Baby beardie not eating, I've tried force-feeding but...

[Lokiza]

I've had this baby beardie from petsmart for just over a month now, and at first he was really energetic and glass surfed and tried to jump from my hands and everything. But soon I realized that he wasn't eating. I've offered him tiny mealworms and tiny superworms, keeping track of the number of worms in the bowl to see if any are missing (if he's eating them), but the little guy just does not eat!

For a few days I tried force-feeding him by holding him and prying his little mouth open until I could drop a worm in his mouth, I could get him to eat around 6. But I realized that this wasn't really making any difference. For the past few days I've been syringe-feeding him small amounts of Gerber baby food (squash and sweet potato), but that doesn't seem to be helping either.

He's currently in a ten gallon with a 50-watt basking bulb and a 60-watt CHE. The warm side of his cage stays in the upper nineties in the daytime (I've also added a net so he can get closer to the warmth). His cage is lined with paper towels, and I've also soaked him a few times (and spritzed him). He HAS been pooping, so I know what I'm doing is helping some but I don't have any idea what I'm doing.

I would just take him to the vet, but there aren't any vets around me that specialize in reptiles, so I don't feel comfortable going to any of them.

I just don't know what to do about the little guy. He's the second beardie I've raised from baby-hood. The first never had any problems at all (thank god, I wouldn't of known what to do), and I got him from the same place when he was the same age as the little dude now.

 

[DeeDee1990]

What brand and type of UVB are you using? What are you using to measure temps?

 

[Lokiza]

What brand and type of UVB are you using? What are you using to measure temps?

He currently doesn't have a UVB (I have the fluorescent tube bulbs, but they are much too long to fit in his tank), and I use an infrared thermometer to check temps.

 

[DeeDee1990]

What are your temps? How far away are you holding the temp gun? That's a lot of wattage for such a small tank.

Him not having a UVB is probably contributing to him not wanting to eat. Can you get a smaller one to fit the tank hes in now or can you get him into a bigger tank?

Hes going to outgrow the tank hes in now soon and its really hard to get a proper temperature gradient in a tank that size.

 

[destiny1998]

I agree with DeeDee. He definitely needs a bigger tank. If fact petco has their 1$ a gallon sale so you can pick up a 40gallon breeder for 40.00. The uvb he needs asap as he has been without for a month. Two week max is the amount they can go without. Otherwise he will develop metabolic bone disease. The uvb he needs is a reptisun 10.0 Tube. No coils or compacts those cause health issues and don't give off the proper amount of uvb.

 

[Lokiza]

I realize it does seem like alot of wattage, but the area I live is cold, so I got the stronger heat bulb and basking bulb (and I read that babies like it a bit hotter than older dragons). I have the Reptisun 10.0 bulb, if I can get a tank and a fixture then he'd be all set. I've heard of Petco having that sale, but is it for all stores? I have bad luck when it comes to getting good deals at pet stores!

EDIT: I checked the local ad, and they seem to be doing the sale too. If things go right, I may be able to get the little dude a tank today or tomorrow (hopefully today). But it is a deal on "fish aquariums" (same difference, I know) but do they make terrarium-type lids for big tanks like that (my other two dragons have the 40-gallons with the sliding lids)?

 

[DeeDee1990]

You can call your local Petco and ask them if they are running the sale.
I went and got a 40 gallon yesterday and i'm going to get another one next week.

 

[Lokiza]

Question: would a 20 gallon work? I think it's a 20-gallon long (my leos are currently in it, but I can separate them into 10-gallons), and the UVB light will fit in it perfectly. Plus, it will be easier to keep the 20-gallon warm with the lights and CHE I have now than the 40 gallon.

 

[DeeDee1990]

Yes, a 20 gallon long will work for a couple months. You'll still need to upgrade his tank later though. If you get a 40 now he'll be fine for the rest of his life and you don't have to worry about upgrading later.

 

[Lokiza]

So, two nights ago I set up his tank. Yesterday he had a full day of UVB, seemed a little perkier, but I still have not seen him eat. Hopefully he'll eat soon, he's lookin skinny.

 

[DeeDee1990]

Have you been bathing or offering him water?

 

[Lokiza]

Yes, I've bathed him and let him soak. Occasionally I mist him, and he has a waterbowl. In fact, this morning I noticed that be pooped and the urate was runny, which I read meant he is well-hydrated. I fed him a little bit of warm babyfood this morning, just to make sure he was getting something in his tummy.

(Sorry for the late reply)

 

[Lokiza]

Good news - he has been perkier lately, he glass surfed last night which I haven't seen him do in awhile (he mostly just sits on his hammock underneath the UVB and heat bulb). He hasn't started eating on his own yet, so I'm still feeding him baby food with the vitamin dust mixed in. I'm going to buy a digital scale to keep track of his weight.

 

[Lokiza]

So, the little dude hasn't shown much improvement. I'm worried.

 

[destiny1998]

Poor little guy. You might want to start feeding him some stage one baby food. Mine like chicken mixed with sweet potatoes or squash. You may also want to take a fecal sample to the vet and see if he has parasites.