Questions about how many crickets to give and diarrhea

[Toadleagend]

So, my bearded dragon has been having frequent poops for a while and diarrhea. Which is just unformed poops and urate. She got tested for parasites and didn’t have any. Someone told me it was too much greens and I made adjustments and it got better. Then, she didn’t poop for a week. When she pooped again, it was back to diarrhea and frequently. It is a lot of runny urate. I think she is eating too much greens because she is gravid, so she is eating more greens but is not getting more crickets. It also helped when I gave less butternut squash. But, I accidentally forgot to stick with the adjustments because she stopped pooping frequently and I got distracted with her being gravid. They were only small adjustments. I just handed her less greens and gave her less squash. And maybe a couple extra crickets. Does it sound like I just need to make the adjustments I did last time again in order to get her poop back to normal? I could also give sweet potato to firm up her poop. And I have a probiotic I havent used but could start. She is close to laying, so I don’t think her appetite will be large for much longer.


I also think the amount of crickets she eats might need adjustments anyway. That way she has less greens. I give her 5 every other day. But, I think it should probably be more like 7. A vet told me to do 5 because they thought she was getting too full for greens. But, that is not the case right now. Also, even though I give her large crickets they seem smaller then they are supposed to be. So, should I do even more than 7?

 

[KarrieRee]

So, my bearded dragon has been having frequent poops for a while and diarrhea. Which is just unformed poops and urate. She got tested for parasites and didn’t have any. Someone told me it was too much greens and I made adjustments and it got better. Then, she didn’t poop for a week. When she pooped again, it was back to diarrhea and frequently. It is a lot of runny urate. I think she is eating too much greens because she is gravid, so she is eating more greens but is not getting more crickets. It also helped when I gave less butternut squash. But, I accidentally forgot to stick with the adjustments because she stopped pooping frequently and I got distracted with her being gravid. They were only small adjustments. I just handed her less greens and gave her less squash. And maybe a couple extra crickets. Does it sound like I just need to make the adjustments I did last time again in order to get her poop back to normal? I could also give sweet potato to firm up her poop. And I have a probiotic I havent used but could start. She is close to laying, so I don’t think her appetite will be large for much longer.


I also think the amount of crickets she eats might need adjustments anyway. That way she has less greens. I give her 5 every other day. But, I think it should probably be more like 7. A vet told me to do 5 because they thought she was getting too full for greens. But, that is not the case right now. Also, even though I give her large crickets they seem smaller then they are supposed to be. So, should I do even more than 7?

How old is the dragon? If shes a year or older she should only be getting insects 2-3 times per week - offer her salad but cut out the squash--- use the raw shredded sweet potato and see what the poop does - she can eat as much salad as she wants but limit the squash this is more than likely the culprit for the runny stool---when going back to the squash again feed little bit --- and watch to see if the runs start again --

 

[Toadleagend]

How old is the dragon? If shes a year or older she should only be getting insects 2-3 times per week - offer her salad but cut out the squash--- use the raw shredded sweet potato and see what the poop does - she can eat as much salad as she wants but limit the squash this is more than likely the culprit for the runny stool---when going back to the squash again feed little bit --- and watch to see if the runs start again --

She 4-5. I guess I give her insects 3-4 times a week. Can I give her the sweet potato everyday? I read somewhere that it should only be given 1-2 times a month. Thank you!

 

[KarrieRee]

She 4-5. I guess I give her insects 3-4 times a week. Can I give her the sweet potato everyday? I read somewhere that it should only be given 1-2 times a month. Thank you!

It says in moderation for feeding the sweet potato - so I would feed maybe 2 times a week to see if it firms up the poop --- if it does not do the trick we then need to figure out what else can be used to firm the poop up --

 

[Toadleagend]

It says in moderation for feeding the sweet potato - so I would feed maybe 2 times a week to see if it firms up the poop --- if it does not do the trick we then need to figure out what else can be used to firm the poop up --

Ok, thank you! My sweet potato is probably expired, so I need to get some more. But, I know she really liked it when I gave it to her before.

 

[AHBD]

She is gravid so she can have as many insects as she wants. That ALWAYS dictates how much food a female can eat, unless they were or are obese before they became gravid.

 

[Toadleagend]

She is gravid so she can have as many insects as she wants. That ALWAYS dictates how much food a female can eat, unless they were or are obese before they became gravid.

Ok, should I let them run free in the Sand though? Also, I think she would eat all the crickets. I can give more. She will be happy about that.

 

[AHBD]

No, not letting them free. Just up the amount of crickets for the time she's been laying. This is her 2nd clutch so she's been producing eggs for a couple months. At least double the amount, she probably won't eat that much right now when she's full of eggs so after she's done you can increase the amount and a few less greens.

 

[Toadleagend]

No, not letting them free. Just up the amount of crickets for the time she's been laying. This is her 2nd clutch so she's been producing eggs for a couple months. At least double the amount, she probably won't eat that much right now when she's full of eggs so after she's done you can increase the amount and a few less greens.

Ok, thank you! I will give her 10. Should that be 2-3 times a week. Or should I still do it every other day?

 

[AHBD]

Either 5 or so a day or 10 every other day it's up to you.

 

[Toadleagend]

Either 5 or so a day or 10 every other day it's up to you.

Ok, thank you!