Small Appetite?

[newreptile]

How much do you guys know about smaller appetites? Everything that I've read about bearded dragons talks about their massive appetite, but my little guy doesn't seem to have a huge one. After bringing him home and getting him settled, he was eating around 5-6 small mealworms(used as a place holder until his dubias arrived in the mail), and then he was eating around 15-20 small dubias a day. He went through a shed around 2 weeks ago, and now he only eats around 5-6 small dubias a day. He has been a little more lethargic since his shed, just sleeping more in general, but I do still see him hopping and climbing around multiple times a day when he isn't basking. As far as I know he is too young for brumation, but what do you guys think? He isn't showing any other signs of poor health, and the feces looks normal as well. He also hasn't lost any weight, and gets warm soaks daily to keep him hydrated.

 

[CooperDragon]

Sheds can affect appetite. The appetite usually returns after the shed is done though. If Norton is active and eating something then that's a good sign. Their appetite also depends on their growth cycle. They can eat a TON but that usually happens along with a big growth spurt. UVB can also have an effect as mentioned in another post. Did you swap out that coil? In a 40g breeder I'd get a Zilla Slimline 18'' fixture and a ReptiSun 10.0 T8 bulb and mount it 6-8'' above the basking area using small (1lb rated) command hooks which should fit in the holes in the side of the fixture.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Careful of claims of huge appetites in hatchlings , often claims of them eating huge numbers of insects in a sitting are referring to them eating dozens of pin head or VERY SMALL roaches or crickets or gents (maggots).

I have two now 6 week old hatchlings and my two are eating 9 -14 medium - small gut loaded crickets + some grated carrot and cut up buk choy greens each per day. Though this is while my girl Peppa is shedding, and adjusting to being relocated into her own separate 100L rearing tube this week and in the first week both were adjusting to coming into a new home and family and where sharing the same 100L rearing tub.
This is pretty much in line with what Rex and Puff were eating at the same age.

If you give smaller prey insects they'll eat more insects, but will get less "protein" per insect, as smaller insects are more exoskeleton than protein and fat.

Mealworms are OK short term , and they sure do love them, better option is to give them mealworm pupae and newly hatched mealworm beetles (whiles still soft shelled).
Other options are calcigents , roaches, silkworm lavae. Silkworms are the bee's knees - virtually a perfect prey insect nutritionally and if you don't have access to a mulberry tree , they can be raised / fed on reconstituted silkworm chow.

 

[newreptile]

Sheds can affect appetite. The appetite usually returns after the shed is done though. If Norton is active and eating something then that's a good sign. Their appetite also depends on their growth cycle. They can eat a TON but that usually happens along with a big growth spurt. UVB can also have an effect as mentioned in another post. Did you swap out that coil? In a 40g breeder I'd get a Zilla Slimline 18'' fixture and a ReptiSun 10.0 T8 bulb and mount it 6-8'' above the basking area using small (1lb rated) command hooks which should fit in the holes in the side of the fixture.

I did end up switching the coil, he now has the 10.0 T8 for UVB. He doesn't look sickly, he hasn't lost weight, so I just wonder if it's a stage? He only eats at nighttime, since I brought him home I've tried to offer meals three times a day but he only seems to want them at night. So now he'll eat his 5-6 roaches at night, and then that'll be it. He's completely skipped a meal maybe once or twice, but then always eats the next day as normal so I don't know.

 

[CooperDragon]

If he isn't losing weight, that's a good sign. If he prefers to eat in the evening, that's OK too but I'd leave the lights on for an hour or two after he's done to ensure he can bask and digest properly. They need UVB and high temperatures to digest their food.

 

[newreptile]

If he isn't losing weight, that's a good sign. If he prefers to eat in the evening, that's OK too but I'd leave the lights on for an hour or two after he's done to ensure he can bask and digest properly. They need UVB and high temperatures to digest their food.

Absolutely, his lights stay on after the eating. I guess if it all seems normal then that's good! I just wanted to make sure his small eating wasn't a more serious issue. Also it was sweet of you to remember his name! Thank you for all the help.