How often do your subadults eat?

[Krissy_p]

Ours is just over 12 months old. He’s been sick with parasites (being treated). We just adopted him a few weeks ago and his appetite seems to come in waves. I know some of it is due to the parasites he came home with, but now that’s he’s been on treatments for them I’m wondering if his eating habits are more or less normal.

Do your adults eat everyday? He is getting dubias (and a few superworms, but more dubias- all dusted with calcium and the weekly multivitamin) 3x a week. He’s offered greens everyday, but he does not eat them everyday. Some days he doesn’t bother with them at all. And some days he will literally just eat a few pieces. Then other days he’s munching down, especially if I hand feed.

Today is one of the “I’m not interested” in food days. But I bet if I put dubias out he would eat them . I guess I’m wondering if this is normal for his age? Or if he’s still perhaps recovering from having parasites.

Any insight is appreciated as I want to make sure he’s not starving.

 

[xp29]

Until they are full size they should eat every day. The meds for parasites really mess with their appetite though, it may take a little while for him to get to normal. You can try giving him some none dairy probiotic yogurt to help his gut flora to recover. Once he reaches full size and is filling out instead of putting on size you can scale the protein back.

 

[Krissy_p]

Until they are full size they should eat every day. The meds for parasites really mess with their appetite though, it may take a little while for him to get to normal. You can try giving him some none dairy probiotic yogurt to help his gut flora to recover. Once he reaches full size and is filling out instead of putting on size you can scale the protein back.

Thank you! He is finally free of coccidia, but he’s on a weekly dose of two different other medications for another 4 weeks I’m hoping it doesn’t last too long. If he’s uninterested in greens, do you think I should allow daily insects while he’s recovering so that he’s at least eating something?

 

[AHBD]

It really depends on what size they are, some of them will slow down on the eating, it's not that just one day you change up the diet. It's fine for him to do what he's doing as long as he's a good size+ weight and the days with no bugs gives him the opportunity to learn that greens are a good thing if Mr. John McCane is hungry.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

At 12 months, he has probably slown down some on his eating, simply because he isn't growing
like when he was younger. Though, he will still grow in length & fill out more into his second year.
Most of the time, I recommend 40-50 insects weekly for adults, depending on their weight & activity
level since it does vary from dragon to dragon.
It is very hard getting them to eat their greens regularly, but keep trying. Offer different ones & mix
bright colored bell pepper or squash into it to see if that helps out.

Tracie

 

[Drache613]

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