Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am a new BD owner and have a quick question. Today I found the half digested carcasses of about 20 or so crickets on the floor of my terrarium. Just wondering if this is normal in a young beardie... Plenty of white urates in his feces so I'm ruling out dehydration. Anyone have any ideas? I have followed the husbandry from the info i have gathered off different care sheets/this site.
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon (Lola)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Cleo)
1.0 Great Dane (Hercules)

if the half digested carcasses are in with the urates...it may just be the exoskeltons of the crickets. How old is your dragon and what size of crickets are you feeding?

The main reason why crickets or other food is not being properly digested is incorrect temperatures. Check basking temp and ambient temperatures in your tank with a digital thermometer or temp gun to make sure they fall in acceptable ranges (ie 95-115F basking area, about 80-85F ambient). Another reason for undigested food could be parasite issues or gastronomic problems. The first reason is easily checked and corrected. The second two will need vet examinations to correctly identify (ie a stool sample sent to a vet for a fecal examination and maybe a physical examination and other tests if necessary)

Check the temperatures and offer smaller crickets (if what you are offering are too large for your dragon, crickets shouldn't be bigger than the space between your dragon's eyes). Or offer softer bodies insects such as butterworms, silkworms young roaches (nymphs. See below for various posts about roaches).

If the half digested crickets are not part of the mass with the urates...it may be regurgitated food, instead of poop. It isn't good for dragons to regurgitate food but some can do so if they eat too much, insects are too big or if temps are not correct and food is not digesting properly.
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PHLdyPayne

Don't assume that if there are urates that your dragon is properly hydrated. Dragons expel excess water with their stool so if you said there was liquid then you would know that your dragon has more than enough water in his/her system.

You really should clarify the 1/2 digested cricket thing. They were in his/her stool?

They were not in the stool. They were mainly located on a rock on the cooler side of the enclosure. The basking spot is 110 degrees and the cool side around 80-85. I just got my beardie yesterday and he ate alot his first day home. I'd say around 30-40 1/2" crickets which is the size that the reptile store I bought him from reccomended. Odd thing is yesterday as soon as a cricket was in his cage he rushed over and ate it. Today I put about a dozen in during the afternoon and he just ignores them. This is the first time I have dealt with my reptiles ignoring food as my veield cham and leopard gecko have always been strong eaters. I am working on getting the rest of the crickets out of the cage so they won't bother him in the night. I don't know exactly how old he is but he is a little over 4 inches head to vent and 9 inches overall. Thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it.
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon (Lola)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Cleo)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Flash)
1.0 Great Dane (Hercules)

At 9" I think 1/2" crickets should be OK but no bigger and they will grow while you have them. As a rule of thumb crickets should have bodies no longer than the distance between a dragons eyes. I personally would buy smaller crickets in your case. At 9" I'd still be buying 3/8" since they will be 1/2" by the time I feed them all out. I also think you should list your setup specs. I have never had a dragon regurgitate food and am not all that quick to say that the crickets were simply too large.

Are you misting him and dripping water on his nose regularly?

Are you supplementing with Calcium? What Brand? No Phosphorus right?

Is the basking spot 110? and the cool side 80 or so?

Basking spot 110 cool side 80-85, Reptisun 10.0, in a 20 gallon long tank right now. misting daily and gave him a warm bath yesterday. Using repcal calcium phos free w/ D3 and vitamin dust. Like I said though I have only had him for a couple of days, so I'm hoping it's just that he's still acclimating to his new surroundings. I will order the 3/8ths as that makes good sense. Has anyone ever had their beardies regurgitate food?
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon (Lola)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Cleo)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Flash)
1.0 Great Dane (Hercules)

Has anyone had their young beardie regurgitate their crickets before? Besides having too large of crickets.
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0.1 Veiled Chameleon (Lola)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Cleo)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Flash)
1.0 Great Dane (Hercules)

I have never had a dragon regurgitate crickets..but dragons will regurgitate their food for many reasons.

If they eat too much too fast, that can cause them to regurgitate...which I think may be the case with your dragon. He probably didn't get alot of food at the store you bought him (they didn't' feed him enough or often enough or he was in with other dragons and rarely was able to eat all he wanted). Thus, he was suddenly presented with unlimited crickets and he tried to eat as many as he can as quickly as he could and wound up eating too much.

As he is new, he probably stopped eating as often or at all, as he now realizes he is in a new environment and isn't sure of himself anymore...but he should be back to normal within a week or two.

Other reasons a dragon will regurgitate (especially if this keeps happening..a one time puke I won't worry about, continual puking, I would worry about much much more). Gastronomic problems can cause regurgitation, internal parasites, defects, growths, blockage etc, all can cause regurgitation and in most cases, a vet will be needed to properly diagnose what is wrong.

But if he is eating now and no longer puking..it won't be necessary to have him brought to a vet for this issue..though it isn't a bad ideal to bring your dragon to a vet for a general checkup an fecal, to make sure everything is ok.
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PHLdyPayne