently... dragging more than usual and has a very subtle jerkiness or sorts when raising or moving his head.
I'm not sure what to think...I truly adore this reptile and miss the days I would see him enjoying his enclosure and moving around quite happily, coming out to readily bask and eat.
On to husbandry, he's housed in a 3ft enclosure, has two hides (one at the warmer end [terrocotta pipe to absorb heat] and one at the cooler end [natural bark hide]), readily available water, large basking rock, kept at a temperature of 25 degrees on the warmer side and 18-20 on the cooler and has a UV-B light. All lights are turned off at night. The substrate is high-quality, short fake grass and his enclosure is disinfected every few days with a weak (1:10) bleach solution before thoroughly cleaned again with warm water.
He's fed on a diet of grated carrot, chopped apple, chopped brocilli, green salads and mealworms (fed sparingly), snails and premium dog-food.
I'm not sure whether to take him to the vet or whether he's trying to enter brumation or something else I've missed as a first-time blue tongue keeper.
If suggested to take him to the vet, can anyone suggest a vet in Victoria?
Thank you in advance, I would love any suggestions and I'm open to anything.
:|
EDIT: I'm not sure how old this boy is, but I've had him for only a few months now. I purchased him from the Trading Post from a man selling it on behalf of his young cousin who decided it had lost its novelty... he was housed in a small fish tank with no heat, just a burning hot heat-rock (burnt my hand at the touch) and no hides with mulch chips as the substate. Call him a rescue of sorts... he was very small when I recieved him but has grown much larger and seemed to have 'fill-out' since I got him.
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