Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last weekend I posted a message about a thin dragon I am babysitting. I asked for suggestions on bearded dragon husbandry and ways to fatten him up. I've tweaked some things based on the feedback I received.

I am offering kale instead of romaine lettuce. He's not crazy about it and doesn't appear to have eaten any. I switched out the 60 watt ceramic heat emitter for a 60 watt incandescent bulb. The basking surface temp is sligthly lower but the light intensity seems to have increased the dragon's activity levels. He seems to also be eating more superworms. His poops have become larger.

I weighed him today and he seems to be about 50 grams heavier. Perhaps he'll poop later today and the weight increase won't be so big, but overall I think he is doing better. The dragon will go back to his owner later this week. I will pass along some of the suggestions people offered me.

Thanks for your help!

I know some of the experts will chime in, but kale isn't the best veggie to give him. Can't think what it's called, but kale is like spinach...shouldn't be used too much. Are you soaking the poor thing in warm baths? God, my hands are aching to take that dragon and hold it and feed it baby food chicken and maybe yogurt. That dragon needs serious attention. I can't believe you're giving it back. My tortoise was in that kind of condition when he came to me and I held him,talked to him and rocked him, and spoon fed him. That dragon needs serious intervention, not just a light bulb change.

Sorry for the soapbox, but your picture really moved me.

Maleea

Wow, I didn't know that kale was not a recommended green. I've been reading so many caresheets I must have been confused with what's good and what's not good. Fortunately, the dragon hasn't eaten much of anything green.

Ken, I apologize for sounding so ...I don't know...I guess negative....in my last post. I know you're trying hard. Supermarkets carry dandelion greens and collard greens. My little guy was a runt and wouldn't eat greens. I finally started hand feeding him greens. It was the only way I could get him to get any in. Try just helping him get it in his mouth and taste it. I would do that and Zilla would eat like crazy.
I could also pop little juvenile pellets in his mouth and he'd chew. About the only things he really went after were his crickets.

I've learned that my reptiles can be as fussy as a baby human. My dogs and cats were never this fussy!

Maleea

No worries, Maleea.

I'm just happy that the dragon didn't die these last 2 weeks. When I first picked up the dragon I was shocked to see how skinny he was. His visible pelvic bones and skinny legs made him look like a bag of bones. I told another colleague that my fear was the animal was on its death bed and was probably going to die under my care.

I took him home, researched as much as I could on bearded dragons at the library and Internet, and consulted with the local pet shop.

I gave him baths every other day. He has eaten a bunch of superworms, has firm jawbones, and is somewhat active. He pooped regularly and gained some weight. I think his condition has improved slightly in the short time I've had him. At the very least he didn't die under my watch!

Peace,
Ken

Who's dragon is it? I have to agree with the other poster.....why are you giving it back? For them to have let him get that skinny is abuse in my eyes. He's very lucky to have come into your care. Now he should stay there. Or with someone who will love him enough to feed him.
I missed last weeks posts. May I ask what is on his tail?
Here is a list of recommended greens for daily use. There are many others that you can give and they love, but this is a good list of good daily ones to print out for whomever.
Alfalfa (plant not sprouts)
Cactus Pad (Leaf)
Collard Greens
Escarole
Mustard Greens
Scallop Squash
Spagetti Squash
Summer Squash
Turnip Greens
Also, Silkworms are an great source of protein as well as having the enzyme that help absorb calcium more efficently!
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Wendy
Tattooist by Trade
Chameleon Keeper by Heart
Daughter of "DragonLady" Breeder of High Color High Quality Bearded Dragons

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4 Veiled Sunbursts
4 Blue Bar Amblobes
2 Nosey Be's
2 Sambava's
2 Tamatives
1 Ambanja

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oversized logo

Edited on January 8, 2006 at 18:53:02 by phwyvern.

Ok I found your other post. I was shocked when I saw those pictures. i saw that the old pics he was dehydrated. Did you end up getting htose 2 fat pads on top of his head to rise back up? Boy did he look bad when you got him.
I am still totally baffled at the "growth" on his tail. If he was mine, I would really get a second opinion on that.
You REALLY need to have a very LONG talk with the owner of that dragon. Those pictures scream abuse. It's just not right. People shouldn't have a pat they don't want to love and feed. it's just not right. I wonder how she would feel if she was being starved and was dehydrated?
So SAD!
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Wendy
Tattooist by Trade
Chameleon Keeper by Heart
Daughter of "DragonLady" Breeder of High Color High Quality Bearded Dragons
---------------------------------------------------
4 Veiled Sunbursts
4 Blue Bar Amblobes
2 Nosey Be's
2 Sambava's
2 Tamatives
1 Ambanja

______

oversized logo

Edited on January 8, 2006 at 18:52:41 by phwyvern.

Kale isn't the best greens to give, certainly not as a stable. Though very rich in calcium, Kale also has oxilates which bind calcium, making it unusuable. Not as bad as spinach though. I would suggest mixing several stable greens with other vegies and greens, as a variety. With more choices, the dragon will be more likely to eat sufficient healthy greens. I think I mentioned this in my reply to your post last week, but just in case you missed it, check out the nutrition page at www.beautifuldragons.com
It has a list of many greens and vegetables (as well as fruit and flowers) that are both good and bad for dragons, with a color chart indicating frequency of feeding.

For dragons not used to eating greens or being stubburn about it, I suggest chopping them finely with a knife, mist them a bit so they are moist, then drop superworms or silkworms, giving them time to work under the greens. As the dragon roots and grabs the worms, they will get some greens and hopefully develop a taste for them. Bearded dragon pellets can also be sprinkled ontop of the salad as well. This works well for others but when I had a dragon, she would refuse to eat pellets and if they were on her salad, she wouldn't touch it at all. Picky little brat she was LOL. She ate salad fine when I put the silkworms into it though so that was good.

If your friend (the owner of the dragon) has internet access, give him a link to this site and deffinitely explain to him his dragon needs better care. As we don't know him, we can't really judge if he is neglecting the dragon or just had bad advise on it's care when he bought him. As he took the time to find a dragon sitter while he was away, this is something to me, indicates he cares enough about the dragon not to just leave him alone for two weeks. Given the fact many petstores (if that is where he bought the dragon originally) don't bother or know the proper care requirements of the reptiles they sell, he could have been badly misinformed on how to care for his dragon. There are petstores that have very knowledgeable employees who really do understand the care requirements for what they sell but these unfortunately, tend to be the exception more than the norm.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks for the info.

I did buy collard greens and mustard greens. Hopefully he will try some. Also LadyPayne thanks for the link to the website.

I will keep him at least another week as my friend is moving and she is not settled in just yet.

Ken