Beardie lost appetite?

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

My bearded dragon Swordtail seems to have completely lost interest in crickets and worms and I have no idea why! He seems fine other than that, he's active, he isn't lethargic, he isn't too thin, he seems normal but I'm just confused on why all of a sudden he doesn't want to eat. Help!

 

[KarrieRee]

My bearded dragon Swordtail seems to have completely lost interest in crickets and worms and I have no idea why! He seems fine other than that, he's active, he isn't lethargic, he isn't too thin, he seems normal but I'm just confused on why all of a sudden he doesn't want to eat. Help!

Is he eating salad? He may be tired of crickets and the worms-- what kind of worms are you feeding- also your UVB and your surface basking temps play a huge role in the eating- please go over the UVB coil or a long tube fixture and how your taking the surface basking temps- stick ons are inaccurate - you need a digital probe thermometer

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

I have tried to put thermometers in his enclosure before, oddly enough all of them didn't work and I have no idea why.
Also he gets a fresh salad every other day, infact he has a fresh salad right now

 

[KarrieRee]

I have tried to put thermometers in his enclosure before, oddly enough all of them didn't work and I have no idea why.
Also he gets a fresh salad every other day, infact he has a fresh salad right now

What kind of thermometers? Most use these Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Digital Thermometer | reptile Humidity & Temperature Control | PetSmart
You also what a digital probe hygrometer something like this
Exo Terra Digital Hygrometer | Dubia.com
Your dragon will not eat w/ out proper surface basking temps and correct UVB

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

Well the thing is, I have had him for a while now and like 2 days ago he was eating fine

 

[KarrieRee]

Well the thing is, I have had him for a while now and like 2 days ago he was eating fine

Temps in the tank are crucial to the health of the dragon- along w/ UVB -- it can take years for it to start showing effects but it will eventually catch up to them -- please adjust your dragon will get sick or is getting sick -- you didnt say what you were using for a UVB--- coils are inadequate and will cause all kinds of health issues - they cannot absorb / synthesize the calcium they are getting --

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

Update: I think he might of eaten something, I checked on him and he was laying on his hammock with what I think was a cricket antenna sticking out of his mouth

 

[Jjurovaty]

How old is he? Is he due to shed? My baby is only going on 5 months but its not my first, and I've noticed a little break in appetite when he's working on shedding. Also, similar to human children, they go through phases where they want and need a variation of food. Try new things, different fruits or veggies to keep them entertained. You wouldn't just want to eat chicken every day, and they don't just want crickets! Keep us updated

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

As suggested, they do go through eating phases where they want other things & just wont eat anything
you put out for them.
Keep rotating his foods if possible to see if you can find something he likes.
Shedding, temperatures, etc can affect their appetites. Have you double checked all of temperatures in
his tank again to be sure they are good?
The best thermometers are the temp guns or the digital probe types that actually have a probe you can
place on & around the basking area.

Tracie

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

Another update: might also be because of breeding season? I know he is a bit young but he has been running around alot more lately and was bobbing his head at the plastic beardie in his enclosure

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is very possible, they can hit puberty at 6 or 7 months so the hormonal levels
will go up. What is his age?
Black bearding & head bobbing is definitely a sign of breeding or hormonal increase.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

Hello,

That is very possible, they can hit puberty at 6 or 7 months so the hormonal levels
will go up. What is his age?
Black bearding & head bobbing is definitely a sign of breeding or hormonal increase.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

He is around 10 months old, his hatchday is in June.
I have been hand feeding him and giving him bug juice through a syringe and he seems to be doing well

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's great he is doing well. Has he been eating on his own right now?

Tracie

 

[Lyrebird.Rainwing]

Hello,

That's great he is doing well. Has he been eating on his own right now?

Tracie

Yes, he is actually starting to finally eat on his own!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Excellent, it sounds like he is starting to really improve now~!
Feel free to post pictures anytime.

Tracie