Week one and ...

[blazblu82]

Hello,

It has been a week since I purchased Izik. I am having a lot of fun and there has been a huge learning experience on both ends. I am currently building trust with Izik and making progress. He has no problem settling down in my hand once I am able to capture they guy. I can keep him loose in my hand and he doesn't try to escape. He seems to like getting stroked on the back as he closes his eyes while I am doing it. He still goes in flight mode once I put him back in his enclosure for some reason.
I recently tried him on phoenix worms. He really enjoyed those the first day. He ate 10 large worms easily. Now, for some reason, he has lost interest in them. Not sure if the worms keep him fuller longer. He has only eaten 2 or 3 between today and yesterday. I have the worms in an escape proof container that I have left in the tank which is easily accessable for him. I also dusted these with a multivitamin, uncertain if the powder changed the taste of the worms or what. I'd hate to see these worms go to waste. Nothing in the enclosure has changed, temps are fine on both ends. Also, he is not eating the veggies I am providing. He ate collard greens a carrot bits the first day I had him, since then, he ignores it.
Uncertain as to what I am doing wrong as I feel all parameters is fine. The days he has eaten, he has produced nice, large poops. Anyways, I know this is just the first week and things should improve as time goes on.

Cheers.

 

[shattered11]

sounds like you are doing a great job. every now and then, beardies get tired of eating the same food so you have to switch it up. maybe try some crickets or some reptiworms.

 

[bdalton]

Pheonix worms are reptiworms. You could try crickets, small silk worms, baby horn worms, small butter worms. I know I've gotten my girl every worm under the sun thinking its a change for her, but nope- she wants crickets! Have you ever given him crickets? Some just like crickets. But you can try others- every beardie has a favorite! Dubia roaches are another I've seem them go nuts over.

 

[blazblu82]

Hello,

Izik has only had one full meal on the phoenx worms. Before, he had been eating crickets. Just thought it odd he would stop eating the worms after one meal.

 

[bdalton]

They are weird. There isn't a worm my girl doesn't like, but sometimes when I try to give her one she just closes her eyes like nope! But then I'll give her a cricket, try the worm again and sometimes she will eat 10 sometimes 1 or sometimes none. Guess they have to be in a mood, but sometimes I can afford for my girl to get moody. She loves hornworms (of course the most expensive feeder) so I bought 12 for 15$ and she decided that week she didn't want hornworms and they all just ended up growing until they were as big as my girls body. Then of course all died but one and when I only had the one left she decided she was back in the mood for hornworms.

This is why I have started breeding crickets, Dubia, super worms and wax worms so I have something for whatever mood she may be in that day! Lol

 

[izzbo]

My beardie is the same way. He can get so picky about the food. So you breed wax worms? I've heard those are some of the hardest feeders to breed. Is that true?

 

[RandyMarsh]

My beardie is the same way. He can get so picky about the food. So you breed wax worms? I've heard those are some of the hardest feeders to breed. Is that true?

i thought hornworms were one of the hardest lol

 

[bdalton]

I agree, hornworms are ones I have yet to conquer, so I think they are the hardest, then crickets. (haven't tried reptiworms, butter or silks) I actually thought wax worms were pretty easy, the hardest part was trying to block off the container so they could not escape but still be able to breath. I used pantyhose and they got right through them, so I used this thin fabric and worked wonders. They just take forever to grow! They are like the size of a salt granule when their babies.

 

[izzbo]

Cool! I breed just dubias right now. Those are super easy and I really enjoy breeding them. I was thiking about getting into breeding supers also. My guy stop eating crickets at 8 months or so and I switched to silkworms and hornworms but primarily silkworms. Those were getting expensive and his appetite was slowing and some would die before I could feed them all to him so I decided to do the Dubias. But my guy is so picky that I always have supers, butter worms, and dubias at all times. I occasionally get hornworms and silks too. I haven't tried going back to the crickets yet. I think I'm going to try just to see if he'll eat them again.

 

[ShannyBeard]

Blazblu82, one thing I can tell you is that bearded dragon major predator in the wild is birds. Bearded dragons have this '3rd eye' on the top of their heads that detect changes in light, so if a shadow passes over them they will 'see it.' SO bearded dragons are very aware naturally of things 'flying' above them.

Your beardie may just need to get used to you picking him up from above. You are like a great big bird about to eat him! At least that is the reasoning I have been told, and it makes sense.

 

[blazblu82]

I understand the concepts of the third eye. What I do not understand is his after meal behavior. He'll eat a few crix (~5) and then flip out. He jumps and jumps until he can escape the feeding bin. Once successful, he'll make a mad dash to his cool side hid and cram himself into the corner. He acts as if something is getting him. This behavior is very frustrating. If I handle him around feedings, he is cool with that (mostly). Right now, my concerns are him getting fed enough and his behavior. The feeding bin is temporary until I get carpet to put over his sandy substrate.

The day I had purchased him, I was there to get a blue-tongued skink. After talking with the owner some, I had changed my mind to getting a BD. I am beginning to wonder if I had made the wrong decision. Supposedly, BTS's are very easy to feed and much hardier than BD's. I know I have owned Izik for over a week now, but I would have figured he would have settled down by now.

Cheers

 

[bdalton]

How many crickets do you put in the bin? I would try putting one at a time in because they do bite. This could definetly be the problem if you put a few crickets in at a time.

 

[blazblu82]

I usually put in around 10. That is the most I have seen Izik eat. The thought of tossing one in at time has crossed my mind. How do I pick up the crix w/o them escaping?

 

[bdalton]

I trap them when they run in the corner and scoop them up with my fingers into my palm and close it tight. Sometimes I'll pick them up by their legs too but you have to grab more than one because they usually spaz out causing their leg to fall off but not 2, but never grab them by their bellies because they "leak?" I guess it would be. It's gross whatever it is though! lol

Definetly just drop one cricket in at a time, that could very well be what's happening. If one happens to crawl on my dragon sometimes she doesn't even realize it, but then sometimes she would out of no where just fling the cricket off so I could tell when one bit her and after that she would freak out if I put her in the feeding tank and if I put more than 3 at a time in her viv now she won't move at all, let alone eat them. So now it's 2 at a time

Let me know if it works!

 

[RandyMarsh]

I understand the concepts of the third eye. What I do not understand is his after meal behavior. He'll eat a few crix (~5) and then flip out. He jumps and jumps until he can escape the feeding bin. Once successful, he'll make a mad dash to his cool side hid and cram himself into the corner. He acts as if something is getting him. This behavior is very frustrating. If I handle him around feedings, he is cool with that (mostly). Right now, my concerns are him getting fed enough and his behavior. The feeding bin is temporary until I get carpet to put over his sandy substrate.

The day I had purchased him, I was there to get a blue-tongued skink. After talking with the owner some, I had changed my mind to getting a BD. I am beginning to wonder if I had made the wrong decision. Supposedly, BTS's are very easy to feed and much hardier than BD's. I know I have owned Izik for over a week now, but I would have figured he would have settled down by now.

Cheers

different animals react differently within their breeds. I wouldn't give up just yet. Skinks...pfff son or daughter I am disappoint

Dragon > Skink
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Final answer