concerned

[nini02]

Ive been reading a lot of posts about picky eaters and been trying to follow some of the advice for other people, but nothing seems to be working for me. We got my bearded about three weeks ago. the breeder said greens everyday, live food 2-3 times a week. as long as hes eating his greens, (mustard, collard, kale) he wouldnt need any supplements. He gave us about 25 crickets and sent us on our way. We got him home and he gobbled up the crickets and any thing green we put into his tank. Now, three weeks later, he wont eat any greens or crickets. ive tried to mix up the greens and veggies too. So far ive tried, Collard, mustard, endive (?), winter squash, spaghetti squash, fresh green beans, mango and even put strawberries on top. This morning, i put superworms on top of his salad to entice him, but still no greens, just the worms. Hes pooping on a reg basis and still active. Should i be worried? what else can i try?? oh, hes about 12 inches in length, if that helps. Thanks guys!!!

 

[JessLC]

I have 2 juvie beardies and i feed them live food twice a day, one dusted feeding. calcium every day except tues and fri when they get their multi vitamins. And especially younger beardies need more feeders for growth and development. This is the most critical time for them to get all their vitamins.

Unless the beardie you have is an adult, in which case that sounds more normal for them to mostly eat greens.. i just assumed he was a juvie.

Has this just been happening for a couple days? My oldest has had her days where she wouldn't eat much of anything and was back to normal in a couple days. I think it was because she was getting ready for a full shed and was grumpy and not hungry. Could maybe be the case here..

Do you know how old he is?
What UVB bulb are you using?
And what are the temps for your cool side/hot side/basking area?

 

[nini02]

im not sure how old he is. its been going on for at least a week now. we are using a fluker's all in one compact bulb (uvb and heat). im not sure what the temps are yet, i ordered a thermometer and am still awaiting its arrival, but i would assume all is well with the tank as he is having regular bowl movements. and i had started feeding him live food twice a day, but he didnt eat and live food at the second feeding, so i stopped. i also just got supplements that i started today with the live feeding. both calcium (with D3) and multipurpose vitamins. Im just wondering if i should be concerned that hes not eating his greens and if there is anything i should be doing differently.

 

[trinity040400]

My oldest dragon was 12" when I got her and I only feed her live food once a day. I have found that when Tohru is being really stuborn if I kinda rub whatever I am feeding on her lips until she licks it then she will most times eat it.

Is he maybe getting ready to shed? When they start to shed they wont eat much.

Have you tried hand feeding? that seems to work better for me when she wont eat.

As long as she is eating something everyday then I wouldnt be to worried about it myself since he is still growing.

 

[nini02]

yea, i have tried hand feeding. and just like with the greens and crickets, he started out eating right out of our hands. now even, when he gets a lick of it, he just turns his head. he also, it seems, does not like to be watched when he eats. we have to put live food in his cage, and then walk away. only then will he eat live food. hes stubborn, just like my kids. lol.

 

[trinity040400]

Tohru doesnt like to eat when you watch her either unless I am hand feeding her. :roll: Lol

 

[JessLC]

If his eating doesn't improve I would say to switch his UVB bulb to a Reptisun 10.0 florescent tube.
That would be the only issue i can think of.. unless he is in fact being grumpy due to an incoming shed.

 

[nini02]

When i came home from work about 30 min ago, the first thing i did was check on him, as usual. and hes SHEDDING! i am so relieved and excited that hes growing, His whole head is peeling. i immed. put him into a bath and let him soak for a good 15-20 min. So im assuming thats why hes been so picky. Now thats hes shedding should i just continue to feed him as i have been and let him pick what he wants? also after the shed, will he return to eating as he was when i first got him? THANK YOU everyone for all your advice, you guys keep me sane. lol