New dragon not eating

[brianarmstrong2224]

I went to go get my bearded dragon today, I noticed he had stress marks when I got him and in the car ride home the started to disappear, but when he got in the tank they started to comeback again. I tend to overthink so I'm worried lol. It also seems like he is also inflating and deflating his neck for a couple seconds and then stops. He also ate 3 wax worms and a mealworms and hasn't ate since. I tend to overthink a lot so I'm worried lol. Should I be worried or just wait a couple of days and let him settle in?

 

[SPandS]

Probably just relocation stress. It can take days or even weeks for them to settle in and start being comfortable.

 

[KarrieRee]

Please no more meal worms or wax worms- the meals are too harsh on the stomach and wax worms are too fatty and should be fed sparingly--- they will go thru relocation stress and its normal for the eating to be off but they should NOT stop eating--- please get some crickets or dubia roaches as staple feeders - he needs to be be eating at least 30-60 crickets per day or as many as he will eat in a 10-15 minute time frame- dubias are more filling so he will eat less -- make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise ----
NOW the most important thing --- UVB your using NO coils please and basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? Those two things are going to control the over all health and behavior of the dragon-
He needs to be eating salads every morning or at least some
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder
Please ask if you have any more questions

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

Please no more meal worms or wax worms- the meals are too harsh on the stomach and wax worms are too fatty and should be fed sparingly--- they will go thru relocation stress and its normal for the eating to be off but they should NOT stop eating--- please get some crickets or dubia roaches as staple feeders - he needs to be be eating at least 30-60 crickets per day or as many as he will eat in a 10-15 minute time frame- dubias are more filling so he will eat less -- make sure the insect is no bigger than the space between his eyes length wise ----
NOW the most important thing --- UVB your using NO coils please and basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? Those two things are going to control the over all health and behavior of the dragon-
He needs to be eating salads every morning or at least some
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder
Please ask if you have any more questions

Im using the reptisun 10.0 t5 with reflector. The highest temp on basking spot is 107 and his second basking spot is 103. Everything else in basking area ranges from 90-103. Cool side temp ranges from 79-82. I tried phoenix worms and he just looked at them. Im using the mealworms and waxworms as a snack and I was giving them to him because that was the only thing he would give his attention to. I'm still looking for a place to get roaches. But I also have silk and butterworms. I only got mealworms because I know that's what he was on before I got him and I didn't want to cut him off cold turkey and plus I hear alot of back and forth argument about mealworms so I got a couple.

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

Also I'm not planning on getting crickets cause they stink, make noise, and die easily. I'm good on that lol.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok lol hear you on the cricket thing- you can get roaches from here- http://www.dubiaroaches.com or here http://www.reptilianarts.com or http://www.mulberryfarms.com
Your T 5 is where in the tank? If its on top of the screen your screen needs to be a wide hole type w/ a certain distance- if it's a fine mesh it needs to be inside the tank and distance should be 12- 15 inches directly above the basking decor

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

Ok lol hear you on the cricket thing- you can get roaches from here- http://www.dubiaroaches.com or here http://www.reptilianarts.com or http://www.mulberryfarms.com
Your T 5 is where in the tank? If its on top of the screen your screen needs to be a wide hole type w/ a certain distance- if it's a fine mesh it needs to be inside the tank and distance should be 12- 15 inches directly above the basking decor

I believe it's the wide hole type. This is how it is set up:

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

This is how my top looks.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes so get a piece of basking decor directly underneath 8-10 inches and you should be good-- keep feeding him make sure he's hydrated and your basking temps 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer - as he acclimated to his tank and surroundings he should start eating more

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

These are pics of my lizard. It has been a week now and he still isn't really eating. Although yesterday was the most he had. 9 crickets 5 mealworms and 1 wax worm. But today he hasn't eaten at all. There are currently 3 crickets hopping around in the tank and some mealworms and phoenix worms in a cup. He has pooped 3 times since I got him and it was hard so I thought maybe he was dehdrated but everytime I pick him up he runs so I can't give him a bath. I try and mist him and it does seems like he's getting more hydrated because that urates is softer everytime. There are currently a couple spots in his enclosure that exceed 105 but not 110. everything else around tank in hot side ranges from 85-105 and the cool side 78-84. Sometimes when I look over to him he is puffing his neck out but it's not black. I really want to bond with him and take care him but he's not letting me do that and this is very disappointing.

 

[chestermymunchkin]

that tank looks awesome lots of enrichment!

 

[KarrieRee]

Its good he's eating but please lay off the meal worms they are too hard on babies stomachs- get some BSFL they are a great staple feeder do not dust them use them as lures to the salad bowl hand feed a few of those and then add them to his salad in front of him-- feed as many as you want please do not leave crickets in the tank over nite they will come out at nite and bite your dragon----- it's going to take time w/ him to acclimate to his tank and surroundings-- his eating will pick up as long as your basking temps and UVB are correct- if you need websites for worms / insects let me know I will post them do you have the website for nutrition?

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

Its good he's eating but please lay off the meal worms they are too hard on babies stomachs- get some BSFL they are a great staple feeder do not dust them use them as lures to the salad bowl hand feed a few of those and then add them to his salad in front of him-- feed as many as you want please do not leave crickets in the tank over nite they will come out at nite and bite your dragon----- it's going to take time w/ him to acclimate to his tank and surroundings-- his eating will pick up as long as your basking temps and UVB are correct- if you need websites for worms / insects let me know I will post them do you have the website for nutrition?

I Have BSFL(phoenix worms) and he doesn't eat them. I have roaches coming hopefully tomorrow. I know what you all say about mealworms but I've also heard from breeders who use mealworms as food but also diversify your food. I can't give hime a diversity of food if he won't eat anything. Mealworms was the only thing he was eating until I decided to try crickets, and my roaches has been taking a while to come in. But mealworms isn't the only thing I'm offering it was the only thing I could get him to eat.

 

[brianarmstrong2224]

that tank looks awesome lots of enrichment!

Thanks!