Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have three beardeds(2F and 1M) in one tank in my class and they each take turns becoming inactive. They go for 2 to 4 weeks where they don't move or eat much and stay in a hide. Then after one finishes another one will do the same thing. Do they semi- burmate in the summer? The other two are more active, but they have never been very active. I have had them since November and the tank has a variety of temperatures from 105 to 80 degrees. The tank is 2ft by 4 ft with several hiding areas. Any thoughts?

All three go through spurts where they don't want crickets(I feed crickets in a seperate tank because they where hiding in the wood and I was concerned). They love worms and are so-so with salad. I also leave freeze-dried crickets in the tank that they eat now and then. They seem small but gain weight slowly. Can I go with an only worm diet? Any suggestions on types and how many to feed each day? Other thoughts?

Thanks for any help.

Brian

Many dragons do seem to go through inactive stages (outside of brumation). So long as they appear healthy and alert, I wouldn't worry too much. In answer to your questions on worms, no you can't/shouldn't feed those exclusively or have them be the staple of their diet. If these dragons are adults, the bulk of their food should be veggies. If they're still growing it should be a mix of crickets and veggies, with some superworms (or silkworms) thrown in for variety (I'd avoid mealworms).

How old are they? It's usually not a good idea to have a male with females all year round. You should only put them together when it's time to breed (I'm assuming you don't want them to breed? Well, you really have no choice if you keep them together).

Did you get fecals done lately? Parasites could be causing inactivity.

They are a little over a year old. The one male will only try to mate if I let him walk around my classroom floor? He never has tried it in the tank. My fourth(a male) that is alone is a horny little guy and I can't keep him with the girls. I never had a fecal done because I knew where I got them from. How long can a bearded live with a parasite in it? Could it live for a year?

There are a few things I suggest you change. You should separate the females from the male completely. He may not have made attempts to mate in their tank to your knowledge, but eventually he will. Then you will have eggs, lots of them. Even if you don't try and incubate them, laying eggs is hard on the female's bodies. Also, if they are only a year old, the females are much too young to breed.

A 4'x2' cage is the bare minimum recommended for a single adult dragon, much less three of them. More space will deffinitely increase the activity and appetite of your dragons once they get used to the new cage.

Dragons do have times when they are relatively inactive and don't eat much, but typically this is during sheds. It could also mean one is feeling intimedated by the others so hides to avoid being pestered.

When you mentioned you feed worms and want to switch to an alll worm diet, what type or worm do you mean? Mealworms shouldn't be more than a rare treat, not as a stable. Crickets are better for that. There are some worms you can safely feed regularly and these are silkworms and butterworms. Superworms are not bad as a treat once in awhile but like mealworms, their chitin is tougher to digest. Mealworms and superworms shouldn't be fed to young dragons (under 12" anyway).

Everything has some sort of parasite in them and dragons are no exception. Parasites only become a concern when they overpopulate to the point the dragon cannot naturally counteract their harmful effects. Lack of appetite, runny and smelly stools, lathargy are all symptoms of an overload of parasites. The only way to be sure your dragon's don't have too much parasites is to get a fecal done by a qualified vet experienced in reptile parasites.

One last question, how big are these dragons?

Thanks for all your help. I feed them mealworms, waxworms, and super worms every other day and they go crazy. I have never tried to see how many they would eat. I guess I was a little scared. Some days they want crickets and other day they want nothing to do with the. I was a little concerned because they could go over a week without wanting a cricket. I do have freeze-dried available that they eat. Again, they will eat a lot over a couple week stretch and then not touch them.

In regards to size I think they are all small. Mrs Stubbs (she was rescued and is missing a foot and some fingers and part of her tail is about 12 inches from head to tip and a little under three inches wide. She doesn't look skinny and her tail is full. Speedy(wasn't rescued and has all parts) is about 16 inches from head to tip and about 3 1/2 inches wide. She has a full shape. Fat Tail (recued like Mrs. Stubbs) is missing parts and has a real fat tail. He is about 16 inches from head to tip and about 5 inches wide. He is the biggest and has the mushiest belly. I don't have a scale at home ( beardeds visiting for the summer)to weigh them. I don't think any of these three look skinny.

In my other tank I have Lucky, lucky to be alive. Speedy thought his head was a cricket and I had to pull his head out of her mouth last November. He has never been ok. Never eats a lot and I think his vision was affected by the attack. He is about 14 inches long and only 2 1/2 inches wide. He can't see the crickets unless I dust them.But he is like Timex - keeps on ticking!

My biggest problem is the cost of my babies. I didn't do my research when I ventured into this world. I don't get any money from my school and I didn't see the justification of spending $50 on a stool sample(times 4). I might have to bite the bullet and not tell my wife. LOL!

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Lastly, any thoughts on those cages being mentioned for $200 on the main page? I can't stand these big fish tanks - too heavy. Christmas is coming and I was thinking of asking for some of those cages. They look like they are easier to organize in regards to space and space is an issue!

Thanks!
Brian