Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

scottishdragon · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject: Old Yemens

I have a prob with my male yemens. He stopped eating his normal amounts of food about 6 weeks ago and would only take the occasional locust or wax worm, I have tried to tempt him with other insects crickets meal worms ect with no joy. 2 weeks ago he stopped eating all together but was still drinking water every day. Yesterday I managed to get him to eat some wax worms and a 5th instar locust but had to rub the insects aganst the side of his mouth before he would eat them as he would not flick his tongue out. I also got him to eat today using the same tactic. He is 6 years old now and I just wondered if this is a sign of old age. He is ok otherwise and is always exploring his viv. He has lost a bit of weight but is not overly thin. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
John.
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3 bearded dragons.
3 leoaprd geckos.
1 crested gecko.
1 pictus gecko.
2 veiled chameleons.
1 blue tongue skink
1 red tail boa.

Rickeezee · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:07 am Post subject:

John I have not experienced this; could be many things, brumation, old age as you say, sore mouth even, hard to say. They do slow right down as they get older, is he still drinking?

My mellors never flicked their tongues out at all for food, recently my male George died suddenly. But he was active up until the last. To get them to eat properly I tried all sorts. In the end I hung a bucket from a branch and they climbed into it and ate their food. The female Mildred still feeds this way. She will take food from my hand and lunges at it but the best she can manage is about an inch of tongue.

Best of luck with him John, sorry I could not be more helpful.
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

linda · Key Member Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 442 Location: UK

my yeman doesnt eat alot but he drinks and looks healthy as long as he isnt too thin.
im sure they get bored on food we give them, so i gave him daddy long legs which he loved catching and the odd moth.
good luck with him

Rickeezee · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

Thinking about my big ole Nosy B, Mr Grumps, he does not over eat, I feed him every three days but he maintains his weight and is still very active he is 3.5 years old and quite a big un.
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

scottishdragon · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:

Thank you for you'r help, he has went off his food in the past but never for so long. thats why I changed his inseccts although he allways stuck to hoppers, wax worms his usual veg and crickets anything else he would not look at.

Thanks again

John.
_________________
3 bearded dragons.
3 leoaprd geckos.
1 crested gecko.
1 pictus gecko.
2 veiled chameleons.
1 blue tongue skink
1 red tail boa.

Xenopus · Contributing Member Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 55

I posted about my Yemen doing this early this year. He's under two years and pretty much just stopped eating for over two months. He would take the odd waxworm but nothing else. He did lose a bit of weight and started to drink more because he wasn't getting the normal moisture. Then, we moved flat and he started to eat again with great gusto, put all the weight he'd lost back on and then some. We couldn't see why that should of made any difference. He's slowed down again now but does have shorter non-eating spells which I try not to worry about. I think along as the tank set-up is fine it's just them being fickle and you should wait it out. Good luck, I know that isn't easy!

lol93 · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

My yemen does this every year about this time. He will eat occasionally, but it is Spring before he eats regularly again. Have you had faecals done, just in case it's a parasite problem?

scottishdragon · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

Thanks I will give him another week and if he is still the same I will pop him over to the vet and get him checked out thats if I have any hair left by then Very Happy

not that had much to start with Very Happy

John
_________________
3 bearded dragons.
3 leoaprd geckos.
1 crested gecko.
1 pictus gecko.
2 veiled chameleons.
1 blue tongue skink
1 red tail boa.

Rickeezee · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:

If its a seasonal thing around this time of year it's brumation.
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

johne.ev · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject:

Hi John.
could be a sign of old age, 6 yrs is a good age for a yemen. just like to agree with Rick, my male nosey b is exactly the same, feeds every 2/3 days & soon gets bored if the same bugs are offered (never refuses a spider though) also noticed that he very rarely fully extends his tongue to feed. usually he waits until the locust or crickets crawl near him. could this be a captive induced behaviour, you know, like its not going anywhere so i dont need to rush type thing.i know its not a problem with his tongue, because if his favourite bugs are offered (wax worms or giant meal worms) just out of range he will fully shoot his tongue out to try to reach them. good luck hope he starts feeding again.