Eating very little

[AprilMayJune]

We have had Lance for about 6 months. He is estimated to be 2 1/2 years old. We bought him and a female from someone off the kijiji site. Originally they were housed together but after some knowledge and advicefrom fellow bd.org members and some agression between the two we seperated them.

When they were housed together Lance ate about 15-20 crickets every other day and a bit of salad almost daily(collard greens, parsely, dandelion, bok choy, cilantro, fruits). The salad varied week to week as it does now.

Since seperating them we have changed thier diets. We cut out the noisy crickets and offered them superworms every other day until he wouldn't eat them. We then began leaving a dish of supers in with him daily making sure they were dusted. We would try to hand feed daily to no avail. We offered silkworms which he snubbed his nose at. We offered butterworms which he snubbed as well. We offered hornworms which he gobbled down quickly. We offered waxworms as well which he snubbed. We tried crickets again because he did eat them in the past. He snubbed those too. We tried different greens and he would basically throw it all over his tank.

Lance wasn't eating and all he wanted to do was sleep. We allowed him to go into brumation in February since he only wanted to sleep and figured he would wake up with a ravenous appetite.

Lance woke up about 3 1/2 weeks ago. He was placed in his new home. (we built a condo for our 3 - see the DIY section for pictures of the finished product) He was slow waking up. He has been active for the last couple of weeks but is still not eating. He has adjusted well in his condo and climbs everything and investigates everything. There are no stress marks on his belly.

Since waking up he has not eaten any of his greens. Sigh. He has eaten a couple of crickets but not enough to count on my one hand. He did eat some supers but that took a lot of coaxing. He was offered silkworms and snubbed them again. We started a dubia colony whilst he was brumating and he won't even eat those. Normally if we let the supers roam around in front of him (supervised) for long enough he would eat them. The most he has eaten since coming out of brumation is 7 at one time and that was 2 weeks ago. He will eat 1 or 2 superworms every couple of days.

We went to a reptile expo yesterday and was able to buy some pheonix worms finally. They are hard to buy here in Canada unless you have a large order but was talking to the gentleman from recorp and he says they don't enforce the minimum $ order any longer and said if we wanted to we can order smaller from him to get the pheonix worms. I was excited, but Lance wasn't. He ate 3 pw's yesterday and only 2 today. His appetite is almost non-existant but he will drink daily. I can't afford to feed him only hornworms at $2 each (he used to love them and haven't tried them since waking up).

I don't think he is eating enough. He has pooped twice since waking up, both in the bath. It looks normal. I am very concerned for him. His colour is normal, no black beard unless he's bobbing. He is just as active as he was before brumation. He isn't fat and he isn't skinny either. Is there anything I can do to stimulate his appetite or to get him to eat more than one or two worms a week? At first I wasn't really concerned because he had always been a picky eater but I have been worried a lot about him lately. Our female, Samantha, his old tank-mate has always had a hearty appetite. She is huuuuuuge. Probably too fat for her own good. She wobbles when she walks and her belly drags along the ground. She will eat anything you put in front of her. The difference between the two is astounding.

Please, if you could, offer advice or suggestions on what I can do to get this little guy to eat. I'm almost ready to do anything to get him eating regularly.

Thanks in advance,
April

 

[Lennifer]

I am sorry to hear that u are having issues. I am not sure what advice to offer other then trying an appetite stimulator & having a fecal exam from a vet to rule out any possible parasites. Hopefully, it's not parasites & maybe he is just not as hungry after waking from Brumation. I would recomend ordering a bottle of Vitamin B Complex form Beautiful Dragons & see if that helps with his energy & appetite. I give this to Drago & he loves it!! I have seen a huge diff in him since using this prodect. Although...I must admit Drago had some parasites & that's why his eatting had slowed down. I gave him meds form the vet & started giving hima few drops of this per week & he seemed to perk right up! It's also apple flavored so he loves the taste! lol! Below is the info I copied form the website regarding this product....


