Baby bearded dragon eating a little but is round

[colorfulbeardie]

My baby bearded dragon (about 8 inches and a little over a month, maybe a month and a half) seems to eat about three-four worms/crickets and veggies in his feedings (he has two feedings per day) but seems to be round and alert; he even cuddles at night! I've also noticed that he pecks at the calcium left by the insects (I dust them with calcium and then reptivite once a week). I'm a really worried mom!

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. How long have you had him? If it's only been a week or 2 he probably has some relocation stress.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What type of worms are you feeding him? Do you have him housed on sand or another loose type of substrate?
He could be impacted possibly, if you feel he is too round. Do you have pictures of him?
What is your tank setup like?

Tracie

 

[Linelife93]

Your beardie rounding himself out is not uncommon. The two most usual behaviors for this is that he is cold and trying to absorb more heat fast and or is shedding and trying to the same thijg. Or he is slightly intimidated in someway and trying to make himself bigger. I would only be concerned if you have been feeding him crickets larger than the space between his eyes and if you can feel any hard bulges towards his vent (excluding his hip bones) and if you notice while he's resting his spine is contorted in a weird fashion. Another good sign is he is resting his back legs on something. I had a beardie that was at risk for impaction because my friend who was helping feed him gave him superiors I had that were too large. Really warm baths would help in poop. He'd actually let his back legs float and then do his business. I wouldntb be coming concerned unless you see these noticeable things.

 

[colorfulbeardie]

Hi. How long have you had him? If it's only been a week or 2 he probably has some relocation stress.

It's been about three weeks, but I noticed he is shedding, and the first week I had him he would eat perfectly!

 

[colorfulbeardie]

Hello,

What type of worms are you feeding him? Do you have him housed on sand or another loose type of substrate?
He could be impacted possibly, if you feel he is too round. Do you have pictures of him?
What is your tank setup like?

Tracie

I am feeding him super worms ( I cut them in half) I actually have him housed in a solid substrate (newspaper), as the loose substrate would cause a problem!

 

[colorfulbeardie]

Your beardie rounding himself out is not uncommon. The two most usual behaviors for this is that he is cold and trying to absorb more heat fast and or is shedding and trying to the same thijg. Or he is slightly intimidated in someway and trying to make himself bigger. I would only be concerned if you have been feeding him crickets larger than the space between his eyes and if you can feel any hard bulges towards his vent (excluding his hip bones) and if you notice while he's resting his spine is contorted in a weird fashion. Another good sign is he is resting his back legs on something. I had a beardie that was at risk for impaction because my friend who was helping feed him gave him superiors I had that were too large. Really warm baths would help in poop. He'd actually let his back legs float and then do his business. I wouldntb be coming concerned unless you see these noticeable things.

I thought it was impction so I did give him a bath, but he didn't poop at all; he is pooping quite normally without anything though.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, so he most likely is not impacted then, if his stools are good sized & normally occurring daily.
I am glad to hear you have him on solid substrate, too.
Does he seem to have any trouble eating the superworms after you have cut them in half?
Post some pictures of him so that we can see his condition too, if you have some for us.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[Linelife93]

You can also order custom sized superworms. I ordered 250 from rainbowmealworm.com but they all weren't under 1/2" but a lot of them were. Because I tried cutting supers in half and Bing would only eat the side of the worm still squirming.

 

[syoung27]

Sounds normal and healthy to me. And I'm an incredibly paranoid beardie owner lol.
Flattening or rounding is probably trying to take in more heat to digest or shed like previously said. What are the temps, basking and uvb setup?
Are you offering essentially as much as it will eat within a 10 or so minute time frame?
My beardie has pecked at and eaten the loose calcium plenty of times, I wouldn't concern over that. He doesn't anymore as much, I think he's learned it's not actual food lol.
My beardie I think was eating at least 30 small crix per day at that age.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Let us know how he is doing. If you need to review your tank setup with us, we can go over it to be sure it is all correct.

Tracie

 

[colorfulbeardie]

Hello,

Ok, so he most likely is not impacted then, if his stools are good sized & normally occurring daily.
I am glad to hear you have him on solid substrate, too.
Does he seem to have any trouble eating the superworms after you have cut them in half?
Post some pictures of him so that we can see his condition too, if you have some for us.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

He has no trouble at all, actually! and, sure thing let me upload them.

 

[colorfulbeardie]

Sounds normal and healthy to me. And I'm an incredibly paranoid beardie owner lol.
Flattening or rounding is probably trying to take in more heat to digest or shed like previously said. What are the temps, basking and uvb setup?
Are you offering essentially as much as it will eat within a 10 or so minute time frame?
My beardie has pecked at and eaten the loose calcium plenty of times, I wouldn't concern over that. He doesn't anymore as much, I think he's learned it's not actual food lol.
My beardie I think was eating at least 30 small crix per day at that age.

I tried doinf the ten minute rule, but he eats at his own pace, and so I have to wait until he does not want anymore, which takes a while.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

You are right, sometimes the 10 minute rule doesn't always apply if he isn't a very fast eater. LOL
Just give him the opportunity to eat his fill & that will be fine.

Tracie