Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone, I just got my first beardie 2 days ago. I love him to pieces!!
I have a couple of concerns though. First, he's not eating as much as I think he should be. I dont really know how old he is, he's about 3 1/2 inches long, not counting his tail. (total length is prob. about 7" He's only eating maybe 2 or 3 crickets a day. These are smallish crickets, maybe 1/2 inch long at most. is this normal? The girl at the pet store said he ate 8 on monday, right before I got him, and he had a full shed on sunday. Also, he's not pooped since I got him home (mon. at about noon). again, is this normal?
I've had other lizards (leopard geckos) for quite a while, but this is my first time with any other kind of lizard. I know leos inside and out, but I just want to make sure that my beardie, whos name is Darwin by the way, is getting proper care.
any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Manda

Ok, first.... sounds like he should be on 1/4 - 1/2 inch crickets. Yes, he should be eating more than that, but he may be stressed out by the new home and if your handling him alot, etc.

second..... Babies generally poop every day.. Have you tried a warm bath? Are his temps right in his cage? Basking spot needs to be about 105 - 110 (surface temp not air temp) Cool side needs to be low to mid 80's. If his basking spot isn't hot enough, that will also cause him not to eat a lot because he isn't digesting what he has already eaten.

Please let us know the cage set up, habits, etc.

>>hi everyone, I just got my first beardie 2 days ago. I love him to pieces!!
>>I have a couple of concerns though. First, he's not eating as much as I think he should be. I dont really know how old he is, he's about 3 1/2 inches long, not counting his tail. (total length is prob. about 7" He's only eating maybe 2 or 3 crickets a day. These are smallish crickets, maybe 1/2 inch long at most. is this normal? The girl at the pet store said he ate 8 on monday, right before I got him, and he had a full shed on sunday. Also, he's not pooped since I got him home (mon. at about noon). again, is this normal?
>>I've had other lizards (leopard geckos) for quite a while, but this is my first time with any other kind of lizard. I know leos inside and out, but I just want to make sure that my beardie, whos name is Darwin by the way, is getting proper care.
>>any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
>>Manda
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Hey, thanks for the advice. First, yeah, his temps are all correct. His basking spot is about 105-110, other side of the tank is about mid 80's. I've only handled him for a few seconds at a time, maybe 3 or 4 times since I got him, just trying to get him used to me gradually. I'm using rabbit pellets as a sub-strat... only thing that most people told me was acceptable, I use repti bark for my geckos.
I didn't think that 8 crickets was very much, everyone has been saying 20 is about average. I am a little concerned that maybe the petstore fed him crickets that were too big, but Im not seeing any signs of impaction or anything, other than the not pooping. He's pretty active, very alert, etc... has all the signs of being healthy.
Im dusting with calcium, gut loading, etc. etc., umm... what else.... he's got a full spectrum light, the tank is a 30 gallon....
I know the not eating could be cause Im around. I put a few crickets in his tank last night, and then went out for a while, and he ate those when I was gone. (looked under everything in there, and they were defintily gone) Really only concerned about the not pooping thing. Didn't know if it was a big deal, cause my geckos only poop once every few days, but then, they only eat once every few days too!
also, would he not eat the crickets if the ones I were offering were too big? prob a long shot, since most lizards are pigs, and eat whatever crawls their way... but maybe? Like I said, the crix are maybe 1/2" at most.
thanks again,
Manda

I would try a nice warm bath. The water should be no deeper than shoulder high. Your temps, etc sound good and this may be just because he is a little stressed.
Best bet on feeding him is after the lights have been on atleast an hour in the morning and no later than 2 hours before the lights go off at night.

The problem with babies and BIG crickets is that they WILL try to eat them. Just keep him warm, well hydrated and as unstressed as possible and he should pick up his appetite again in a day or so.

GOOD LUCK

>>Hey, thanks for the advice. First, yeah, his temps are all correct. His basking spot is about 105-110, other side of the tank is about mid 80's. I've only handled him for a few seconds at a time, maybe 3 or 4 times since I got him, just trying to get him used to me gradually. I'm using rabbit pellets as a sub-strat... only thing that most people told me was acceptable, I use repti bark for my geckos.
>>I didn't think that 8 crickets was very much, everyone has been saying 20 is about average. I am a little concerned that maybe the petstore fed him crickets that were too big, but Im not seeing any signs of impaction or anything, other than the not pooping. He's pretty active, very alert, etc... has all the signs of being healthy.
>>Im dusting with calcium, gut loading, etc. etc., umm... what else.... he's got a full spectrum light, the tank is a 30 gallon....
>>I know the not eating could be cause Im around. I put a few crickets in his tank last night, and then went out for a while, and he ate those when I was gone. (looked under everything in there, and they were defintily gone) Really only concerned about the not pooping thing. Didn't know if it was a big deal, cause my geckos only poop once every few days, but then, they only eat once every few days too!
>>also, would he not eat the crickets if the ones I were offering were too big? prob a long shot, since most lizards are pigs, and eat whatever crawls their way... but maybe? Like I said, the crix are maybe 1/2" at most.
>>thanks again,
>>Manda
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

thanks for the help. he does seem far more stressed than any of the other lizards Ive ever gotten, (and hey, I guess if u started ur life in a pet store with kids poking at u, u'd be afraid of people too!)
Im trying the bath right now, and he drank a lot of the water, so maybe he was just dehydrated? Ive been misting him, and he hasn't seemed thirsty when I do that, but maybe he likes drinking from a bowl!
anyway, hope he'll be ok... thanks again!
Manda

I have a few youngsters that will really only drink when soaked. Keep up the misting but soak him around twice a week for a little while. And from the rest of the info givin you should have a happy healthy dragon soon enough. Ps post a pic

I would try not handling him at all until he gets used to his new surroundings which is what is causing his stress right now. Give him a few days to a week without trying to pick him up at all. When he is not stressed out about his new surroundings then go ahead and hanle him for a while everyday. He'll be fine, and congrats on the new beardie.

Big Fil

By the way..... 8 crickets is NOT a lot for a beardie that size. Also, dragons don't have "full sheds" in one day. Not usually anyway.

>>hi everyone, I just got my first beardie 2 days ago. I love him to pieces!!
>>I have a couple of concerns though. First, he's not eating as much as I think he should be. I dont really know how old he is, he's about 3 1/2 inches long, not counting his tail. (total length is prob. about 7" He's only eating maybe 2 or 3 crickets a day. These are smallish crickets, maybe 1/2 inch long at most. is this normal? The girl at the pet store said he ate 8 on monday, right before I got him, and he had a full shed on sunday. Also, he's not pooped since I got him home (mon. at about noon). again, is this normal?
>>I've had other lizards (leopard geckos) for quite a while, but this is my first time with any other kind of lizard. I know leos inside and out, but I just want to make sure that my beardie, whos name is Darwin by the way, is getting proper care.
>>any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
>>Manda
-----
Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

yeah, when I said full shed, I meant finished a full shed on sunday. dunno when he started the whole process.... but he was done on sunday, cept for a wee bit on his tail, which he pulled off while he was here.

well congrats. I just got a beardie about a week ago and im new at it too. Mine didnt eat that much at first and she isnt eating that much now. By the way her name is zilla and the other one were getting is going to be godzilla. anyways. If you look at some of the questions that SVT asked(hes my boyfriend) you'll find out alot of stuff that you need. are you putting the calcium on his food? There is a light that you need. Im sry i couldnt really couldnt help you out but do look at the questions you will find some good answers. Good Luck! I have fun with mine.