bit worried about Dexter :-(

[CaptainVimes]

Hi all,

Simon and I discussed Dexter's diet, I felt that he was eating too many locusts compared to his fresh produce. Because of this, I was worried about the longterm effects on his organs due to the high level of protein intake.

I don't know if he was listening, but after our conversation, Dexter considerably cut down on his bug content, he was having no more than 7 bugs a day, and not eating every day.

Simon suggested that we should follow the same routine that he had with his other lizards, which is to cut down on the amount of days that he eats bugs.

He now has up to 8 Med/large locusts every 3 days or so.

I'm sure I'm doing it completely wrong, as he seems to have lost a bit of weight that we managed to get on him, PLUS he has a lattice pattern of stress marks on his tummy, they are not very dark, but they are VERY noticeable, if I could take a photo of his belly, you would most probably agree! His beard is also a shade of grey, not dark, just slightly darker than his natural beard colour.

He eats a reasonable amount of his daily veg, so he's not starving on the days he doesn't eat. Yet I still don't think he's eating enough, or that he's happy about it. I have changed nothing else in his viv, nor changed anything in his schedule.

Should we go back to the daily feeding of bugs?

I hope that someone can advise?

Best wishes


CV

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

It could be that the change in diet has given him a bit of an upset stomach. I wouldn't be inclined to worry too much, but I would get a fecal done to rule out parasites.

If it helps, my guys only get live twice a week - they get tinned dragon food (cooked bugs) once or twice a week, and fruit/veg every day. They also get offered "complete" food mixes - and I hope this gives them a nicely balanced diet

 

[CaptainVimes]

I thought we were not supposed to use the tinned food, or the "complete mixes" for beardies? Only live bugs and fresh veg and a little fruit? Ive not seen any beardies in the wildlife programmes carrying a tin opener? Lol

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

I do a mix of everything - saves it getting boring for the lizards.

*grins* I don't see wild dragons finding butterworms in Australia, or silkworms and multivitamin powder for that matter, but they're good for them too (Edit: Tsam stuck his head up and bobbed when I read this out to my partner, so clearly I'm right!)

Plus my tins have ring pulls