Frustrated/concerned new owner - Desperately need advice pls

[Minnie72]

Morning all.
I've had Larry for the last 4 weeks. He's roughly 8 inches long from nose to tail & about 3-4 months old. He has never really eaten huge amounts since I got him. He was being feed huge locusts by the breeder which I have down-sized since finding this site. He would only eat about 10-12 small crickets/locusts per day & is now not interested at all. I have tried over the last week or so feeding him small wax worms to get him interested & he was eating some for a few days, but now is not interested again. I bath him every other day & he poos every day. I am frightened that I'll loose him & don't know what to do. Do I try him again with crickets? If he's not eating he's not getting the calcium/vitamins his needs

Minnie

 

[zebraflavencs]

When dragons come home with us, there is typically several weeks of acclimation. Have you offered anything else besides the locusts ? How about salads ? If you powder the salads, your beardie can still get his calcium and vitamins.
Janie.

 

[Minnie72]

Hi there.
I have offered him veggies every other day dusted with vitamins/calcium, but he does not eat it. I only handle him at bath time & do check him over b4 hand to make sure he is not impacted. I can't feel any lumps. He did start to shed a fews days after bringing him home & still seems to be shedding?

Minnie

 

[zebraflavencs]

Sheds can put a dragon off his food. Keep up with the baths, and once he had totally shed, try offering food again. Keep the salads on a daily basis, just a tiny bit.
Janie.

 

[Minnie72]

Thx janie.

I am so worried it is me doing something wrong.

I have just checked my temps again & am wondering if this has anything to do with it ?? He basks bout 6 inches from the UVB & the basking spot is bout 100-110f. The cool side is bout 82f & the ambient temp ranges from 80-84f. Do these seem ok ?? I must admit when I pick him up he is never cold.

What bout giving him some baby food? if this seems a good idea how do I feed it to him ??

Sorry for all the questions

Minnie

 

[zebraflavencs]

Things look just fine in your enclosure. Don't bother with the baby food, he'll be his old self once shed is done. If this behavior continues then get a fecal done, to rule out parasites.
Janie.

 

[Minnie72]

I'm gonna bath him as normal today, give him small amount of veggie & if has stopped shedding will try some live food Sunday.

Minnie

 

[zebraflavencs]

Sounds good, Minnie !
Janie.

 

[akingsley9000]

Hi -

What kind of brand of UVB are you using?

 

[Minnie72]

Hi,
Here's my set up, which I check all the time. I'm sure I have OCD.
3ftx2ftx2ft viv
100% re-cycled paper substrate
Habistat dimming thermostat
Digital thermometer in hot & cool end of viv
12hrs lights on + 12hrs with them off
Night temps 72-65f
Basking spot 105-110f
Cool end 80-82f
Ambient viv temp 80f
D3 Arcadia Reptile Lamp 6% UVB
100w Reflector spot lamp

Larry can get to within 6 inches of the UVB.

Minnie

 

[akingsley9000]

Ok your setup looks fine.

Hows he doing today?

 

[Minnie72]

Hi,
He has eaten bout 10 small crickets today. He must have been hungry cos 4 went within the 1st 20 seconds. He seems to be better & has stopped shedding. I get worried bcos he has never eaten as much as I am being told he should (50-100 crickets per day).
He is still so nervous of me, even thou have had him for 4 weeks now. Goes mental when I pick him up for his bath. I am trying not to pick him up too much, have limited it to every other day when he has a bath. The tank is in my bedroom, so no one goes in there while me & my OH are at work. I put a blanket over the viv at night when the lights go off so he's not disturbed if we switch the room light on. I don't know what else to do??

Minnie