Won't eat feeders w/ Cal. dust

[Ruby2uesday]

I've noticed my little guy won't eat his feeders (dubias and pw's) when i dust them w/ Cal. Dust. This does concern me since i know he needs it. any thoughts on this???

 

[herpfreak]

What brand of calcium dust are you using?

 

[Ruby2uesday]

What brand of calcium dust are you using?

Rep-cal Phosphorous-Free Calc w/ Vit.D3

 

[herpfreak]

Hmm. I've never heard of a beardie refusing RepCal. :? Try dusting different types of feeders; crix one day, worms the next, etc. You can also try dusting his salads for a day. Experiment.

If all else fails, you can get him on some liquid calcium, which I have found in my personal experiance is much more efficient than dusting feeders.

 

[Ruby2uesday]

liquid cal? what brand do you recommend? and how do you give a beardie something like that. i've never had to force a beardies mouth open before for "meds" lol

 

[herpfreak]

I'm not sure what brand; the stuff I'm using was perscribed by my beardie's vet. (He's got MBD, but I think I'm going to keep using this stuff even when he's better. It works really well.)

You have to syringe feed it, which can really be a pain, but it gets much easier. Now, after a month of giving it to him several times a day (for a beardie without MBD I'm pretty sure it would be given daily or every other day; you'd have to ask your vet), I'm able to give him a dose in about ten seconds.

I've kind of got a "strategy" to get Budo's mouth open. The key is to get the flavored kind. Part the beardie's lips at the side of his mouth and put the syringe in. Slide it up to the front of his mouth. He will start licking it. Then, quickly, slide it back to the side of his mouth, wait till he opens his mouth again to stick out his tongue, get the syringe in between his teeth, and squirt. If you squirt it in the front of his mouth, he will choke. It has to be in the side.

Sounds confusing, I know, but it gets much easier the more practice you get.