Bearded Lizard

Question
I have a male bearded lizard who is approximate 3 months old - he eats most days, just crickets and worms, can't get him to eat the greens - he continues to eat but has not had a bowel movement in approximate 3 weeks - i have tried the warm baths and nothing - do you have suggestions other than the baths? thank you

Answer
Hi Carrie, Three weeks without defecating is a cause for concern in a young dragon. Could you give me a little more info on his environment? What is his basking area temperature and what type of substrate is he on? Is there any bloating or firmness to his belly? Their rate of digestion and appetite are both strongly influenced by temperature. Hydration levels also affect digestion as does having suitable amounts of calcium in the diet. Insufficient calcium levels will inhibit the contractions of the intestinal tract that  move food along. If the worms you referred to are small mealworms then they must also be fed in moderation. They have a high proportion of undigestible exoskeleton which can lead to intestinal blockages. Any loose particle substrate ( even the "digestible" type sands) can also cause impaction, especially in a small dragon.
I would continue with the slightly warm baths and in addition I would try to get a few drops of mineral oil into him. You can mix the oil with a bit of squash or pumpkin baby food (high in fibre) and dab some on his snout where he will, with luck, lick it off.