Liquid Vitamin B Complex (apple flavor)
Everyone knows how beneficial B vitamins are to humans. They are just as helpful to our scaly friends. For example, a lack of thiamin (B-1) will cause twitching and muscle tremors in reptiles. This is called hypothiamosis and is often incorrectly diagnosed as MBD. Thiamin is needed for energy metabolism and proper function of the nervous system. Unfortunately, all the calcium in the world will not help a beardie that is deficient in vitamin B-1.

I have searched a long time and have finally found a human-grade liquid vitamin B-complex that I can give to my beardies. Pet stores and pet supply websites offer similar products, but I wanted to be absolutely certain that I was getting a product good enough that I could take myself. I have been using it for the last 6 months on all of my beardies with outstanding results! My beardies are more energetic, and new rescues that are ill seem to perk up very quickly when given this supplement.

Here is a list of every vitamin in this liquid (per ml or cc of liquid):

Thiamin (B-1) 2.54 mg, Riboflavin (B-2) 2.54 mg, Niacin (B-3) 5.41 mg, Pyridoxine (B-6) 0.74 mg, (B-12) 3.38 mcg, Pantothenic Acid (B-5) 183 mcg, Folic Acid 338.2 mcg, Biotin (B-8) 16.9 mcg, Iron 37.7 mg, Cobalt 338 mcg, Copper 152.1 mcg.

If you're like me, you're probably wondering just what each of these vitamins do. Well, I researched that too! Here is a listing of the vitamins and their key functions, sorry if it is a bit long...

Thiamin (B-1) - This nutrient plays a critical role in maintaining the central nervous system. Adequate thiamin levels can dramatically affect physiological well-being. Conversely, inadequate levels of B-1 can lead to eye weakness and loss of physical coordination. Vitamin B-1 is required for the production of hydrochloric acid, for forming blood cells, and for maintaining healthy circulation. It also plays a key role in converting carbohydrates into energy, and in maintaining good muscle tone of the digestive system. A chronic deficiency of thiamin will lead to damages of the central nervous system. Thiamin levels can be affected in combination with antibiotics and sulfa drugs like Albon. This nutrient is water-soluble, meaning that the excess is excreted in the feces and is not kept in the body.

Riboflavin (B-2) - Vitamin B2 is an easily absorbed, water-soluble nutrient with a key role in maintaining health. Like the other B vitamins, riboflavin supports energy production by aiding in the metabolization of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Vitamin B-2 is also required for red blood cell formation, respiration, antibody production, and for regulating growth and reproduction. Riboflavin is known to increase energy levels and aid in boosting immune system functions. It also plays a key role in maintaining healthy scales, skin, and nails. A deficiency of vitamin B-2 may be indicated by the appearance of skin and shedding problems. Gravid females need Vitamin B-2, as it is critical for the proper growth and development of the eggs.

Niacin (B-3) - Vitamin B3 is an essential nutrient required by all animals for the proper metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, as well as for the production of hydrochloric acid for digestion. B-3 also supports proper blood circulation, healthy skin and scales. It also aids in the functioning of the central nervous system because of its role in supporting the higher functions of the brain and cognition. A deficiency in vitamin B-3 can result in a disorder characterized by malfunctioning of the nervous system, diarrhea, skin and shedding problems.

Pantothenic Acid (B-5) - This is a water-soluble B vitamin that cannot be stored in the body, and must be replaced daily, either from diet or from supplements. It's most important function is as an essential component in the production of coenzyme A, a vital catalyst that is required for the conversion of carbohydrates, fats, and protein into energy. Pantothenic acid is also referred to as an anti-stress vitamin due to its vital role in the formation of various adrenal hormones, steroids, and cortisone, as well as contributing to the production of important brain neurotransmitters. B-5 is required for the production of cholesterol, bile, vitamin D, red blood cells, and antibodies. Lack of B-5 can lead to a variety of symptoms including skin disorders, digestive problems, and muscle cramps.

