Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My six-week-old Bearded Dragon isn't eating. I have been feeding it lamb baby food by dabbing it on the end of its nose and occasionally am able to shove a cricket into its mouth when it laps up the baby food which it readily chomps down but it will not feed on crickets by itself. I have tried waxworms and finely chopped greens but to no avail. Any suggestions?

How long have you had it? What are the temps? What kind of lighting set up are you using? What size cage is it in? Is it alone?

The answers to those questions will help.
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Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

They hatched about 4 weeks ago, temps are perfect, I have UVA/UVB lightingon them, and its in with the other hatchlings. I have 6 of them in a 10 gallon they were in a larger one but none of them were able to catch any crickets so I downsized now there is only a couple giving me problems. I never started handfeeding just placed them in a cage separate from the other babies. I don't keep any furniture or substrate in with them. I don't feed mealies to them...hard to digest and they start associating long wiggling objects with food (like there brothers and sisters tails. I started them off on crickets. I've noticed the ones i've been having problems with have come from smaller eggs...I don't know if that would effect them though??? I've never had this problem before.

It took me a sec. to figure this out. lol You posted a response in someone elses thread.

They may feel exposed or threatened with no where to hide. Even if the temps are prefect, try to raise them just a hair. Sometimes that's all it takes to boost an appetite. Don't forget, they are cold blooded & their metabolism is dependent on temps. Even if it's perfect, the raise can give the little boost they need. (kind of repeating myself there)

Good luck.
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Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

I have had this dragon for ten days. I purchased it from a local herp shop, where it was bred, in Fresno, CA. The prorietor has been in business for many years and seems to be knowledgeable. I purchased two hatchlings and they were kept at the shop for five weeks to make sure they were healthy and eating. One is obviously bigger than the other and I was told to, "keep an eye" on the smaller one to make sure it was getting its share of crickets. After having them for three days and never seeing the smaller one eat, I seperated them. The one not eating is in a shallow glass cage, 6" highx14" longx8" wide with a ESU Super UV Coil-Lamp in a 10" dome set on top of the cage. There is a small hide and a piece of grapevine in the cage and I'm using paper towels for substrate. I have left crickets in all day with some flukers cricket food but take them out at night for fear of biting. Also misting several times a day. I called the reptile store and the owner told me to start the baby food feeding to assure it was getting some protien to sustain it.

These are my first Bearded dragons, though I have Day Geckos, Veiled Chameleons, various snakes and tortoises. Am I jsut being too nervous?

Thanks for your help,

E

Can the smaller one still see the bigger one through the cage? That can cause problems. They don't understand that the other one can't come through the glass to get them, so they are still intimidated. Also, is there a ceiling fan in the room? They can scare the living daylights out of some dragons. Even open windows (no curtains) can keep them kind of nervous.
You can also try the slight temp. boost.
I wouldn't leave the crickets in all day. Sometimes they can bug the dragons & they no longer view them as food, but more of a nuisance. Put a couple in & take out what ever isn't eaten within 10min. or so.

Give those ideas a shot & let us know how it goes.
Good luck.
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Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

How long have you had it??

Newly acquired dragons take a long time to acclimate (several days up to a week). Out of curiosity, why did you start hand feeding?? Maybe your baby is nervous and won't eat in front of you but will eat. (Mine did that). My baby also didn't take to greens right away. Then one day she just tried them and now she likes them.

Also make sure the temps are right. If they aren't her system will be all out of wack.

I would try crix (without furniture in the cage and leaving her COMPLETELY alone for about an hour or so). If that doesn't work, then try silk worms (my baby had a difficult time catching the crix so the silkies did the trick). I only fed her one wax worm (and that was for the vitamins).Make sure that all food items have vitamin powder on them. That way your baby can get some vitamins (even is she eats only a little). I would avoid handling too much with such a young one.

Stay away from mealies.!

If you have had this baby for awhile maybe you should talk to the breeder to find out what she was raised on.

I know this is nerve racking but I am sure everything will be ok.
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Hangin with the Herps
ZZ

I have had this dragon for ten days. I purchased it from a local herp shop, where it was bred, in Fresno, CA. The prorietor has been in business for many years and seems to be knowledgeable. I purchased two hatchlings and they were kept at the shop for five weeks to make sure they were healthy and eating. One is obviously bigger than the other and I was told to, "keep an eye" on the smaller one to make sure it was getting its share of crickets. After having them for three days and never seeing the smaller one eat, I seperated them. The one not eating is in a shallow glass cage, 6" highx14" longx8" wide with a ESU Super UV Coil-Lamp in a 10" dome set on top of the cage. There is a small hide and a piece of grapevine in the cage and I'm using paper towels for substrate. I have left crickets in all day with some flukers cricket food but take them out at night for fear of biting. Also misting several times a day. I called the reptile store and the owner told me to start the baby food feeding to assure it was getting some protien to sustain it.

These are my first Bearded dragons, though I have Day Geckos, Veiled Chameleons, various snakes and tortoises. Am I jsut being too nervous?

Thanks for your help,

E