Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I ahve a friend that works at the local Southern Ag in the pet dept. She had a female sandfire orange that she fed a waxworm or was it a superworm... can't remember. However, it ate out the side of the dragon and was crawling around the cage and the poor thing layed in her hide and bled out.
She said there was a hole in the dragons side and the worm was in the hide as well. Sad....
Is there certain types of worms that will do this and some that can't? I've heard people say both ways.

Thanks,
Robert Wood

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They get digested but will usually come out in hard chunks in the poop. You can visually see how they are not able to break down the outer shell. This is a poor food to feed use superworms instead. ALothough they have an outershell too, mine digest these much better because instead of getting a mouth full of shell the superworms have a lot of guts and protein to go along with it. I kind of look at it like this (gross but - superworm shell and guts slides down better). LOL

Wasworms are really good.
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www.georgiabeardeddragons.com

Urban Legend, myth, scary story... NOT TRUE. Worms cannot eat their way out from the inside of a dragon. The exoskeleton of mealies is harder to digest than that of a superworm and can lead to impaction if not digested. worms should be considered treats only.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

Your friend either is full of shiznit or they left crickets in the tank overnight, which will chew holes in dragons from the OUTSIDE. Most pet stores don't bother to get crickets out before lights out. If you've ever seen a beardie chow down on a worm, the thing is dead long before it hits the belly, even so, it couldn't survive long enough to chew through. I think the myth came about because Supers definately are chewers, but not after ingested.
Waxworms wouldn't be a suspect.

The problem with mealworms is mostly when people give them to babies or try to make them a cricket replacement. The exoskeleton is harder to digest, almost impossible for babies if they get too many. The trick to mealworms is to NOT feed them to small dragons EVER, and sparingly to adults.
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www.classylizard.com

He is still pooping and eating good but I have noticed a concentrated hard kinda lump on his left side. Jenny didn't really eat but a couple but puffy chowed on them. Da*&it I'm so stupid. What can I do for them?

Thanks,
Robert

regular (once or twice a day) warm soaks in water, make sure the basking temps are around 105 F - 115F, stop feeding them mealworms completely, sticking to crickets and greens. Careful observation to ensure he continues to poo regularly, isn't walking funny, especially hind leg paralasis. IE hind legs are left straight (don't confuse with the relaxed straight legs while sleeping) or drag when the dragon moves around.

Gentle massauging from the stomach down to the vent area with fingers can also help move things along.

A warm bath can't hurt but if there is a hard lump there, you might want to see a vet. it might be something else. Are the dragons back legs functioning ok? are they twitching? is the dragon straining to poop? can your dragon walk ok?
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

In addition to this you can give laxatone, or petromalt or any other cat hairball treatment once a day until he poops normally. I would give about 0.2 cc for a subadult dragon. Just put a small amount on the tip of his snout he will lick it off and as he starts to lick gradually give him the rest. You can get the small syringes at the pet store usually in the section where they sell orphan kitten and puppy formula. If you can't find a 1cc syringe just put a pea sized drop from the tube on your finger and feed the same way. Beardies usually love the stuff and they take it very well. The laxatone acts to lubricate anything in the intestinal tract and help it move through easier.
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Stacey

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I giv ethem warm baths everyday. I felt the "lump" while ago and it seems to be going away. What it felt like was an intestine packed full. It ran from right below the rib cage down towards the vent. It does seem to be going away but he has appeared bloatd for a couple days now though he eats SOOO much!! I think he will be fine and I threw out the rest of the mealies. I'll keep an eye on him. Thanks everyone!

Robert

STOP THE MEALWORMS> I THINK THEY SHOULD BE BANNED FROM ALL THE REPTILE BOOS AND STORE CARE SEETS AND ANYWHERE ELSE

Use superworms but also sparingly don't feed them a bowl full. We do them as treats after we have cricketed in the evening. Sort of like dessert.
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www.georgiabeardeddragons.com

I have heard rumors but I believe this is an urban legend. I know it is not the wax worms because they are so fragile and soft the minute they get into the beardie mouth they are smush. If this really did happen it would have to have been some other kind of worm.
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www.georgiabeardeddragons.com