Pyridoxine (B-6) - This is another water-soluble nutrient that cannot be stored in the body, but must be obtained daily from either dietary sources or supplements. Vitamin B-6 is an important nutrient that supports more vital functions than any other vitamin. This is due to its role as a coenzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Vitamin B-6 is also responsible for the manufacture of hormones, red blood cells, neurotransmitters, and enzymes. Vitamin B-6 is required for the production of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that controls appetite, sleep patterns, and sensitivity to pain. A deficiency in B-6 can quickly lead to a profound malfunctioning of the central nervous system. Among its many benefits, B-6 is recognized for helping to maintain healthy immune system functions.

Vitamin B-12 - Is a water-soluble compound of the B vitamin family with a unique difference. Unlike the other B vitamins, which cannot be stored, but which must be replaced daily, vitamin B-12 can be stored for long periods in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin B-12 is a particularly important coenzyme that is required for the proper synthesis of DNA, which controls the healthy formation of new cells throughout the body. B-12 prevents nerve damage by contributing to the formation of nerve cells insulators. B-12 also maintains fertility, and helps promote normal growth and development. Since B-12 can be easily stored in the reptile's body, and is only required in tiny amounts, symptoms of severe deficiency usually take time to appear. When symptoms do surface, it is likely that deficiency was due to digestive disorders or malabsorption rather than to poor diet. The source of B-12 in herbivorous reptiles is not known, since B-12 only comes from animal sources. Due to its role in healthy cell formation, a deficiency of B-12 disrupts the formation of red blood cells, leading to reduced numbers of poorly formed red cells. Symptoms include loss of appetite and neurological disorders. B-12 deficiency can lead to improper formation of nerve cells, resulting in irreversible neurological damage.

Cobalt - Cobalt is stored in the red blood cells and the plasma, as well as in the liver, and kidneys. As part of vitamin B-12, cobalt is essential to red blood cell formation and is also helpful to other cells. High dosage may affect the thyroid or cause overproduction of red blood cells, thickened blood, and increased activity in the bone marrow. Deficiency of cobalt is not really a concern with enough vitamin B-12. As cobalt deficiency leads to decreased availability of B-12, there is an increase of many symptoms and problems related to B-12 deficiency, particularly nerve damage.

Copper - Copper is important as a catalyst in the formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule. It helps oxidize vitamin C, forms collagen, helps the cross-linking of collagen fibers, supports the healing process of tissues, and aids in proper bone formation. An excess amount of copper may increase collagen and lead to stiffer and less flexible tissues. Copper enzymes play a role in oxygen-free radical metabolism, and in this way have a mild anti-inflammatory effect. Copper also functions in certain amino acid conversions. Copper also contributes to the integrity of the myelin sheaths covering nerves, and aids the conversion of tyrosine to the pigment melanin, which gives scales and skin their coloring. Low copper levels may reduce thyroid functions. Copper, like most metals, is a conductor of electricity; and helps the nervous system function. It also helps control levels of histamine. Weakened immunity, skeletal defects related to bone demineralization, and poor nerve conductivity, might all be a result of copper depletions. Copper deficiency results in several abnormalities of the immune system, such as reduced cellular immune response, reduced activity of white blood cells, and an increased infection rate.

Iron - The primary function of iron is the formation of hemoglobin. Iron is the central core of the hemoglobin molecule, which is the essential oxygen-carrying component of the red blood cell (RBC). In combination with protein, iron is carried in the blood to the bone marrow, where, with the help of copper, it forms hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen molecules throughout the body. Red blood cells pick up oxygen from the lungs and distribute it to the rest of the tissues, all of which need oxygen to survive. Iron deficiency occurs fairly commonly when a rapid growth period increases iron needs, which are often not met with additional dietary intake. Females need more iron than males. Symptoms of iron deficiency are weight loss from decreased appetite, loss of energy, lowered immunity.

(Info above was gathered from several sites, including Anapsid.org and Phelsumania.com.)

Our liquid vitamin B-complex is apple flavored and packaged in a 2 oz. glass bottle with a dripper top. Mix it in with your beardies salad a few times a week.

$5.00 for a 2 oz. bottle


~Sandy