Beardie Will Not Eat Anything Besides Hornworms -What Should

[thatLizardGuy]

My Beardie is about 3 Years Old and is a Male.

He has always Done Great and been Very Healthy.

But for the last 2 Months I have only seen him eat one piece of Mustard Greens and 2 Super Worms!

Out of Desperation I tried a bunch of things.

All He will eat are Horn Worms.

I am Glad he ate but the problem is I do not know where to get Horn Worms (except for the Reptile Show which is only Once a Month).

They are not like Crickets that you can get at any PetSmart or PetCo.

And they cost a Fortune (83 Cents each vs. 2.7 Cents for a Super Worm)!

Why are they so Expensive?

I am very concerned.

I have tried to dangle food in front of his face but he will not take it.

What should I do?

 

[Taterbug]

How is your boy weight wise, has he had a recent fecal? Setup correct? If you don't track his weight it can be a helpful reassurance to know he isn't loosing and is just doing his own thing. Grown dragons don't always need to eat as much as we would think they do but may be willing to eat foods they really enjoy. In the winter especially many reptile slow down their eating.

Hornworms are so expencive because they are more involved insects to breed and rear, also the artificial chow has some more expencive components than the feed for crickets or super worms.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[thatLizardGuy]

How is your boy weight wise, has he had a recent fecal? Setup correct? If you don't track his weight it can be a helpful reassurance to know he isn't loosing and is just doing his own thing. Grown dragons don't always need to eat as much as we would think they do but may be willing to eat foods they really enjoy. In the winter especially many reptile slow down their eating.

Hornworms are so expencive because they are more involved insects to breed and rear, also the artificial chow has some more expencive components than the feed for crickets or super worms.

I know that he is loosing weight because I can feel he weighs less.

I can feel his side bones which I never could before too.

My other 2 Adult Dragons do not eat much but they do eat.

Maybe a couple Super Worms every Few Days. Not 2 Super Worms over two months.

And they are no skinny either.

He goes right for the Horn Worms but just takes a glance at the Super Worms.

He has never done this before so I do not feel that it is from Brumation.

My Set Up is Right.

I even changed my Repti-Sun 10.0 Bulb a couple months early to see if that would get him to eat.

Any Ideas?

 

[thatLizardGuy]

I started to Force Feed Him after seeing these Videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlpGXrHLhuY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYVe79z5wEM

It went much better than expected.

But afterwards he breathes very heavily and sometimes makes noises.

Why is that?

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....I replied to your question about force feeding on your other post in the general forum. By the way, can you put up some pics of him to show his size , a couple of body shots from above ? To post pics you can upload to a site like Photobucket, then copy/paste the img here.

 

[thatLizardGuy]

Hi there....I replied to your question about force feeding on your other post in the general forum. By the way, can you put up some pics of him to show his size , a couple of body shots from above ? To post pics you can upload to a site like Photobucket, then copy/paste the img here.

Here is what I weighed them at.

Adult Female #1 - 482 Grams
Adult Female #2 - 555 Grams
Adult Male (Not Eating) - 415 Grams

What do you guys think?

What should Healthy Adult Bearded Dragons Weigh?

 

[AHBD]

The length factors in as well. The male would be fine at 415 grams if he's 18 -19". If he's longer than that , then he may be a bit thin, but not extremely so unless he's over 21." The females are fine for lengths of 19 -20", but if they're smaller than that they are on the chunky side. So it really depends on the length.

