do i have a sick beardie?

Question
hello we brought 2 female b/d about 2mths ago they are around 18mth old an have been brought up together. one is fine eats both live an greens an poo's once a day an has just had a shred. the other (roxy) is lathargic, has had only a few poo's since we got her, we bath her every day to try to get her to 'go' she doesnt eat green but will eat live food. now the last couple of days her head an 2 of her legs have gone very grey, not like her normal orange colour. i also get her to drink water through a syringe. i am very worried, after her last poop she did perk up for a few days an was going up an down the viv (which is 5ft long an 19 inch wide, has a 4ft repti 8 uvb tube an a basking spot, hot end just over 100 an cool end around 80) but her perkeniss only lasted a few days. doesnt matter wot we do for her we cant get her to poo, we've also tryed olive oil. please help, not sure if we can afford a vet as the whole set up an getting them cleared us out, wasnt expecting to have vet fee's so early on. we got them from a breader, not a pet shop.

Answer
Hi Holly,

Even though your other bearded defecates every day it is still well within normal range for a bearded to go far less frequently then that. Some may only go once or twice a week (even less during brumation) and that may be quite normal for them. Your second beardeds refusal to take greens will certainly have an impact on the size and frequency of her bowel movements. When she does go, does the poop look normal in size, shape and consistency? Are there normal looking urates (the white portion) with it? If the droppings look normal and you don't see her appearing bloated or straining to defecate then I would be less concerned with the lack of frequency.

Their metabolism is powered by external temperatures so environment plays a big role in their digestion. Your cage temperatures sound fine but just make sure that your second bearded is also accessing the basking area sufficiently. Even among peaceful appearing females there can be dominant and submissive animals and the submissive ones sometimes don't get full access to the hot spot. Lack of basking opportunities will affect both her appetite and her digestion.

The colour change on her head and legs sounds to me like the start of a shed cycle.

You mentioned that she seems lethargic. Has this been a recent change in her behaviour? It is almost October which means that brumation will be starting for many adult beardeds. Brumation is a natural metabolic slow-down that usually starts in the fall and can last for several weeks. Brumating dragons typically go off feeding and tend to sleep far more often, usually in the cooler end of the tank. It can really worry owners the first time they encounter it.

You have not had these animals very long and I am assuming they are your first beardeds. Any breeder worth their salt and concerned about their animals should be happy to follow up and advise you  about this. Give them a call and explain your concerns, he/she may be able to put your mind at ease regarding the habits of that particular female.