Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I put a full post offering all the info that was requested, but there';s not alot of feedback as to if that is somewhat normal, and how dangerous of an amount of food it is.

I'm including a couple picks of her so you can see if you think she is in bad shape. She doesn't seem it to me, but she's definitily not fat either.

I don't know how long to wait her out on this. It's almost as though she's physically fine, but just refusing to eat everything! at least very much of it. and no crickets, just mealies as bugs. I've got some silk worms coming in a couple days.

Thanks

np

She looks alright to me (maybe a little thin but not too bad), I still think that she's not eating enough though. They can get addicted to worms real quick, sometimes you just have to refuse to give in. It may take time for her to finish settling in also. I would just keep offering crickets, and silkies of course when you get them in. Eventually she should pick up and start eating normal again. Also, like I said before, get a fecal done to rule out parasites (this can cause them to go off their food also).

Sean

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Heart Mountain Herps

I would try giving her a parazap tea for a week... It wouldn't hurt ot do the male as well.... If there are parasites it will reduce them and at the very least... it will build her appetite.... I think all dragons go through a period where they won't eat as much or not at all.... like growing kids... ending a growth spurt... usually means that they don';t eat as much and into growth spurts they eat a TON...... this may or may not be what's happening... the parazap tea could help though....

Later,
Robert Wood
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Don't choose your friends by show,
feathers float but perils lay low!

I have the same situation with one of my males.He is now a year and a half old and never has eaten a lot. I got his feces checked and they were fine. He goes to the bathroom once a week, he eats a couple of crickets a week if I am lucky, he will eat an occasional waxworm or superworm, and once he ate a roach. I just ordered silkworms. I tried baby food and he would take a little. I am amazed that he has survived this long. However, if I put him near a female he wants to mate and his tail his thick at the base and his legs are ok. I come to accept the fact he is never going to eat alot(I think once in the last year he ate 8 crickets at one time)and he always going to be small(maybe one-third of a full grown male. Good luck and post if you come up with a magical food.

I at least feel a little better that she seems normal, and it sounds like you (some of you) feel it is safe to wait it out and have good food ready when she comes around. I will do the parasite check, and let you know what I find, and how she does. Hopefully the silks will help.

It was also helpful to hear the story about the male that is the same way. Thank you

One last thought. Lucky (my male) eats only crickets that have been dusted with a supplement. I think the white makes it easier for him to see them. He actually ate 4 today that were dusted and yesterday I had a bowl of them in his tank and he never touched them(they weren't dusted). Good luck!

I think you got some good responses with the key being to get a fecal done. And about the post below with the male that is over a year old, you cant compare how much/often a baby should be eating compared to an adult. Adults may eat alot less bugs, and more veggies to the point where the bugs are just a supplement or treat to them. I would also check your temps accurately, not by guessing that if he is on the fringe of the hot spot that the temps are ok. If the dragon stays in one spot, hot spot especially, all day long..........the temps are not warm enough. I would check them with a good thermometer, make sure your basking temps are 110-115, and your ambient temp 80-85. Try the silks, and keep up witht he crix. I would not feed the mealies as stated also below. Make sure veggies are also available. The parazap is also a good idea. Try not to change everything so much. Key is to have the right setup and let the dragon adjust and settle in. Try not to handle them at all. Let them be in the right environment, get the fecal and Im sure you will be ok.

You must keep in mind that these are living creatures and not machines. They go through cycles, preferences, changes etc. Your first task is to determine if the environment that you are providing is satisfactory, particularly regarding temperature and humidity and then of course other things as well. That being said, even if your cage/setup is decent, the animals still go through these changes/cycles. Your job as a keeper is to distinguish between these changes and an animal that is truly not well.

The pictures you posted look good, but keep in mind they are just pictures and only you have access/can observe the actual animal.

I agree that you have some good posts here to build off of.

Good luck,

Ian