CRene
Member
- Beardie name(s)
- Ace
I have the most stubborn beardie. I have had him a couple of weeks, and he's still pretty scared of me but tolerates being taken out every now and then. But the guy has decided that salad is not for him (never, not even one bite) and has lately decided that dubias are not adequate and that he prefers super worms.
Yes -- I took him to the vet and she said he looks healthy; we are waiting on parasite results just as a precaution. But she has me weighing him regularly to get an idea of what's going on with him. (Currently up from 53 to 60 grams.) The vet reviewed lighting, temps, you name it. (I'm so lucky to have a great vet close by, even if she takes all my money.)
He's just not into eating, I swear. He has only come to his bowl a few times; he doesn't move around all that much in his 120 gallon home (I am considering putting him in a 40 gallon to see if it's less scary?). I bring his food to him with tongs and he deigns some things acceptable; others not.
Two questions would be super helpful...
1) Any tips to get him into salad? I put worms in his salad to make it wiggle and he is too lazy to dig for them. He eats them if they are visible, otherwise ignores the wiggling leaves.
2) Should I try another insect? I have BSFL and a few small hornworms arriving on Monday. I was avoiding crickets... But [updating after some comments below] obviously I need to stop using superworms as his daily feeder.
Thanks for any help at all. This guy is killing me.
EDITED to add:
- 120 gal tank with a long Arcadia T5 14% UVB mounted inside the screen; 150 watt basking light -- both on 6am to 8pm. The UVB is just a couple months old. (My vet says the Arcadia are good for a year despite many saying it's only good for 6 months.)
- I have a digital probe thermometer I change back and forth to monitor ambient or basking temp; I also use a temp gun (I know they aren't as accurate, but they help monitor for changes? That's my thinking) I had a problem with temps earlier because my basking rock absorbed so much heat, I think -- the ambient temp was too low even while the surface temp was higher. Now he just has wood as his basking spot with the basking light turned up much higher; surface temp is about the same but ambient is much higher. Hopefully that makes sense.
Yes -- I took him to the vet and she said he looks healthy; we are waiting on parasite results just as a precaution. But she has me weighing him regularly to get an idea of what's going on with him. (Currently up from 53 to 60 grams.) The vet reviewed lighting, temps, you name it. (I'm so lucky to have a great vet close by, even if she takes all my money.)
He's just not into eating, I swear. He has only come to his bowl a few times; he doesn't move around all that much in his 120 gallon home (I am considering putting him in a 40 gallon to see if it's less scary?). I bring his food to him with tongs and he deigns some things acceptable; others not.
Two questions would be super helpful...
1) Any tips to get him into salad? I put worms in his salad to make it wiggle and he is too lazy to dig for them. He eats them if they are visible, otherwise ignores the wiggling leaves.
2) Should I try another insect? I have BSFL and a few small hornworms arriving on Monday. I was avoiding crickets... But [updating after some comments below] obviously I need to stop using superworms as his daily feeder.
Thanks for any help at all. This guy is killing me.
EDITED to add:
- 120 gal tank with a long Arcadia T5 14% UVB mounted inside the screen; 150 watt basking light -- both on 6am to 8pm. The UVB is just a couple months old. (My vet says the Arcadia are good for a year despite many saying it's only good for 6 months.)
- I have a digital probe thermometer I change back and forth to monitor ambient or basking temp; I also use a temp gun (I know they aren't as accurate, but they help monitor for changes? That's my thinking) I had a problem with temps earlier because my basking rock absorbed so much heat, I think -- the ambient temp was too low even while the surface temp was higher. Now he just has wood as his basking spot with the basking light turned up much higher; surface temp is about the same but ambient is much higher. Hopefully that makes sense.
Last edited: