Hello!
I'm new to these forums, though I've been reading the posts for quite a while since first getting my beardie. And I would really love some advice re:feeding mealworms!
My beardie is about eight months old, probably female, named Delilah (or Lila). Up until recently she's always eaten crickets and locusts, with mealworms offered as an occasional treat. Now, though, she refuses to eat anything other than mealies. At first I wasn't too concerned, since I know there are people whose beardies do fine on mealies, but it seems my Lila isn't one of them. She used to poop in her tank every day, no problem, but lately she's been having a hard time with it and will only poop in the bath. I'm convinced it's the mealworms that are blocking her up, and I would really like to swap her onto something else before she gets seriously impacted.
I've tried everything I can think of to get her to have something that isn't a mealworm! She ignores crickets/locusts unless I forcefeed her, something I'm very reluctant to resort to, but I'm certain she's underweight and I don't feel comfortable letting her go too long without eating something. I've also tried silk worms and dubia roaches, with no luck.
Husbandry
Temps are 90-100 in under the basking lamp (she'll avoid the heat if it's any hotter than that)
UVB is an Arcadia 12%. Substrate is some lovely green paper I found in a craft shop, along with some sandstone slabs.
I dust her insects once a day, and she is offered a salad which usually has some combination of rocket leaves/dandelion/butternut squash/carrot, sometimes I'll include some basil. Her salad is also dusted with calcium, and lately she's been ignoring that, too.
She gets checked up at the vet every few months, and he can't see anything physically wrong with her apart from being on the small side.
Thanks in advance for any help, it's hugely appreciated!
***edit**
Something I've taken to doing is blending her insects and salad together with some olive oil and water to make a kind of smoothie, then syringe/spoon feeding it to her, but I don't know if that's feasible as permanent solution.
I'm new to these forums, though I've been reading the posts for quite a while since first getting my beardie. And I would really love some advice re:feeding mealworms!
My beardie is about eight months old, probably female, named Delilah (or Lila). Up until recently she's always eaten crickets and locusts, with mealworms offered as an occasional treat. Now, though, she refuses to eat anything other than mealies. At first I wasn't too concerned, since I know there are people whose beardies do fine on mealies, but it seems my Lila isn't one of them. She used to poop in her tank every day, no problem, but lately she's been having a hard time with it and will only poop in the bath. I'm convinced it's the mealworms that are blocking her up, and I would really like to swap her onto something else before she gets seriously impacted.
I've tried everything I can think of to get her to have something that isn't a mealworm! She ignores crickets/locusts unless I forcefeed her, something I'm very reluctant to resort to, but I'm certain she's underweight and I don't feel comfortable letting her go too long without eating something. I've also tried silk worms and dubia roaches, with no luck.
Husbandry
Temps are 90-100 in under the basking lamp (she'll avoid the heat if it's any hotter than that)
UVB is an Arcadia 12%. Substrate is some lovely green paper I found in a craft shop, along with some sandstone slabs.
I dust her insects once a day, and she is offered a salad which usually has some combination of rocket leaves/dandelion/butternut squash/carrot, sometimes I'll include some basil. Her salad is also dusted with calcium, and lately she's been ignoring that, too.
She gets checked up at the vet every few months, and he can't see anything physically wrong with her apart from being on the small side.
Thanks in advance for any help, it's hugely appreciated!
***edit**
Something I've taken to doing is blending her insects and salad together with some olive oil and water to make a kind of smoothie, then syringe/spoon feeding it to her, but I don't know if that's feasible as permanent solution.