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

[usmcfamily]

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.

Is this the critical care?
Oxbow Carnivore Care Pet Supplement, 2.5-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H38VZ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7FJmxb9PS97YW

So I just make it and how to I feed it? With a syringe or something? Am I going to get bit? That makes me really nervous.

Is this something that I can't do with the Repashy or is that not enough right now.

 

[usmcfamily]

I found that stuff on Amazon, I assume the carnivore is best?

Can I not use the Repashy and make a slurry and syringe feed that?

Is there a possibility I'm dealing with a brumating dragon?

 

[CooperDragon]

Critical Care and Carnivore Care are similar but the Carnivore Care is higher in protein and better for younger dragons. For older dragons I feel that the Critical Care is a better choice because it better reflects the optimal (primarily veg) diet of adults. http://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Critical-Care-Supplement-1-Pound/dp/B0021WRJFE

 

[CooperDragon]

Since he isn't losing weight there may not be a problem. I wouldn't force feed him aside from offering water but would keep a salad available every day. I would track his weight every day so you start to get a trend line and as long as that is relatively stable then he may just be in a phase of slowing down as AHBD suggested.

 

[usmcfamily]

THank you, maybe I won't order just yet then.

I do track his weight daily. He isnt losing anything; just verrrry slow to gain now.

When is he considered adult? I will still offer salad daily and also bugs, but when should I expect he may not eat the bugs as often? Adults eat only a couple feeds per week right?

 

[CooperDragon]

They usually slow down between about 12-18 months but it varies between individual dragons. I agree that he may still grow a bit yet. They can continue to grow until around 2 years albeit much more slowly. I like to begin transitioning them to mainly veges once their growth starts slowing at around 12 months or so and by about 18 months they should be on mainly veges with a bug meal only a couple of times per week. This varies by individual size/growth rate/appetite, etc. In your case I'd offer daily salads and maybe 1 bug meal per day because he probably still has a growth spurt or two left in him if he's only 367g

 

[usmcfamily]

Okay, I'll keep offering. He ate three hornworms for me earlier so that was good. Won't touch the salad or the grub pie still but eh. Atleast it was something.

 

[CooperDragon]

That probably filled him up quite a bit. Hornworms have lots of liquid in them so nice and hydrating.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, he's a picky eater but as they say, he won't starve himself to death but he will eat the bare minimum to keep himself going. Some dragons can be like picky teenagers....long + lanky and seem to go all day with little food. Of course you still may want to have a fecal test done, just to rule out him having parasites. But it's good that he ate hornworms. What size were they ? My big guys love them and will eat even the largest. These worms are just so pretty though, I actually hate to see them get mangled. https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/29893/full

 

[usmcfamily]

Yes, he's a picky eater but as they say, he won't starve himself to death but he will eat the bare minimum to keep himself going. Some dragons can be like picky teenagers....long + lanky and seem to go all day with little food. Of course you still may want to have a fecal test done, just to rule out him having parasites. But it's good that he ate hornworms. What size were they ? My big guys love them and will eat even the largest. These worms are just so pretty though, I actually hate to see them get mangled. https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/29893/full

What is this you speak of? A teenager being picky?? I don't know of that..my teenager eats everything in sight haha!

I may still do that, especially before leaving. They were only about 1.5". I haven't fed him a full size yet. I'm nervous to! They get so big! We had one pupate once and my middle son wanted to feed it to him but that creeped me out.

 

[AHBD]

At 1.5" a 9" beardie could actually eat those....really, not joking. They are sooooo expensive, you have to let them get big to get a little more of your money's worth. What happens is that people keep reading about the " width between the eyes " rule , but that doesn't apply to sub adult + adult beardies, or even large juveniles. Especially if the prey item is a soft body worm.....your big guy can eat a large hornworm. All of mine eat large H.W's from the time they are 16" on.

 

[usmcfamily]

At 1.5" a 9" beardie could actually eat those....really, not joking. They are sooooo expensive, you have to let them get big to get a little more of your money's worth. What happens is that people keep reading about the " width between the eyes " rule , but that doesn't apply to sub adult + adult beardies, or even large juveniles. Especially if the prey item is a soft body worm.....your big guy can eat a large hornworm. All of mine eat large H.W's from the time they are 16" on.

I took you're unspoken advice and fed him a large one. Omg GROSS!!! lol! There are now hornworm guts all over the tank waiting to be cleaned. Ew!! But now I know.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, I know it's pretty gross ! :shock: