Appetite enhancer?

[Stallion]

Hello everyone!

My little 2month-ish boy, Thorn, is not weakly or thin but I feel like his appetite could be better. My 3 month old girl attacks the crickets viciously for her morning feeding. He, on the other hand, let's the crickets walk around and even on top of him. Eventually he'll get hungry enough and eat one or two of them.

Both him and her have identical housing. Both have UVA and UVB, along with heat, food, water, and all the necessities. The morning feeding is two hours AFTER I turn the lights on so they have enough time to warm up.

They're eating crickets and occasional dubias(I'm waiting for my colony to grow bigger). All gut loaded. I do not feed them Wax Worms as I know they can be addictive.

Anyone have any suggestions on opening his appetite more?

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. In order to help can you please be more specific about his set up? How big? Temps? How you take them? What kinds of lights? Coil/ compact or tube ? What brands? Colored or white basking bulb?

 

[Stallion]

Hi. In order to help can you please be more specific about his set up? How big? Temps? How you take them? What kinds of lights? Coil/ compact or tube ? What brands? Colored or white basking bulb?

40gal melamine enclosure
He's 5"-6"
105 on basking side
Tube Reptisun UVB white light
Basking light(white) for heat Reptisun

Soak him once per day, and now I'm starting to soak them twice if in shed.
I don't want any missing limbs or spikes.

No substrate... Though am considering play sand when he grows up.

He's friendly. Not skittish.

Has a cave where he climbs and favors the UVB tube rather than the heat. I say this because he stays away from the 105 temp and climbs the cave to be closer to the UVB. But it is at 8in from the bottom so I know he's getting the benefits even at the floor.

He has been with me for like 2 weeks. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.

 

[destiny1998]

Sounds like his set up is good. Lose subtrate is not recommended for old or young as they harbor bacteria and can cause impaction. I would take him to the vet and get a fecal done to be sure he doesn't have any parasites. He should be eating like a mad man.

 

[Stallion]

Sounds like his set up is good. Lose subtrate is not recommended for old or young as they harbor bacteria and can cause impaction. I would take him to the vet and get a fecal done to be sure he doesn't have any parasites. He should be eating like a mad man.

My girl, Astrid, was the same way when I first got her. But now she's bigger, and heavier. I love it when you pick them up and they're heavier than before. Shows you're doing something right.

Meh, might as well take him to the Vet. He hasn't met his doctor yet so now is a good a time as any. Just hope they can give him something to get him to bulk up faster. Though he doesn't really need it. But I want to see him attack stuff like Astrid.

I will be making him a new enclosure too. Same as this one but just larger.

Thanks again for your replies!

 

[destiny1998]

Welcome. Just out of curiosity have you tried reptiworm/Phoenix worms or silk. Some beardies prefer worms over crickets. Just a thought.

 

[Stallion]

Welcome. Just out of curiosity have you tried reptiworm/Phoenix worms or silk. Some beardies prefer worms over crickets. Just a thought.

Reptiworm?

Phoenix Worms I have heard about. But hard to find. Will look them up again tonight.

Cant wait for my dubia colony to be ready.

 

[diamc]

Hi, I was wondering what type of thermometer you're using and where exactly you're taking the temps?

The basking bulb & the UVB should be right alongside each other so that he gets the benefit of both bulbs at the same time. Do you have the UVB on the opposite side that the basking bulb is on right now? What is the distance he can get to the UVB right now?

 

[Stallion]

Hi, I was wondering what type of thermometer you're using and where exactly you're taking the temps?

The basking bulb & the UVB should be right alongside each other so that he gets the benefit of both bulbs at the same time. Do you have the UVB on the opposite side that the basking bulb is on right now? What is the distance he can get to the UVB right now?

I am not home now so I don't remember the name brand of Thermometer but I got it at a Reptile Show for $10, and can tell you how hot it is at the actual thermometer and the other end of a long wire which sticks to the side of the cage.

The UVB bulb goes across the whole enclosure, and the heat bulb is on one side of it. The cave is on the other end of the cage opposite of the heat bulb. Maybe he just likes feeling like King Of The Mountain? If I recall correctly it's like 90-95 degrees in the side opposite of the heat bulb. 105 at heat bulb side.