Worms from a bowl

[Steve1878]

Hi sorry I keep posting questions but.. as my beardie wasn't eating (she is getting better now) i took to leaving a bowl or rather the lid of my sopranos box set in her viv with a few wax worms and lots of pheonix worms to try and tempt her. It's high enough to stop them getting out but low enough for her to quite easily get in but she just stands there staring at them until I pick them up one at a time to feed her. Is this because I've always hand fed and she's just lost the will to hunt (would explain her not eating her locusts) or is there something else going on? I'm going away for 3 days next month and was really hoping to teach her to eat from a bowl as while I can get someone to feed her I can't get them to come round twice a day and spend 15 mins picking up one worm at a time and dangling it infront of her nose!!

 

[KeyBlu422]

Yeah, beardies can get spoiled. If she can access the worms, she'll eat them before she starves. Also, about the three days, if you can possibly get someone to come in so that she's only 2 days alone and is provided with new food, that would be great.

 

[Steve1878]

Yeah, beardies can get spoiled. If she can access the worms, she'll eat them before she starves. Also, about the three days, if you can possibly get someone to come in so that she's only 2 days alone and is provided with new food, that would be great.

Don't worry I've got someone to top up her greens and provide some company but they arent confident enough to hand feed her so trying to find a way round it. I never thought hand feeding her would result in this kind of dependency

 

[dezismom]

I have had this same problem with my big beautiful boy. Dezi is three years and very spoiled. When I was in hospital he went on a food strike and refused to take food from my husband! So we have been attempting to wean him from my hand feeding, much to his dislike (and mine). I found a sturdy glass ashtray works well as a dish, because it is heavy enough to not get overturned, and the glass sides are enough to keep in worms. He was not happy and pouted in his corner for several days, but eventually he got hungry enough to take some food himself. If your Beardie is healthy and not too skinny, he should be fine even if he goes on a hunger strike for several days. Now that Dez eats some on his own, I do hand feed him, but each week, I skip a day to keep him less dependent. I am not sure who is more upset by this, him or me, but I know it is best for him. Beardies absolutely hate any change in their environment or routine, but be patient, and persistent, and he will eventually eat from the bowl.

Does he like to chase down his own crickets? Dezi seems to enjoy that...not exactly chasing, but waiting until one is near enough for him to grab...it is a form of entertainment for him. ( Beardies in the wild are "ambush predators" and so do not waste their energy running down their prey, but wait for it.)

Dezi also likes a food made specifically for Beardies by national geo--it looks like little green peas and comes in a resealable bag. It has to be refrigerated once opened, but predators will not eat cold food (it is dead) so I have to warm it by soaking it in hot water then draining it, and I sprinkle it with his calcium or vitamin powder, before serving. It has vitamins added, so that is a bonus. Have you tried some of the other "bearded dragon" foods that are sold in pet shops? Some of the owners on this site have had success with those, and it may be easier for a pet sitter to handle than the worms and crickets. Of course, no manufactured food replaces live food and fresh salad, but as a vacation food, it might work?

 

[Steve1878]

Thanks dezi. I don't feed her crickets here the things after one escaped and kept me awake for 3 solid nights!! However up to last month I used to feed her locusts but she's lost interest in chasing them too so they just died of old age in her viv. Ah well hope she gets used to the box soon she's already a little underweight so don't want it to get any worse