Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my beardie two days ago and he ate two crickets then, going straight for them! Yesterday he ate a few mealworms (i know their bad, but I was worried he was ill and wasn't eating). Today I offer him crickets and he hasnt touched them. He drinks plenty though. He does not touch the vegetation either. Also, he seems pretty lethargic, he does not move much and stands in one position for hours (not basking). Temperatures are 109 basking and 70-80 ambient. I've changed the flooring twice, started off with newspaper and now I put papertowel. Is he just adjusting or is something wrong? Also he kinda stinks! LOL. I gave him a bathe yesterday but it didn't seem to help the stench.

The stress of moving to a new home can reduce the ability to control parasites. If possible take a fecal (poo) sample to the vet...unusually smelly poo is a pretty good indicator that parasites are present at elevated numbers.

Have you been misting or soaking your baby?...he could be dehydrated--this happends quickly in babies. Try soaking him in a warm (barely warm to touch) bath--water level just up to his shoulders. Beardies can take in water through their vent...

You can also offer water by placing drops on his nose for him to lick up.

Something is definately wrong as babies are bottomless pits when it comes to food...although they will most likely not eat much in the way of veggies until they are older--it is still a good idea to keep offering them...

I'm sure others will have additional advise.

Keep us posted

He eats worms, just not crickets. I'm ordering 100 silk worms but those won't be in till next week. I'm going to leave him alone for the next few days. I think the stress is making him ignore the crickets. I've been handling him to see how he reacts but I'll stop for a while. I don't think its so much as his poop that smells but just him in general.

I'd also try putting him in the basking area if he is not going there on his own...

Good news is he is moving more and is much more alert. He keeps running into the sides of the cage, I think he sees his own reflection so I taped newspaper on the sides of the cage. He moves to the basking spot on his own. He still ignores crickets and vegetation. His feces today smelled REAL bad. I could smell it walking into the room. It was more solid though. I have a feeling the stress is causing parasite overload. I don't know if it will be more detrimental to take him to a vet adding more stress or to let him acclimate and let him rid himself of the parasites (or let them become at a stable level). He was caged in playsand before at the breeder, so I don't know if I should take out the newspaper flooring for sand because of chances of impaction. He has stopped drinking from the syringe also, and people tell me to give him baths to hydrate him, but I don't want to add more stress.

Any input?

Take a fecal sample to the vet. This way they can tell you if your beardie has parasites without seeing him and you dont have to risk stressing out youir beardie further. Try to leave him alone as much as possible.

I didn't really understand what you said about the substrate is he on paper or sand right now? If he is on paper do not switch him to sand, and if he is on sand i would reccomend switiching him to paper towels.
-----
0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats