Out of town for 3 weeks- UPDATE w/new ?

[usmcfamily]

We are taking a trip this summer and will be moving all of our pets to my parents for the duration of the trip. This includes our dragon, Spencer. I plan to take his whole tank there but my mom is VERY wary about the dubia being brought in. I have a tub here but can't take them. I'm honestly *thisclose* to not allowing them here either though because I keep finding them out of the tub (like in the kids rooms, under a toy or whatever and that's not gonna fly here). What are the alternatives?

What do I send to feed him? I'm sending a list of the salad stuff as well as a starter bowl but he'll need bugs still. He doesn't eat hornworms fast enough to make the cost worth it (I always have 10+ grow too large and have to drown them). He'll eat supers if he's really hungry but otherwise not crazy about them either. I've tried to feed him bsfl but was confused by it, it came in a soil like filler. I put them on his salad and he didn't touch them (or that salad!). He's not a ravenous eater but I don't want my parents struggling to feed him or worrying that he isn't.

He's currently 11 months old, 18-19" long and 370 grams.

 

[popsickle18]

What about pheonix worms? My boy loves them! Also, here is a great link to other fruit/veggie type foods you can explore http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

 

[Terry15]

I'm going to try Phoenix worms and maybe the Repashy grub pie. It seems there a post about the Repashy. Google it, it may be worth a try.

 

[popsickle18]

I have heard good things about it. I am hesitant to do those type of things because I never know what else is in them. With a bug I have gut loaded myself, I know exactly what is in them and know that they will be okay for my boy.

How do your dubias keep getting out? I have had a colony for 2 years and have never seen an escapee!

 

[kingofnobbys]

II'd suggest silkworms & preprepared silkworm chow (that you've cook up enough for 3 weeks and make it into chow sausages wrapped in gladwrap - set in fridge and simply cut off a piece each day and squash it nice and thin leaflike to feed them .....would be a good option

crickets , but your parents would need to visit a pet shop each week to buy enough to feed your beardie and will need to deal with dead crickets and gutloading them, they might be more inclined to have them in the house than roaches.

Superworms but as feeder for only 2 or 3 days a week, they are no fuss and last months without needing more than some carrot and the bran bedding they are in.

 

[usmcfamily]

What about pheonix worms? My boy loves them! Also, here is a great link to other fruit/veggie type foods you can explore http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

I have the foods list, thank you for sharing it. I thought Phoenix worms were bsfl? Am I confused?

 

[usmcfamily]

I'm going to try Phoenix worms and maybe the Repashy grub pie. It seems there a post about the Repashy. Google it, it may be worth a try.

I saw it on discount dubias website the other day, I was considering purchasing as a part of a feeder package. It does make me slightly nervous to feed him such a thing then risk him getting stuck on that and refusing regular food when I come home.

 

[usmcfamily]

I have heard good things about it. I am hesitant to do those type of things because I never know what else is in them. With a bug I have gut loaded myself, I know exactly what is in them and know that they will be okay for my boy.

How do your dubias keep getting out? I have had a colony for 2 years and have never seen an escapee!

I don't know My best guess is they're maybe sneaking in between the sliding glass doors?? That's the only thought I have. But it's freaking us the crap out. I found one in my daughter's room the other night, underneath her anywhere chair. Her room is nextdoor to his so ew. They're moving.

 

[usmcfamily]

II'd suggest silkworms & preprepared silkworm chow (that you've cook up enough for 3 weeks and make it into chow sausages wrapped in gladwrap - set in fridge and simply cut off a piece each day and squash it nice and thin leaflike to feed them .....would be a good option

crickets , but your parents would need to visit a pet shop each week to buy enough to feed your beardie and will need to deal with dead crickets and gutloading them, they might be more inclined to have them in the house than roaches.

Superworms but as feeder for only 2 or 3 days a week, they are no fuss and last months without needing more than some carrot and the bran bedding they are in.

I don't even know what that is :hide: Silkworm sausages??

 

[usmcfamily]

I don't know what else to do. This guy does not eat and it is driving me mad. Won't eat dubia. Won't eat supers, maybe 1 per day. Barely touches his salad. Won't eat Phoenix worms. I'm trying to feed Repashy grub pie and also tired zoo med dragon food to see if he'd take it but doesn't seem to recognize it as food and if I rub it on his mouth or nose he throws his head back and runs away. Doesn't even want a damn hornworm! What the heck do you do with this? He hasn't shed in months, he's not gained in almost two months of guess besides maybe a gram or two. He's 367 grams and will be a year next month. His temps are good, lights are good (new even).

We are going through deployment and with four kids, I'm too busy for this. It's stressing me out! How am I supposed to leave him for three weeks and expect he'll be fine?! Vacation aside, I cannot continue this way. It is running my whole day, trying to get him to eat and checking on him.

Please help, I'm really at my wits end.

 

[kingofnobbys]

II'd suggest silkworms & preprepared silkworm chow (that you've cook up enough for 3 weeks and make it into chow sausages wrapped in gladwrap - set in fridge and simply cut off a piece each day and squash it nice and thin leaflike to feed them .....would be a good option

crickets , but your parents would need to visit a pet shop each week to buy enough to feed your beardie and will need to deal with dead crickets and gutloading them, they might be more inclined to have them in the house than roaches.

Superworms but as feeder for only 2 or 3 days a week, they are no fuss and last months without needing more than some carrot and the bran bedding they are in.

I don't even know what that is :hide: Silkworm sausages??

Silkworm chow sausages = cooked silkworm chow wrapped in gladwrap while still hot and soft - before it sets .
If you've never used silkworm chow it' s dehydrated mulberry leaves what are ground to fine powder, to prepare it for use you mix about 32g with 88ml of boiling water, makes hot broth, then the container with a lid on goes into the microwave for 90 seconds on high. This drives off some excess moisture and causes the broth to become a paste , I use this to make the chow sausages (3 or 4 from amount mentioned) .I keep these in the fridge.
When I need some food for the silkworms I simply unwrap a sausage and cut a bit off the end, place between 2 sheets of gladwrap and roll it flat and thin and leaflike.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, sorry you're so stressed ! When was the last time he poo'd ? Are you sure his temps. are correct ? How do you hydrate him ? Dehydration can cause them to lose appetite sometimes. Try dripping water on his snout....use a small spray bottle, eyedropper or syringe. Drip, stop, repeat. As an appetite stimulant, try raw honey mixed with water. You have to warm the water slightly to mix in the honey....or try a bit of fruit juice [ unsweetened, natural but not citrus ] as well if he won't drink. Make a human grade smoothie with a varity of greens [ whatever you have ] and some fruits...blueberries, etc and a bit of honey again. You should also get some Oxbow critical care formula from your vet or online. And remember, some dragons go through a spell of not eating when they are near adult size [ though he's going to grow more ] and it's not an emergency like it is with a baby dragon. And finally [ or firstly even ] get a fecal test done to check for parasites.

And yes, Phoenix worms are bsfl.

 

[usmcfamily]

Hi there, sorry you're so stressed ! When was the last time he poo'd ? Are you sure his temps. are correct ? How do you hydrate him ? Dehydration can cause them to lose appetite sometimes. Try dripping water on his snout....use a small spray bottle, eyedropper or syringe. Drip, stop, repeat. As an appetite stimulant, try raw honey mixed with water. You have to warm the water slightly to mix in the honey....or try a bit of fruit juice [ unsweetened, natural but not citrus ] as well if he won't drink. Make a human grade smoothie with a varity of greens [ whatever you have ] and some fruits...blueberries, etc and a bit of honey again. You should also get some Oxbow critical care formula from your vet or online. And remember, some dragons go through a spell of not eating when they are near adult size [ though he's going to grow more ] and it's not an emergency like it is with a baby dragon. And finally [ or firstly even ] get a fecal test done to check for parasites.

And yes, Phoenix worms are bsfl.

Thank you for the suggestions. He soaks in the bath every other or three days as I have the time and poops every bath, that was yesterday and poo was normal. That is the only reason I have freaked yet (he's pooping regularly still). Yes the temps are correct. I check them daily because the tank is in my sons room and on a dimmer so I'm always wary of it getting bumped accidentally and changing.

I'll consider having a fecal done. He's not losing weight, just not an active eater. Is the formula a prescription?

 

[usmcfamily]

Also, how much more should he grow? Is he not considered an adult?

 

[AHBD]

The honey + greens is just to get more nutrition in him and maybe perk up his appetite. The Oxbow Critcal Care is highly nutritious and contains protein which he should have a bit more of even on his hunger strike.

At 11 months he's a sub adult and can grow another couple of inches + gain a bit more weight.....or he may not grow much more at all.