BEARDIE WONT EAT VEGGIES OR FRUITS OR DRINK

[SydneySwaff]

Help! I'm a new owner to bearded dragons, i've only had him for a few days. the pet store said he loved veggies but i can't get him to eat them. He ate one tiny dice of green bell pepper and mustard green. He will only eat superworms and crickets. I've tried the paper towel trick and i tried moving it around and dropping it in front of him. I also cannot get him to drink water, he won't even drink when being given a bath. When i first got him, he really liked me, he'd sleep next to me and cuddle on my neck at night. Now he runs from me, today when i came home from work, i gave him a bath, then laid him on the bed with me and his beard went black. I put him back in his terrarium and he started glass surfing. I then put towels up so he couldn't see his reflection and that seemed to make him even more mad. His beard has been black for around 4 hours, i took him out again and he started bobbing his head at me and the blank tv screen on the wall. He will be seeing a vet Tuesday. i love him and don't want him to starve or be unhappy.

 

[CooperDragon]

How old is he? it sounds like he's stressed out about something. His age will help determine his diet. If he's acting stressed by handling I'd let him be in his enclosure for a while.

 

[Gormagon]

Sounds like a simple case of relocation stress. Imagine being dragged out of your cozy world, blindfolded and eventually thrown into a totally new world where you recognize nothing, you don't know the dangers that lurk in the corners of this new world and everything is new to you, how would you feel, lol? This is how he is feeling right now. It will take a little time for him to realize he is in a safe place. He will be fine, just keep offering food and, leave his world (viv) as it is, no changes at all for a while.

 

[SydneySwaff]

The pet store told me he's 1 year old. He's eating the insects, he just won't touch the veggies or fruits unless he accidentally takes one in the salad mix. He loves being handled and he doesn't want to go back into his viv. He sleeps on my neck at night so he seems to be just fine the relocation.

 

[CooperDragon]

OK that sounds good. At a year old he may just be picky/stubborn with his foods. Try not offering bugs for a week and just giving him daily salads with a variety of items and see if he gives into that. I'd reference this list for ideas and pick up whatever looks freshest at the store. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html 2-3 items in each salad rotating to find what his favorites are might do the trick.

 

[JessPets]

Just sounds like relocation stress. You said you've only had him for a few days, so just gove him sometime to adjust. I wouldn't recommend super worms on a daily basis, as they aren't super healthy. Try dubias, BSFL (black solider fly larvae), crickets, or silkworms. Also, a lot of beardies won't drink from a standing bowl of water, so don't worry about it.

 

[SydneySwaff]

Thank you all!