Big step backwards

[changilass]

Bathed Horace, Esme and Gytha and they are all scared of me again.

Prior to this I had them eating out of my fingers and they would come onto my hand, now they just run and hide.

Gave them pheonix worm for last 2 days in their dishes (couldn't get crickets), gytha not eating, had to force feed her baby food, only got 1oz down and she refuses to open her mouth.

Got some crickets today and when I put them in the feeding container Gytha was too wary of me to eat, just kept looking for where I was, I tried moving away and left her for 15 mins to see if she would eat but no joy.
Horace only ate 7 and Esme only ate 3.

Big question is how do I get them to trust me but still be able to give them baths, they only stay in the water for about a minute before they go mad trying to get out. There is a cloth in the bath with them and I support their heads but they really just hate it.

Am worried that they will suffer through lack of food due to stress of baths.

Please help.

 

[mickeysmomma]

I make mine take a bath for longer.... And, now they love them. At first, Mickey tries to jump out...but then he calms down, and actually enjoys it...closes his eyes and soaks up the warm water!

 

[ziggy23]

they don't like change. it stresses them out. But in time new routine replaces old and they'll be fine.

And i wouldn't force feed for just 2 days of not eating. save the force feeding for when they are lethargic and not thriving. It's stressful, they can be injured, and as I said above they can get too attached to the new routine and refuse to eat on their own.

 

[AHBD]

How old are these dragons, and are they of good size + weight ? You can easily hydrate them by using a spray bottle, spraying gently on their heads until they start drinking. I do it all the time and have for years. If you use paper towel or newspaper, just change the wet part after you spray them if it's that wet. Give them baths maybe every two weeks, especially when they shed.