Well, i know squish (my pacman) sleeps with his eyes shut when he burrows, and the browning skin could be shedding, but everything else i have no clue

What size tank are you keeping him and how big is he? I know that when my pyxie was very young, she was a bit too big for her cage and her behavior sounds a lot like what you are describing...
I know they are different species, but perhaps there are some similarities?

Best of luck to you and Malcolm

P.S., if he's accepting food you should feed him until he stops...