Need a little confirmation on a new beardies adjustment.

[CooperDragon]

That should be fine for a few days. You may also want to look into Phoenix Worms if he likes going after worms.

 

[Wookster]

Great, thanks again for the advice. I'll keep the mealies small and preferably find the freshly molten ones. Hopefully its just enough nutrition to keep him healthy, but not satisfied and cricket eating will be next.

 

[Wookster]

I kid you not, it is actively hunting right now. Has nabbed at least two crickets. Thank you all so much for the good advice. "Happy" is on the move!!!! I guess he got a taste of mealworm and decided bugs were tasty.

 

[Wookster]

OK, maybe the mealworms weren't the best idea. Happy started throwing up this afternoon. Turned very pale too. thanks to this forum I had an idea of what I needed to do. I put him in a warm bath for 10 minutes, then massaged his belly towards his vent. He got very aggravated and I had to put him back in the water. As soon as he was back in, he arched his back and stayed like that for a good 30 seconds before a MASSIVE!!! poop came out. Oh lord the smell! bits of shell and whatnot, he was visibly smaller after the poop. A lot more active too. He basks a lot still, but wanders the tank too. His color has come back as well. Hopefully I did something good here. He just needs to start eating crickets. then all will be well.

 

[CooperDragon]

How many mealworms did he eat? I wouldn't offer more than a few if they're proving hard to digest. Softer worms like Phoenix or silk worms would be easier on him.

 

[Wookster]

he had 4 that day. I didn't give him any the next day. Been giving him baths after each day he doesn't poop. He gets a little belly massage and has pooped each time afterwards. Drinking well, active and alert. Have given him squash babyfood, had about half a droppers worth yesterday. Been giving him fresh greens daily. Havent seen him eat any, but it always gets spread around while I'm at work. I'm terrible at rounding up crickets. When he doesn't eat they scatter and hide in all the nooks and crannies of the decoration. Not worth the stress of a teardown at night to get the things. Today there were noticeable fewer cricket running around than yesterday. He's also pooped three times in the past 4 days and I don't think you get that kind of mass on a half dropper full of babyfood squash and 4 upchucked mealworms. Somethings being turned to poop. I'm thinking its crickets.

 

[diamc]

Sorry to hear that your little one isn't eating. I wanted to mention that it's very important to get any uneaten crickets out of the tank before his bedtime because they come out when it's dark and can chew on your beardie causing nasty sores that can become infected.

Since he's not getting any protein intake and he enjoys the baby food squash so much, you could pick up some chicken or turkey baby food & mix a little with the squash to help give him a boost. Most beardies really like that combo & it will help him to get a little protein into him until he starts eating the crickets.

 

[Wookster]

Thanks for the advice. "Happy" has a very mild respiratory infection. Due to owner stupidity and insane humidity levels. So far I've spent $200 on a $40 dragon. He has spunk, so its worth it. I have too many pieces in the tank that offer hiding spots. To the point I gave up and put a orange cricket cube in one of them to keep the bugs happy and hydrated. Not a problem currently. All his crickets are getting ground into a slurry of babyfood squash and his calcium and vitamins. He is 10 grams and has consumed almost 5 grams of food in the past 36 hours. I'm not a big fan of making "cricket soup" so I hope he starts hunting soon. If not, I will keep at it. This little guy WILL NOT die on me. I don't care if I have to burn vacation days at this point. After losing the first one, this will not happen again!