Is my beardie lazy or sick?

[kelthazar]

So i've got a full time job now, and have had to ask my girl friend to feed my bearded dragon, Yamada, in the mornings and afternoon. The thing is that ever since then, my beardie has started to become very lazy during feeding. He doesn't make an effort to chase the crickets and will instead wait till the cricket(s) approach him within 1 inch then he'll eat them. Otherwise he'll just look at them as if he could care less...

Is this normal behavior? Or is it possible he is sick? Here's some more info on him to help you guys help me-

born Sep 9, 2010.

He is no 7 months.

His set up has plenty of climbing branches and a basking rock/cave. He has water inside as well as fresh greens in the morning that last till night time.

The heat on the warm side goes up to 110-90 degrees the cool side goes from 80-70 degrees.

We take him outside every day to roam around, i wont deny he has ate the occasional green plant here and there, but usually he doesnt eat what he doesnt like.

His diet consists of crickets dusted, super worms, and greens. morning is salad and worms, afternoon is crickets.

Can you guys shed any light on this?

thanks friends.

 

[catUK]

my beardie did exactly the same when she was around that age- i was told it may be that they learn the food comes to them and therefore don't waste energy trying to hunt for it.

 

[kelthazar]

Oh i see... hmm.. okay, i hope thats all it is. cuz thats not too bad. thanks so much for responding.

 

[jon21388]

maybe your beardie misses you feeding it.

 

[jeremiahjohnson]

I know this is a late reply but my JJ has been doing this lately but it seems only when it has been awhile since he last pooped, maybe hes a ittle constipated or needs more fruits to get things moving, thats what ive come to conclude, im a pretty new Beardie owner so i may be wrong, he still eats just when it is close lol

Hope i helped a bit here

take care

 

[TASTIGER]

Do you have a UVB bulb?

 

[jeremiahjohnson]

Yes sir!! I read some of the articles here on the site and im really hoping its not a blockage! He just hangs out on his tree up by his uvb bulb and its a new one too replaced it about 2 weeks ago! Maybe i will try giving him a bath again and a massage :S

any advice?

 

[TASTIGER]

what brand UVB is it i had a crappy UVB bulb and mine got real lazy and didnt really want to eat

 

[jeremiahjohnson]

Its an exoterra 26W 10.0 uvb from petsmart, he eats but doesnt come down from his perch and is very dark, recently finished shedding and has not pooped in about 3 days......not cool

 

[TASTIGER]

thats the bulb i was using before i got my reptisun 10.0 i would think about getting a new one

 

[jeremiahjohnson]

okay thanks a billion any advice in helping him release his bowels?

 

[TASTIGER]

feed him a little bit of 100% pumpkin puree then massage his tummy in the bath

 

[kelthazar]

Well any time my beardie has a pooping problem, i just put em in the bath. He lets out a big one there if he hasn't pooped all day. Otherwise he poops pretty religiously.

Just the eating thing and i think i cured it. He seemed to have gotten lazy because of my girlfriends feeding habits, so i just teased him with crickets for a bit till he got pissed off. Then he got more active. He's been doing okay for now.

Ill keep you guys updated.

 

[jeremiahjohnson]

Alright cool! thanks so much for the advice, ill try the pumkin puree, he didnt much like advocado lol i dunno if he will like my rubbin his belly hahaha i already get some glares every now and then....

thanks!

 

[TASTIGER]

dont ever feed avacado its known to be toxic to birds and other animals