undigested worms in poop?

[tbostic91]

Im seeing undigested phoenix worms in my BD's poop, is this normal?

 

[CooperDragon]

It's not normal but it may not be an issue if it's an isolated incident. If it is a trend then the heat or UVB exposure may be off in the enclosure which could cause some digestion issues.

 

[tbostic91]

Well his basking spot is 95-105 degrees, cool side is 78-80. I have a Reptisun 10.0 mounted inside his tank. He has a healthy appetite, hes alert and very colorful. I did try a different feeder and put some superworms in his diet, he seemed like he had a hard time digesting them so i stopped, gave him a bath, and then he pooped like crazy. Now hes back to BSFL and hes never had to problem digesting them before (i did recently switch from small size to medium size worms, because hes growing like crazy.)

 

[CooperDragon]

It may just be a temporary upset stomach issue then.

 

[Taterbug]

Is he chewing them well? It seems that they can pass thru the system intact if they aren't punctured/chewed.

 

[Dr. Phoenix]

tbostic91, sometimes this can happen when a dragon gulps his food. If Phoenix Worms are not chewed, it's harder for stomach acids to digest properly and whole worms can appear in the feces. A solution is to only feed a few worms at a time to slow down the feeding process. This will ensure that teeth pierce the worms before swallowing. Also, the larger size worms are more easily chewed (large Phoenix Worms are only 3/4" long). Usually dragons outgrow this tendency to eat fast as they mature. If this doesn't work with your beardie, you can pin the prey before serving (poke a needle into each worm). This is what dart frog hobbyists do before feeding their frogs to ensure good digestion.

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

 

[tbostic91]

tbostic91, sometimes this can happen when a dragon gulps his food. If Phoenix Worms are not chewed, it's harder for stomach acids to digest properly and whole worms can appear in the feces. A solution is to only feed a few worms at a time to slow down the feeding process. This will ensure that teeth pierce the worms before swallowing. Also, the larger size worms are more easily chewed (large Phoenix Worms are only 3/4" long). Usually dragons outgrow this tendency to eat fast as they mature. If this doesn't work with your beardie, you can pin the prey before serving (poke a needle into each worm). This is what dart frog hobbyists do before feeding their frogs to ensure good digestion.

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

Thank you, I'll try that first. I also noticed that my basking temps weren't exactly in the best ranges, so i raised his basking spot as well.

 

[Dr. Phoenix]

It sounds like the basking temp may have been the problem. Glad you've made the adjustment. Good luck!

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

 

[tbostic91]

It sounds like the basking temp may have been the problem. Glad you've made the adjustment. Good luck!

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

Thank you, the phoenix worms are fantastic btw, i made the switch from reptiworms (was not satisfied with there customer service.) and you guys really have a superior product, my bearded dragon Corky goes nuts for them, literally waits by his dish in the morning for his worms.

-Tyler B

 

[Dr. Phoenix]

Thank you, Tyler. We continually strive to produce the best feeders that we can and try very hard to provide the best customer service possible. It's great to know that these efforts are appreciated. Again, thanks for your positive comments. We're glad to know that Phoenix Worms are making Corky happy.

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com