Concerned about my Beardie not eating

[Zoe1116]

Over the past 4-5 days my Beardie will not eat the mealworms nor as it seems the veggies either. Went from eating everyday 4-5 worms a day to not at all. Other then not eating everything seems normal. Prior too not eating it did recently shed quite a bit but that has happened previously with no change. Overall still acts okay, allows me to take em’ out and hold ‘em’ just will not eat. I know I may be worrying to much but I don’t want anything to be wrong with em. We’ve only had it since first week of November. Any tips are greatly appreciated

 

[KarrieRee]

Over the past 4-5 days my Beardie will not eat the mealworms nor as it seems the veggies either. Went from eating everyday 4-5 worms a day to not at all. Other then not eating everything seems normal. Prior too not eating it did recently shed quite a bit but that has happened previously with no change. Overall still acts okay, allows me to take em’ out and hold ‘em’ just will not eat. I know I may be worrying to much but I don’t want anything to be wrong with em. We’ve only had it since first week of November. Any tips are greatly appreciated

How old is the dragon? Eating will be off w/ relocation stress- but he should be eating something- meal worms are not a good staple- now for the MOST IMPORTANT THING-- what are you using for a uvb- coil or long tube fixture-- basking temps what are they and they should be surface temps- taken w/ a digital probe thermometer-

 

[Zoe1116]

How old is the dragon? Eating will be off w/ relocation stress- but he should be eating something- meal worms are not a good staple- now for the MOST IMPORTANT THING-- what are you using for a uvb- coil or long tube fixture-- basking temps what are they and they should be surface temps- taken w/ a digital probe thermometer-

I honestly don’t know exactly how old it is but it was a teeny tiny little thing when we got him which was 11/16/21. When we first got it for like 2 days it wouldn’t eat (likely due to the change in environment) which I had crickets the 3rd day still wouldn’t eat so I was told to try the mealworms. Ate those immediately and had been ever sense. Has been on and off shedding but even still would eat. Most recently he shedded a great deal from its head down its back it’s been sense then he hasn’t been eating. Going to the bathroom has been small like a rodents and is also out of the norm. The lights I have are those that came with the habitat but they hold steady between 80-90 basking and between 30-50%. While on. Still moves around climbs and let’s me hold it and things like that just isn’t eating. I’ve been told mixed things regarding the food some saying I shouldn’t do the worms others saying it’s fine til it gets bigger at least. I just want em’ to be okay

 

[KarrieRee]

I honestly don’t know exactly how old it is but it was a teeny tiny little thing when we got him which was 11/16/21. When we first got it for like 2 days it wouldn’t eat (likely due to the change in environment) which I had crickets the 3rd day still wouldn’t eat so I was told to try the mealworms. Ate those immediately and had been ever sense. Has been on and off shedding but even still would eat. Most recently he shedded a great deal from its head down its back it’s been sense then he hasn’t been eating. Going to the bathroom has been small like a rodents and is also out of the norm. The lights I have are those that came with the habitat but they hold steady between 80-90 basking and between 30-50%. While on. Still moves around climbs and let’s me hold it and things like that just isn’t eating. I’ve been told mixed things regarding the food some saying I shouldn’t do the worms others saying it’s fine til it gets bigger at least. I just want em’ to be okay

Babies should not have meal worms their intestines are not fully developed causing impaction - as they grow the intestines grow w/ them - please get crickets or dubia roaches or some BSFL--- I can post websites for you but you must get the UVB and the basking temps corrected-- what size tank is he in? I am going to post stuff what you need to get him to eat- he needs salads as well but lets get the UVB and basking temps fixed first or he will not eat --
For a 40 gallon tank you need one of these ASAP 24" fixture
Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood this will come w/ a 5.0 bulb keep it use it for back up distance and placement is different from the one you need which is this one 22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
or this one
make sure it says 24" Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
you need two of these Zoo Med Digital Thermometer you can get these at the pet store where you got the dragon most stores carry them
Your dragon will NOT eat w/ out proper basking temps 105-110 those need to be surface basking temps take the probe place it on the spot where he sits to bask and wait 10 min or so then get the temp
Basking bulb need to be a CLEAR bright white bulb like this Exo Terra Intense basking bulb or a Zoo Med Retpti basking bulb

Zoo Med Basking Spot Lamp

Zoo Med reptile light bulbs focus more energy into a concentrated area and improve ambient temperatures within reptile enclosures. These bulbs are the standard when it comes to daytime reptile lighting and heating. Order this basking light now at Pangea R

www.pangeareptile.com

What size wattage are you using now ? You need to get a actual basking temp before changing the bulb out to a higher wattage - that is where the probe comes in right now I am assuming your using the stick ons those are inaccurate and are giving you ambient temps only
Get rid of the coil bulb if that is what your using those coils are NO Good!!!!!!!!!! You want the long tube fixture I posted above -- please get this fixed ASAP or your little one is not going to make it!! NO colored bulbs NO Coils NO Day time bulbs NO sand for substrate No heat mats or rocks those are not good for dragons!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

If you have pictures, definitely post them for us, along with tank pictures so we can the environment.
Since he isn't eating much right now, you can make a nutritional food slurry to feed him daily or at least
every other day. Just use a plastic dropper or syringe to drop food into the end of his nose to see if he
will lick any food off.
As Karrie suggests, you will definitely need to upgrade your UVB to a higher quality one. If you are using
the initial setup from the petstore it is probably a compact/coil UVB which are usually not very good.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie