8-10 week old beardie not feeding well

Carolebrown79 · Jul 23, 2017

Hi I am a new owner of a baby beardie and I am worried he is not eating well?? We have tried him on locusts as we were informed this was what the pet shop were feeding him. However he has only eaten up to 8 per day. We have also tried crickets and again he doesn't seem to hunt them very well, we have tried taking their back legs off to help him but still he only eats around 8-12 small ones per day. He has eaten meal worms and seems to love them but we are aware they should be a treat and not a regular food option.

We have fed him a variety of leaves and salad/vegetables as per guidance too. This is also eaten but in small quantities.

He also seems to sit on his pirch under the heat lamp and barely moves around. He has got used to us handling him and likes a little run around outside his Viv but when inside the Viv he is very immobile. Is this normal for a baby beardie??

We have made sure we have all of the equipment required as guided by the specialist pet store we bought him from and the basking pirch is 7inches away from the heat lamp.

destiny1998 · Jul 23, 2017

Hi. How long have you had him? Does he have uvb light? If so what kind? Do you know what the temps are? How do you take them?

Carolebrown79 · Jul 23, 2017

Hello, we do have a UVB light it is a desert 10%. We have had him 6 days. Temps are 35 degrees is basking area and 26 in cool side. We have the thermostat attached to the basking light, another in the cool area and one stuck on the wall at the back.

kingofnobbys · Jul 24, 2017

Carolebrown79":yu7iu03e said:
Hello, we do have a UVB light it is a desert 10%. We have had him 6 days. Temps are 35 degrees <<<< 35 degC at basking spot is too cool , needs to be 40-43 degC
, warm zone about 30 - 35 degC will be OK
, is basking area and 26 in cool side
<<< 26 degC in cool zone is OK

. We have the thermostat attached to the basking light, another in the cool area and one stuck on the wall at the back.

I see a dial type thermometer , these are so inaccurate that they a worthless, better off with least some of these : http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Aquarium-LCD-Electronic-Digital-Thermometer-Fish-Tank-Water-Detector-Practica-BU/252762165947?_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D6ac464a2a1b24339be32c744b2ff5cf9%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D201577608563 . They are accurate +/- 1 degC and very reliable and the batteries in the last years. I have 3 per viv and rearing tub.

Here's my cheet sheet (is full of tips and guidance) : viewtopic.php?f=6&t=234738&p=1806050#p1806050

Carolebrown79 · Jul 24, 2017

Thank you. The dial thermostat is not used we have the two thermostats we were told to install by the pet shop. We have one gauging the temperature in the basking area and one in the cooler area.

I am concerned that our baby is not eating well, should we try other bugs such as roaches?? We were told to buy medium sized bugs but I wonder if these are in fact too big, is this likely?? We have gone by the guide that whatever live fed we give him, it should not be bigger than the gap between his eyes, this has meant some of those in the packets we buy have been too big - should we buy small ones instead??

We fed him a couple more meal worms this morning and he went straight to them and feasted but still not eating the crickets or locusts??

kingofnobbys · Jul 24, 2017

Carolebrown79":14g6wo1y said:
Thank you. The dial thermostat is not used we have the two thermostats we were told to install by the pet shop. We have one gauging the temperature in the basking area and one in the cooler area.
<<< show us these thermostats .... ordinarily we set up the basking globe and basking spot and fine a mix of
>>> wattage
>>> distance from bottom (to get warm and cool temperatures)
>>> distance from basking spot (to get basking spot temperature)
and this is done by trial and error for either summer or winter .

many have a basking globe running at 130 - 150 W (for a 4ft x 2ft square) viv) in winter and drop to a 100 - 120 W in summer .
An option is an inline dimming thermostat that is simply dialed up or down depending on the daytime seasonal room temps to maintain a basking spot at 40 - 43 degC and warm zone about 30-34 degC.

I am concerned that our baby is not eating well, should we try other bugs such as roaches?? We were told to buy medium sized bugs but I wonder if these are in fact too big, is this likely??
<<< I use crickets , an 8 -10 week old should be on 1/4 (25day old) size to 1/3 size crickets , see this https://frogs.org.au/live-foods/product-category/insects/ for the sizes , I am unsure on equivalent sizes for roaches.

We have gone by the guide that whatever live fed we give him, it should not be bigger than the gap between his eyes, this has meant some of those in the packets we buy have been too big - should we buy small ones instead??

We fed him a couple more meal worms this morning and he went straight to them and feasted but still not eating the crickets or locusts??

Comparison with my gang:
@ 8 weeks old
Puff (M) = 11g
Rex (F) = 11g
siblings bought at 6 weeks old

Peppa (F) = 24.6g
Toothless (M) = 20.9g
siblings bought at 5 weeks old

@ 10 weeks old
Puff = 26.6g
Rex = 29.9g
Peppa = 37.1g
Toothless = 33.7g

The temperatures are too low.

How big are the crickets and roaches (what size are they) ?
If too small , he'll simply ignore them , not worth his energy expenditure to catch them.

Try silkworms , unfortunately he has become a worm junky. At least silkworm look similar and are nutritious and NOT impaction risks.

kingofnobbys · Jul 24, 2017

Carolebrown79":1yklukym said:
Hello, we do have a UVB light it is a desert 10%.
Is it :
Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 Desert Terrarium Lamp (a T8 tube) ?
or
Exo Terra 13W UVB200 (a compact) ?
or
Exo Terra 26W UVB200 (a compact) ?

and how far is it from the basking spot ?

and is it trying to shine through a mesh/screen lid ?

I ask because this is important and if the 10%UVB source is too weak or incorrectedly located this will have a dramatic effect on your pet's behavior and health.

We have had him 6 days. Temps are 35 degrees is basking area and 26 in cool side. We have the thermostat attached to the basking light, another in the cool area and one stuck on the wall at the back.

8-10 week old beardie not feeding well

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