Female dragon that is almost 5 months old has decreased appetite

[mshaverly]

Meleys, who will be 5 months next week, has not eaten her normal amount of food for the last two days. She has decreased from ~ 40 dubia roaches per day to 22 roaches yesterday and only 15 today. She is shedding right now but shedding has never affected her appetite in the past. She eats her greens first thing in the morning followed by four of five bugs. At noon she eats about twenty bugs and another twenty around 5:00 pm. The bug size is more of a smaller sized medium bug. She will always find room for a hornworm though. Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[KarrieRee]

Meleys, who will be 5 months next week, has not eaten her normal amount of food for the last two days. She has decreased from ~ 40 dubia roaches per day to 22 roaches yesterday and only 15 today. She is shedding right now but shedding has never affected her appetite in the past. She eats her greens first thing in the morning followed by four of five bugs. At noon she eats about twenty bugs and another twenty around 5:00 pm. The bug size is more of a smaller sized medium bug. She will always find room for a hornworm though. Any ideas? Thank you.

She will be fine -- just let her eat what she wants- as long as she is eating its when they completely stop is a issue -

 

[mshaverly]

Today she ate 13 bugs and a few bites of greens. I had to coax her to get her to eat three small hornworms.

 

[xp29]

Today she ate 13 bugs and a few bites of greens. I had to coax her to get her to eat three small hornworms.

She is probably reacting to the change in weather we've seen in the last couple weeks. That and the shorter daylight we're having now.

 

[mshaverly]

I will take Meleys to vet tomorrow. She has not eaten normally for one week. She is down to seven smaller medium dubia roaches per day and one small hornworm. Stays in her cave all the time. Will eat no greens. Very little activity. However she looks good. Will be five months on the 31st. Is 156 grams and 14 inches long. She just abruptly stopped eating a week ago and started hiding. Her basking spot temp is 108-110 and this spot I also a cave she stays in all the time so she is staying very warm. Her lights are on for 12 hours per day. Last Monday she ate 42 bugs and not much since then. My other dragon, Vhagar, is in brumation in his hide but not asleep. His basking rock temp is 99. Any ideas? The reptile shop owner said the barometric pressure has dropped. Told me to increase the temps a little.

 

[xp29]

I will take Meleys to vet tomorrow. She has not eaten normally for one week. She is down to seven smaller medium dubia roaches per day and one small hornworm. Stays in her cave all the time. Will eat no greens. Very little activity. However she looks good. Will be five months on the 31st. Is 156 grams and 14 inches long. She just abruptly stopped eating a week ago and started hiding. Her basking spot temp is 108-110 and this spot I also a cave she stays in all the time so she is staying very warm. Her lights are on for 12 hours per day. Last Monday she ate 42 bugs and not much since then. My other dragon, Vhagar, is in brumation in his hide but not asleep. His basking rock temp is 99. Any ideas? The reptile shop owner said the barometric pressure has dropped. Told me to increase the temps a little.

Maybe try offering superworms, Zsa Zsa seems to have) gotten bored with dubias but will grab superworms.

 

[mshaverly]

So the vet said Meleys has a higher than normal count of pinworms. She prescribed 3 days of pyrantel pamoate. Will recheck her fecal next week. She is eating very few greens and only about 15 small to small medium bugs per day. Wants to eat only once per day. She will eat a couple of hornworms at end of day feeding. So, I am dusting all insects with supplements since she really isn't eating twice a day.

 

[mshaverly]

So today she is back to not eating. Won't touch greens. Ate five small dubia roaches with me coaxing her.

 

[xp29]

So today she is back to not eating. Won't touch greens. Ate five small dubia roaches with me coaxing her.

Maybe try some crickets and see if the movement entices her. Oh I forgot the antibiotics, they will suppress appetite also. So it could be that.

 

[mshaverly]

Finished the meds today. Did eat a few small silkworms.

 

[xp29]

Finished the meds today. Did eat a few small silkworms.

It usually took my guys a week or so to get their appetite back after meds.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

So the vet said Meleys has a higher than normal count of pinworms. She prescribed 3 days of pyrantel pamoate. Will recheck her fecal next week. She is eating very few greens and only about 15 small to small medium bugs per day. Wants to eat only once per day. She will eat a couple of hornworms at end of day feeding. So, I am dusting all insects with supplements since she really isn't eating twice a day.

Glad you took her to the vet. Alex did similar around the same age (probably closer to 7 months) In her case she was fine but kind of confused about her first brumation I guess lol Started it, didn't like it and waited until summer to do it. That's my princess lol Does Meleys normally happily take greens? Alex does her best to avoid them. But she loves blueberries and golden raspberries. Blueberries are fantastic antioxidants, lower your blood sugar etc... Might be worth a try to get some vitamins such in her.

 

[mshaverly]

She is not wanting her greens now. She wants very expensive silk worms! Of course!

 

[xp29]

She is not wanting her greens now. She wants very expensive silk worms! Of course!

The good news is that silkworms are at least nutritious they can be a staple but I agree they are pricey

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Silkworm Feeders

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I buy from them when I order Alex treats or fresh blood for the roach colony. BSFL might catch her interest too and are much cheaper. Always great service and communicative when needed.
Got a heads up that a hurricane might delay my order. Actually got it a day early even with the airport closure down there lol
My usual mail lady makes sure to knock on the door and hand them to me telling me to tell Alex enjoy after she met her