Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday he chomped down a few crickets but I noticed a few things. He only eats the crickets that go up to him and sit in front of him for a little while. He does no hunting what so ever. Is this just laziness? Or another step in acclimation. Also, I changed his papertowel to fresh clean ones and he went back to ignoring crickets today. ;(

Any input?

Should I start repti-aid again?

His skin is turning dark and he isn't moving much. Could changing out the old paper towel cause that much stress?!

as you know I am new to beardies, but this sounds serious. You may want to see your vet.
-----
Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled - Luna
1.0 Beardie - For now his name is Kinky Boy
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Dark coloration over the dorsal part of the body usually indicates the dragon is cold and needs more heat.

If the dragon is showing alot of dark pigmentation on the ventral side as well as beard being blackened, this could be stress or more serious.
Scales

Was considering the vet, but I'm afriad the trip will stress him out even more. Hes not so dark anymore and I saw him eat a silkworm! I think it was his first. But I havn't seen him eat anymore. Should I change the substrate to sand, that way I don't have to change it out so often and the crickets cant hide under the paper towel. It might get him eating again, he was eating when he was on the sand at the breeders house =T. May have to risk compaction.

Or how expensive they are!! LOL

I have all my reptiles on sand and they've never been impacted. I've seen them all eat a little sand but from what I've been told it helps them break down their food better. I have a female leopard gecko that was starved before I got her thats on sand as well and didn't get impacted between feedings. I really think the only time a reptile gets impacted is when they're very young or they aren't being fed properly so the only thing to eat is the sand that they're on. Thats just my thoughts on it because as I've said I've never had a problem with sand but then again maybe its the kind I use as well since it's as fine as sand that you'd find on a beach or in the desert.

FINALLY!! Success, after he tasted the first bite of his first silk worm he couldn't stop. He sat there and went after every worm I threw in front of him. I'm so happy. When he ate the 3rd 4th 5th and 6th one I almost started to cry with happiness. LOL. I'm sure you all know how I feel.