 

[Sauzo]

Or you can have the triple plus size luvin of Harley who at last weight in November was 695g and about 17-18 inches long. Words of wisdom, cut out the hornworms now or you will be too well trained by your dragon and it will be even harder On the plus side though, I chuckle every time Harley runs around as she has to suck her tummy off the floor and waddles around :lol:

 

[Luv4animalz]

I would maybe have him checked out just to be safe, tat he doesn't have any impaction going on, or a parasite, etc. Then, if he checks out as healthy, with a picky eating habit, I would honestly just try tough love while monitoring his weight, and force feeding him when necessary (If your dragon is otherwise healthy, he will not starve himself. Offer him the same foods every single day, and only those foods. Don't switch it up every time he refuses something or he will keep waiitng and refusing until he gets what he wants. I would try giving him only Crickets or Only Dubia Roaches, or Only Superworms, which ever is your favorite staple animal protein for him and what you fed him prior to him trying horn worms. Horn worms are like a steak dinner to them apparently lol. So if he is otherwise healthy, and just being picky - he's just doing that, being picky. You need to offer him fresh greens at all times, except at night - it will just dry out most of the time. And choose 1 staple insect like crickets, offer him crickets once/day each day around the same time. If he doesn't eat it, put them back in their bin and offer him greens. Wait until the next day at the exact same time and offer him crickets again, if he refuses, put them back and offer him greens. He will eventually eat them - some experts say you can even cut off the greens for a day or 2 until he starts eating the crickets. Like I said above, if he is otherwise healthy and has no other under-lying issues, he will not starve himself! Just make sure to stay consistent (Exact same insect, same time each day) and don't cave in. Once he starts eating them again, go back to your 75-80% greens and 20-25% insects as he's over 2 years old.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[thatLizardGuy]

So Here is the Length and Weight of my 3 Beardies.

Adult Female #1 - 482 Grams - 18 Inches
Adult Female #2 - 555 Grams - 18 Inches
Adult Male (Not Eating) - 415 Grams 19.5 Inches

What do you guys think?

Are these Three Beardies a Healthy Weight or Not?

If not what Should they Weigh?

 

[thatLizardGuy]

I would maybe have him checked out just to be safe, tat he doesn't have any impaction going on, or a parasite, etc. Then, if he checks out as healthy, with a picky eating habit, I would honestly just try tough love while monitoring his weight, and force feeding him when necessary (If your dragon is otherwise healthy, he will not starve himself. Offer him the same foods every single day, and only those foods. Don't switch it up every time he refuses something or he will keep waiitng and refusing until he gets what he wants. I would try giving him only Crickets or Only Dubia Roaches, or Only Superworms, which ever is your favorite staple animal protein for him and what you fed him prior to him trying horn worms. Horn worms are like a steak dinner to them apparently lol. So if he is otherwise healthy, and just being picky - he's just doing that, being picky. You need to offer him fresh greens at all times, except at night - it will just dry out most of the time. And choose 1 staple insect like crickets, offer him crickets once/day each day around the same time. If he doesn't eat it, put them back in their bin and offer him greens. Wait until the next day at the exact same time and offer him crickets again, if he refuses, put them back and offer him greens. He will eventually eat them - some experts say you can even cut off the greens for a day or 2 until he starts eating the crickets. Like I said above, if he is otherwise healthy and has no other under-lying issues, he will not starve himself! Just make sure to stay consistent (Exact same insect, same time each day) and don't cave in. Once he starts eating them again, go back to your 75-80% greens and 20-25% insects as he's over 2 years old.

Let us know how it goes!

You say "he will not starve himself."

But He has only eaten One Piece of Mustard Greens and 2 Superworms over the last 2 Months.

That seems like he is starving himself to me.

I am very very concerned.

 

[Luv4animalz]

