Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beardie is about nine months old, and we've had him for about a month now. He's our first.

Normally, he will go totally nuts for his crickets. His colors brighten considerably and he's hyper-alert, sometimes darting around the cage after them, and sometimes almost quivering as he holds perfectly still and waits for one to wander too close. Always, he gobbles 'em down as fast as he can catch 'em. He watches intently as I prepare them for him, and often catches one right out of the air when I drop them in.

Today, he showed little interest as I went about dusting them. He let them fall onto his head and basking rock without so much as a twitch. He did casually eat one, but then ignored the rest. I went to check on him later and there were still several crix running around his tank and one even sitting on his head! Before bedtime, I gathered them up and put them back into their bucket. He ate three or four of them, but not more than that.

Sorry for the long story. Do they sometimes just not feel like eating? He looks normal and healthy otherwise. I looked him over very closely. Should I do anything different for him tomorrow? Is there anything in particular I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks for listening to my rambling....I'll quit now!
-----
--Judy

1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)
1.0 bearded dragon (Shaggy)

ball-pythons.net
(It's NOT just ball pythons!)

I wouldn't worry yet but some things to watch for are loss of weight and continued loss of appetite. Sometimes a beardie in a new home can become stressed to the point where parasites may take over and cause health problems.

I would think he would be settled in by now so that shouldn't be an issue. Yes, sometimes they have "bad days" just like we do so may that's what's going on.

If you haven't taken a fecal sample to the vet yet it's a good idea to do this now anyway to rule out any parasites.

Good luck with him!!

>>My beardie is about nine months old, and we've had him for about a month now. He's our first.
>>
>>Normally, he will go totally nuts for his crickets. His colors brighten considerably and he's hyper-alert, sometimes darting around the cage after them, and sometimes almost quivering as he holds perfectly still and waits for one to wander too close. Always, he gobbles 'em down as fast as he can catch 'em. He watches intently as I prepare them for him, and often catches one right out of the air when I drop them in.
>>
>>Today, he showed little interest as I went about dusting them. He let them fall onto his head and basking rock without so much as a twitch. He did casually eat one, but then ignored the rest. I went to check on him later and there were still several crix running around his tank and one even sitting on his head! Before bedtime, I gathered them up and put them back into their bucket. He ate three or four of them, but not more than that.
>>
>>Sorry for the long story. Do they sometimes just not feel like eating? He looks normal and healthy otherwise. I looked him over very closely. Should I do anything different for him tomorrow? Is there anything in particular I should keep an eye out for?
>>
>>Thanks for listening to my rambling....I'll quit now!
>>-----
>>--Judy
>>
>>1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)
>>1.0 bearded dragon (Shaggy)
>>
>>ball-pythons.net
>>It's NOT just ball pythons!)
-----
Rob Talkington

Judy,

Every now and then, mine will have a day like that too? Nothing to be concerned about unless it lasts for several days. He will probably eat fine tomorrow.

Melissa

Did you offer him any veggies? Did he eat his salad?
-----

Yes, he gets a little plate of salad every morning. He'd eaten some of it. He usually doesn't eat a lot of his salad, but I leave it for the whole day in case he wants to munch.

Thanks to ya'll for the responses. I'll just keep watching him for the next few days to see if this was just an isolated instance, or the beginnings of a pattern.
-----
--Judy

1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)
1.0 bearded dragon (Shaggy)

ball-pythons.net
(It's NOT just ball pythons!)