Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Guys!
I am having some issues with my baby beardie. I have raised him since he was born and he has been thru a lot. He was very sick and we didn't know if he was going to make it or not, but I nursed him back to health with syringes full Insectivor (I think that is what it was called, got it from my vet when he was still sick). The problem is that now he won't eat on his own! I have tried smashing up baby crickets and feeding them to him with the syringes. He eats a little but not nearly enough. I have tried mixing ectotherms in with the Insectivor, and that didn't work. I put fresh greens in there for him, but I can not tell if he is in fact eating them or not. I am now out of the Insectivor stuff and don't know what else to so to get him to eat? Whenever I put a few of the baby crickets in his enclosure all he does is stare at them. He has no interest in them at all! Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!

I have been through something similar with two little ones. When I got them they had never eaten independently.

First, are you sure whatever made him sick is completely resolved? Has he been checked for parasites? Some medicines will cause a decrease in appetite (as, of course, can illness) and turning anorexia around can take work.

Make certain he is properly hydrated by daily soaks. Does he drink independently? Try a little sports drink, pedialyte, or unsweetened apple juice diluted with water.

If he was treated with antibiotics during his illness, his normal balance of gut flora will have been depleted. I use a product call Acidophiliz. There are other probiotics available as well. While I was restoring my dragons to health I used several drops daily. It seems pretty tasty to them and after a few times they would drink it off their noses. Please do note that this product needs to be refrigerated after opening so that the good germies in it stay alive. Even if antibiotics were not used, it is a good thing to do proactively.

Make absolutely sure that your lighting and temeratures are right, that the high temp area of the cage is at the upper end of the recommended scale and that the lights are bright, bright, bright. With my guys I also used every opportunity to make sure they got direct (not through glass or plastic) sun exposure for at least an hour a day. We bought a small birdhouse and set it up on the porch for their safety in outdoor basking. Also make sure that the cage environment is not overwhelming. You don't say how big he is, but if he is a wee one you may want to consider reducing his cage size, either by changing him temporarily to a smaller one, or adding a divider. Sometimes a large area is frightening. Make sure that he is someplace where he gets regular attention but not too loud or busy or with like, the cat staring at him , and that he has a cave to retreat to if he wants (One on each end of the cage is a good idea).

I also have had success with a product called ParaZap. You can order it a number of places online. It is a tea you boil up and administer daily. It will have some success in treating any lingering parasites, and also appears to have appetite stimulation and cleansing properties. After a week of treatment with this product, along with their meal-replacement therapy (I assume that is what Insectivor is), these guys were going after food.

As sad as it is to think about, not all babies make it. He may have some congenital problem that you cannot be aware of and is just not intended by nature to survive. However, after a few weeks of this regimine, my non-eaters were eating and are getting bigger every day now. I hope you some of this information is helpful and that your dragon has a full recovery.

Best,
Michele
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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

Yah, he is a wee thing! So cute! He seems very happy. He is soaked and drinks everyday. Hydration has never been an issue with my beardies. Oh and he is in the process of shedding right now too. Right now I have him in a plastic/tupperware type enclosure, just big enough for him to run around-but yet small enough so that he feels secure. The temps are fine. The only thing that I can think of is that he is just used to me feeding him this way??? I will try your advice though and see if that does the trick. Thanks for all your help!

Yes, it's possible he's simply become accustomed to handfeeding. Still, when there are wiggly food items offered, you should see some interest. Do you? I also found it helpful to actually count the pieces of greens and veggies I put in the bowls so I knew when they had eaten anything.

Mine simply sat as if there wasn't even such a thing as food, but within two weeks of meticulous husbandry and a week of the probiotic and parazap tx, the noneating babies went after their first worms. It was a very exciting moment LOL! They also always drank. Good that your guy does too and that you're being careful to keep him hydrated. Has your vet run a fecal for worms and/or coccidia overgrowth?

Good luck!

Michele
-----
4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

I agree with Michele. Just wanted to add that I've used chicken baby food in a syringe as well. But as Michele said, make sure all real problems have been fully treated. And at this point, hydration is a MUST.

Cricket