Brumating or sickly, advice?

[Soulsplosion]

My lizard is 4 years old. He tends to brumate for 2-3 weeks every few months and I've noticed it's easy to accidentally trigger brumation in him--if I mess up his sleep schedule by changing when his light turns on, or if I forget to feed him breakfast or he doesn't like the greens he's being offered, he'll go brumation mode. He just hides away for 2-3 weeks, occasionally emerging for a snack, and then returns to normal, and it's usually easy to tell if he's just brumating.

However for the past 2 months or so he's just been on-and-off hiding away. Sometimes he comes out and suns and may act normal for a few days before hiding away again. He spends most of the day hidden and not wanting to be bothered like he does when he's brumating, but he also acts hungry if I bother him and may emerge if I offer him food--but I'm not sure if I should be offering him food if he's brumating. He's not losing weight despite eating very little, his poops seem healthy and normal, he doesn't seem constipated or bloated despite pooping very little and physically he seems very healthy, all around physically seeming like he's just brumating. It's just unusual for him to do it so inconsistently and for so long. Temperatures and everything else have been consistent so there's no reason for those to be the issue.

He hasn't had bugs/protein in several weeks because I'm not sure if I should be trying to feed him any if he's brumating. Basically I'm not sure if I should be leaving him alone, or trying to coax him out with food. I've been prompting him to drink water more frequently (by putting it on his nose), and have ordered multivitamins (I already own Calcium/D3 powder) and a fresh UV bulb. Do you think I should be leaving him be & not try to feed him if he's hiding away, or should I be concerned he's not getting enough nutrition (or some other problem) and trying to remedy him by offering food & basking?

 

[KarrieRee]

My lizard is 4 years old. He tends to brumate for 2-3 weeks every few months and I've noticed it's easy to accidentally trigger brumation in him--if I mess up his sleep schedule by changing when his light turns on, or if I forget to feed him breakfast or he doesn't like the greens he's being offered, he'll go brumation mode. He just hides away for 2-3 weeks, occasionally emerging for a snack, and then returns to normal, and it's usually easy to tell if he's just brumating.

However for the past 2 months or so he's just been on-and-off hiding away. Sometimes he comes out and suns and may act normal for a few days before hiding away again. He spends most of the day hidden and not wanting to be bothered like he does when he's brumating, but he also acts hungry if I bother him and may emerge if I offer him food--but I'm not sure if I should be offering him food if he's brumating. He's not losing weight despite eating very little, his poops seem healthy and normal, he doesn't seem constipated or bloated despite pooping very little and physically he seems very healthy, all around physically seeming like he's just brumating. It's just unusual for him to do it so inconsistently and for so long. Temperatures and everything else have been consistent so there's no reason for those to be the issue.

He hasn't had bugs/protein in several weeks because I'm not sure if I should be trying to feed him any if he's brumating. Basically I'm not sure if I should be leaving him alone, or trying to coax him out with food. I've been prompting him to drink water more frequently (by putting it on his nose), and plan on getting multivitamins & a fresh UV bulb. Do you think I should be leaving him be & not try to feed him if he's hiding away, or should I be concerned he's not getting enough nutrition (or some other problem) and offering him food and prompting him to come out and bask?

To rule out surface basking temps and UVB for cause lets go over them- how are you getting surface basking temps and what are they? UVB are you using a coil or a long tube fixture? Where is the UVB? How old is the UVB bulb ?

 

[Soulsplosion]

To rule out surface basking temps and UVB for cause lets go over them- how are you getting surface basking temps and what are they? UVB are you using a coil or a long tube fixture? Where is the UVB? How old is the UVB bulb ?

His UVB is a Reptisun T8 18 inch tube that positioned at the center of his tank (no wire mesh obscuring it). It's around 12 months old so I've already ordered a replacement

I don't currently have a measuring device for the basking temps but he's been using the same kinds of bulbs and setup his whole life (back when I used to closely monitor the temp). It's warm enough that he sits tall and gapes with his mouth open when close to his light on his hammock, and has plenty of gradient to sit around in different places.

 

[KarrieRee]

His UVB is a Reptisun T8 18 inch tube that positioned at the center of his tank (no wire mesh obscuring it). It's around 12 months old so I've already ordered a replacement

I don't currently have a measuring device for the basking temps but he's been using the same kinds of bulbs and setup his whole life (back when I used to closely monitor the temp). It's warm enough that he sits tall and gapes with his mouth open when close to his light on his hammock, and has plenty of gradient to sit around in different places.

Please get the digital probe thermometers - you need to keep track of those surface basking temps and the T 8 is way overdue for replacement - it should be replaced every 5 months- distance directly over the basking decor 6-8 inches- this is a good reason your getting the behavior he's doing- they will not eat w/ out proper uvb so your lucky he's eating at all - usually they quit eating - I would get him out side for good uvb- 15 minutes direct sun or in a plastic tote No Lid- if it's really hot make sure you watch him and maybe place him in partial shade / sun please watch him supervise him- you don't want to over heat him