8 Week Old Baby Not Eating Much

LizzyKane":1uk34k3x said:

I need some expert advice as I live in a small town with only one pet store and no real reptile experts. I have read countless websites and spoken to other beardie owners but all the information I am receiving is contradictory.

We have had our baby beardie for 10 days.
She is 8 inches in length
Tank: 40 gallon
Basking temp: 100-102 <<< that's fine PROVIDING ITS ACCURATELY MEASURED , I aim for 40-43 degC at my basking point.


Light: Solar Glo Mercury Vapor 80 watt (another light we borrowed, no idea what type or wattage) because the 80 watt wasn't sufficient <<< your existing MVB should be more than sufficient.
*we have another 80 watt Solar Glo ordered, waiting for arrival

When we first got her she ate between 5-8 crickets per day and 6-10 pieces of green (romaine lettuce). I know that's not ideal but we've tried her with collard greens and kale and she will not touch it.
<<< don't be so worried about her showing no interest in the greens at her age , she''ll eat what she needs.
Keep offering the greens (shredded) each day , she'll eventually nibble on them.
One day she ate 13 crickets and we thought things were turning around but now she is hardly eating anything.
She was pooping normally with a white urate but yesterday she pooped and there wasn't much to it which makes sense if she isn't eating.
<<< not a great issue here .... sometimes it's all urate, other times no urate.
We have been giving her a bath daily and if she doesn't have a bath, we will mist her.
<<< if she likes baths , endulge her, otherwise unless she needs a bath it's not worth the stress to her.
Misting or dripping water on her nose is how I water my hatchling beardies., if they are thirsty they'll drink it.
She was also very docile to the point where I could pick her up and have her hang out on my chest and cuddle a little. Unfortunately as I was putting her back in her enclosure, she jumped, hit the dresser and then the floor. It was about a 2 foot drop. I'm wondering if that could have injured her as she stopped eating soon after than and has also runs away more when I try to pick her up.
<<< how are her legs moving when she crawls .... if she's moving OK she's likely fine, just had a fright and she''ll soon come around .
<<< if she's blackbearding it's a bad sign after a fall ==> she in pain.

For the past two days she has only eaten two or three crickets each day. I've tried feeding her shredded carrot, apple, sweet potato...even mango, grapes and blueberries but she will not eat any of this. I've resorted to feeding her unsweetened apple sauce and sweet potato baby food with calcium mixed in through a medicine dropper. She's is eating about 1.0ml of this per feeding.
<<<< She has a very tiny stomache volume see : viewtopic.php?f=45&t=232687 where a formula given for the stomach volume based on body mass of the lizard.

I'm happy she's eating something but she needs protein plus I don't want to spoil her. We have always hand fed her either by using tongs or our fingers. The day she ate the 13 crickets, we were hand feeding her and dropping 1 at a time in her tank for her to chase.
<<<< I'd return to that approach since it worked with her.

I'm very worried and stressed. I don't know what to do for her and I really don't want her to die.
Please help!!!

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Zanna":1k8hhvix said:

Hi Lizzy Welcome to the forum and you are doing great giving her the baby food!

Someone with expertise will come along on your lighting to get you REALLY sorted out, however, you need a uvb source for her. A tube type not coil. I use a reptisun 10.0.

Also, her basking area should be higher, 110-115 for babies, they love to have it hot! Lol
<<<< FYI
Above 44 degC is in the critical thermal stress range ,
Above 46 degC is In the lethal temperature range
see viewtopic.php?f=5&t=233516

Sometimes they go off their food for a while from relocation stress, and the drop she had could have scared her too. If she's not walking differently or limping or anything chances are she just got a good scare. And don't feel too bad, it's happened to many of us here myself included. My Lizzy did the same thing about the same age and I felt like the worst pet owner in history lol.

Keep doing what you're doing with her food. But please stop the lettuce. It causes diarrhea and could dehydrate her. They are fussy about their salad stuff at this age and u may not see them eat it but keep offering it and leave it in there. To this day our girl will rarely eat her salad in front of humans she's over a year

If u have any new questions too don't hesitate to add new posts. I hope to read she starts eating very soon!!!

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Zanna":3hvwrhxv said:

Lizzy spent her entire babyhood in this range, I was advised on this site to do so Nob.

Babies do prefer it hotter full stop. 105-110 is not stress on them.

Lizzy Kane, there are several excellent articles under care sheets in the top menu bar. If I can support u or help in any way pls message me privately. Thinking good thoughts for your little one!

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