Not eating?

[BeardieScout]

My bearded dragon, Echo, has not had a good appetite for around a month now. He has been eating superworms, collard greens, and curtain parts in spring mix. Tomorrow I'm going to start trying to feed him crickets again as he stopped wanting to eat them over a month ago. Hopefully he will try eating the again. But today he has only eaten some greens but has refused to eat any superworms for the past few days. Any suggestions?

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. How big is he? What is his set up like?

 

[BeardieScout]

Hi. How big is he? What is his set up like?

He is around 18 inches long and this is his enclosure:

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Thanks for answering. Is that stick on thermometer how you are taking the temps? Also what kind of uvb light does he have? Coil/compact or long tube? Brand? How close can he get to the basking light and uvb?

 

[BeardieScout]

Hi. Thanks for answering. Is that stick on thermometer how you are taking the temps? Also what kind of uvb light does he have? Coil/compact or long tube? Brand? How close can he get to the basking light and uvb?

No, the stick thermometer is not how I read it, it just came with the kit. I use a digital thermometer. It read about 100 degrees (F) in the hotter end. I have a Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 UVB compact bulb for the UVB. He is around 12 1/2 inches away from the UVB and the basking bulb and when on the top of his ramp he is 9 inches away.

 

[CooperDragon]

I think the UVB setup may be the issue. The 5.0 bulbs are designed for shade animals rather than the sun loving dragons. You'll want a ReptiSun 10.0 or an Arcadia 12% or 14% bulb to provide adequate UVB exposure. The compact bulbs and T8 bulbs also have a range of only about 6-8'' so he probably isn't getting any useful UVB. At 12'' a T5 would be ideal. I suggest picking up a T5 UVB tube that runs about 1/2 the length of the tank. The 22'' will work in most cases. These are very good options for UVB:
This fixture http://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ
With this bulb http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSun-10-0-Lamp/dp/B00AQU8HAO/

Or this combo set http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/

 

[kingofnobbys]

In addition to above

Feeding assistance :

It is easy to handfeed/force feed a little beardie.

Crickets are dead easy to use - I simply take a few crickets out of the dusting tub at a time, disable them (crush their heads) and place the little lizard on my tummy/chest facing me, I then pull a hopper leg off, the drumstick end (fat end of the leg) is then pushed between the lips on the side of the mouth , beardie starts to chew it, and quickly while he's chewing I squeeze some cricket goo out and place firmly but gently the gooy end of the cricket against the lips, chances are the beardie will eat it when it tastes the gooy stuff.
repeat
kinda like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVupVG9E06s

Other techniques / options :
>>>> folded plastic coated playing card technique - self explainatory , fold card , cut hole big enough for food item to go through hole in middle of crease, slip folded card between lips and plies mouth open using card as two levers, while mouth is open pop a food item in through the hole, remove card , lizard eats food item .
repeat.
>>>> make an insect puree/mash , and give via a syringe with a large bore needle hole.
>>>> try Grup Pie (Rapashi) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awk__AanmP4 I've not used this product but know of at least one keeper who uses it as a staple for his beardie and reckons it's great.
>>>> try a different feeder ( CalciGents aka BSF maggots aka phoenix worms ) , silkworms.

Other things to consider are :
>>> how long the lights are on each day , if too short he'll think it's winter , suggest lights on 15 -16 hrs per day for a young beardie.
>>> temperatures
>>> is the UV light suitable for a beardie (must be rated at least 10% UVB and provide significant UVA (about 30%) and be positioned so the beardie can get close enough to experience extreme levels of UVA and UVB (equiv UVI about 13-14).
>>> feeding schedule (when and what)

 

[BeardieScout]

I think the UVB setup may be the issue. The 5.0 bulbs are designed for shade animals rather than the sun loving dragons. You'll want a ReptiSun 10.0 or an Arcadia 12% or 14% bulb to provide adequate UVB exposure. The compact bulbs and T8 bulbs also have a range of only about 6-8'' so he probably isn't getting any useful UVB. At 12'' a T5 would be ideal. I suggest picking up a T5 UVB tube that runs about 1/2 the length of the tank. The 22'' will work in most cases. These are very good options for UVB:
This fixture http://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ
With this bulb http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSun-10-0-Lamp/dp/B00AQU8HAO/

Or this combo set http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/

Thankyou for the advice. The other day I got a ReptiSun 10.0 like you said. He seems to be getting more active! Though, he still is not eating. I'm guessing it takes time for them to adjust? Thankyou again!