Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I rescued three babies. In the beginning I force fed them Reptical pellets soaked in Pedilite. One will eat crickets on it's own, one chases crickets and sometimes catches them, the smallest isn't interested in food at all. He won't even lick water off his nose.

It has been two weeks and I still have to force feed the little guy. His poor chin is getting sore from my nail. I tried holding a cricket in front of him. But he shows no interest.

Can anyone give me some advice? Is there a better way of opening their mouths then hooking your nail in the front? How can I get the little guy interested in eating on his own?

Heat is good, papertowels, misting and soakings, poo fine.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Run the pellet through a coffee grinder first. Take the powder and mix it with pedialite to make a soup, you can also throw in some veal babyfood and dust. Feed it with a syrenge, even ones in pretty bad shape will usually lap it right up.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

The best way to open up a Bds mouth is by holding the head of the dragon just behind the dragon's eyes with your pointing finger and your thumb on either side. Then with your other hand gently grab the loose skin on the bottomof the jaw between either side of their mandible and gently pull down. Making sure not to let go of the upper part of the dragon's head. At this point another person can slide the syringe in with juvenile reptical pellets dissolved in Pedialyte. This is the way my vet taught me how to administer meds. But Note that this method should only be done on dragons that are at least 10 inches. If the dragon is smaller you can just slide in a 1 ml (needleless)syringe starting from the corner of the mouth. Good luck!!
-Randy
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AlphaDragonZ
www.AlphaDragonZ.com

The technique I've used is to press the crickets head against the tip of the dragons nose (I don't pry at the dragons mouth) I just use increasing steady pressure at its nose until it opens its mouth up enough to slip the cricket in. If the dragon is really stubborn sometimes the dragon's head will move down (if this happens I stop the pressure for a moment) then repeat the process until he gives in and eats. A bit heavy handed at times, but I can do it without a second person and none of the dragons I've done this too have had any injuries or sores.

The syringe method mentioned is probably the most common, though I've never used it. Good luck with little one (well all of the actually).

A question?
Is he being housed alone?
Is it possible he is being intimidated by the other
dragons?
Separate him. If not.
ignore the question if you already have him separated.
Radena

When I have had to feed through a syringe, I gently place the syringe at the corner of their mouths and wiggle it between their gums. This usually gets them to open up, then I squeeze a drop or two in. This will usually get them licking, then I start putting the drops on their snout and they will usually lap it off.
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Reptichik

The one of pushing a cricket on the nose sounds promising. I shoved in a couple of little crickets today and I think he liked it.

I don't know if I really need to do syringe feeding, I've had them for over two weeks already. The main thing is trying to get the little guy to want to eat on his own.

I'm thinking that maybe they are younger then I thought.