I would maybe have him checked out just to be safe, tat he doesn't have any impaction going on, or a parasite, etc. Then, if he checks out as healthy, with a picky eating habit, I would honestly just try tough love while monitoring his weight, and force feeding him when necessary (If your dragon is otherwise healthy, he will not starve himself. Offer him the same foods every single day, and only those foods. Don't switch it up every time he refuses something or he will keep waiitng and refusing until he gets what he wants. I would try giving him only Crickets or Only Dubia Roaches, or Only Superworms, which ever is your favorite staple animal protein for him and what you fed him prior to him trying horn worms. Horn worms are like a steak dinner to them apparently lol. So if he is otherwise healthy, and just being picky - he's just doing that, being picky. You need to offer him fresh greens at all times, except at night - it will just dry out most of the time. And choose 1 staple insect like crickets, offer him crickets once/day each day around the same time. If he doesn't eat it, put them back in their bin and offer him greens. Wait until the next day at the exact same time and offer him crickets again, if he refuses, put them back and offer him greens. He will eventually eat them - some experts say you can even cut off the greens for a day or 2 until he starts eating the crickets. Like I said above, if he is otherwise healthy and has no other under-lying issues, he will not starve himself! Just make sure to stay consistent (Exact same insect, same time each day) and don't cave in. Once he starts eating them again, go back to your 75-80% greens and 20-25% insects as he's over 2 years old.

Let us know how it goes!

You say "he will not starve himself."

But He has only eaten One Piece of Mustard Greens and 2 Superworms over the last 2 Months.

That seems like he is starving himself to me.

I am very very concerned.

Oh wow, see I must have missed that, I'm not sure how I feel awful - I am concerned as well. I thought he was eating just hornworms. I agree, if he hasn't eaten in 2 months I would take him in to be checked for parasites. It is true that Bearded Dragons almost never starve themselves out of pickiness, there is usually a reason for them not eating (Most common are impaction and parasites). I'd get her/him looked at to see if there a medical reason for it first.

 

[AHBD]

Lizardguy, I can understand your concern....will he still eat hornworms ? You wrote in one of your post that he goes right for the hornworms but not superworms. That is being a picky eater....as animallover mentioned, you could go for a fecal test, but if he's eating hornworms then he really is being picky, but he could still have parasites.

 

[thatLizardGuy]

I would maybe have him checked out just to be safe, tat he doesn't have any impaction going on, or a parasite, etc. Then, if he checks out as healthy, with a picky eating habit, I would honestly just try tough love while monitoring his weight, and force feeding him when necessary (If your dragon is otherwise healthy, he will not starve himself. Offer him the same foods every single day, and only those foods. Don't switch it up every time he refuses something or he will keep waiitng and refusing until he gets what he wants. I would try giving him only Crickets or Only Dubia Roaches, or Only Superworms, which ever is your favorite staple animal protein for him and what you fed him prior to him trying horn worms. Horn worms are like a steak dinner to them apparently lol. So if he is otherwise healthy, and just being picky - he's just doing that, being picky. You need to offer him fresh greens at all times, except at night - it will just dry out most of the time. And choose 1 staple insect like crickets, offer him crickets once/day each day around the same time. If he doesn't eat it, put them back in their bin and offer him greens. Wait until the next day at the exact same time and offer him crickets again, if he refuses, put them back and offer him greens. He will eventually eat them - some experts say you can even cut off the greens for a day or 2 until he starts eating the crickets. Like I said above, if he is otherwise healthy and has no other under-lying issues, he will not starve himself! Just make sure to stay consistent (Exact same insect, same time each day) and don't cave in. Once he starts eating them again, go back to your 75-80% greens and 20-25% insects as he's over 2 years old.

Let us know how it goes!

You say "he will not starve himself."

But He has only eaten One Piece of Mustard Greens and 2 Superworms over the last 2 Months.

That seems like he is starving himself to me.

I am very very concerned.

Oh wow, see I must have missed that, I'm not sure how I feel awful - I am concerned as well. I thought he was eating just hornworms. I agree, if he hasn't eaten in 2 months I would take him in to be checked for parasites. It is true that Bearded Dragons almost never starve themselves out of pickiness, there is usually a reason for them not eating (Most common are impaction and parasites). I'd get her/him looked at to see if there a medical reason for it first.

He ate the Horn Worms for the First Couple Days I had them but now he will not even eat Hornworms.

I now have to Force Feed Him which I feel very very bad about.

But He seems fine with it and is eating but only because I Force Feed Him Every Day.

What are your thoughts on Force Feeding?