A few questions...

[widustman]

My bearded dragon is 1 1/2 years old, last time I measured her she was 17 inches long and Aprox. 300 grams. She looks healthy to my eye, but she is my first bearded dragon so I thought I should seek advice. For one she will not eat food, like she used too. She used to eat right out of her bowl when I first got her a year ago, now she won't. She will only eat once in a while and she will only eat them if they are crawling in the tank. I tried switching her food up from Super worms to crickets but the crickets would A.) Die before she ate them, B.) Become in a paralyzed state where they wouldn't move and lye on their backs and frantically move their legs, or C.) Would irritate her by running away to quickly. She does eat her worms once in a while, and I don't think it is helping because of the time of year, but even before that during the summer she wouldn't eat right. Now her base of her tail is big a firm which is a good sign I was told, and when I took her to get her nails trimmed the man at the Rescue said she looked great. But compared to other dragons she looks thin to me. I am adding a picture, does she look thin? Another question I have is does your dragon have an attachment to you? When ever I pick up Liz, my dragon, and I want to put her back she will scamper up my arm and refuse to go back. I feel bad for putting her back but I know she need she light. Is there something in her tank that could be frightening her? Could she just have an attachment? My final question relates to her not eating, how can I get her to eat out of her bowl? I really don't want her food scampering around her cage. Thanks!

 

[azteacher]

Hi there. First of all I looove the Green Bay Packers hat!

Second of all, to my untrained eye (I'm a new dragon owner too) she really does look healthy. But her eating habits sort of bother me. It doesn't really seem like she is eating enough, and it is odd that she doesn't eat crickets.

When I got my rescue Yoshi, he had never eaten a cricket in his 2 years of life. He only got ONE superworm a day and "some lettuce". After a few days so he could adjust to his new home, I gave him crickets. I put them in a plain aquarium so there was no place for them to hide. He goes crazy for them and actively goes after them.

In terms of the fruits and veggies, I know that beardies can really eat a wide variety of things. Maybe she is a picky eater and you need to try a bunch of different items to see what she likes?

I don't think her crawling up your arm is a bad thing. At least, I don't see it that way - Yoshi does that to me when he's been cuddling and is comfortable.

 

[thelonelyzombie]

Hey There

I don't think your dragon looks too thin. She seems bright, alert and good body weight.

I don't know if my dragon has an attachment. Mine's tank is right by the front door of the house, but I'm the only one who ever picks her up or interacts with her beyond just looking in. She seems to acknowledge that I've gotten home by coming over to the edge of the tank sometimes. My girl LOVES her soaks in the tub, but initially getting in the water is not her favorite and she'll climb right back up my arm. But once she's in, she'll wash her little head and take a dump.

I hardly think your beardie is scared of something in her tank. I bet more likely she's bored in there and hanging out with you is more fun for her. Do you ever let her walk around your house or your bed room? My girl hate to poop in her tank, and will definitely poop on the floor if I let her. So after a soak, after she's pooped, if the house is warmish then I'll let her scamper all around till she's just staring at a corner somewhere. But I always gotta soak her first or she really will just poop right on my floor!

I think there are 2 reasons why your female beardie might be less into food now than before. First reason being the season. She's a good age to start her first brumation. So that could be going on now. Second reason being that she could be gravid (pregnant with eggs). They don't need to get knocked up by a male to be full of eggs. Females will loose their appetite when they are gravid.

Have you tried making her salad most colourful? And have you tried sweets like cut grapes, strawberries, mangos? More colours might entice her to eat salad.
My vet recommends phoenix and silk worms if you're going the worm route, or you could try Dubia roaches. Dubia's are better for them than Crickets and they can't climb, so if you have bowl with at least an inch and half or so to the walls of it they'll have a hard time getting out and pestering your dragon.

I hope this helped. You have a nice looking lizard.