Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an adult(6yo) female Beardie. I call her triangle head (that's why I named myself TriangleMom)Anyway, her name is Magnus and Magnus likes to eat food that moves, ONLY. I just took her to the vet today and found out she is low in Vit D and therefore low in calcium. No bone problems in the matter of breakage but she does have a tad of bone density loss but nothing the vet says is irreversible. She got her first calcium injection today and had been eating mostly mealworms and crickets. When she was younger she would eat her greens, fruits and veggies, but now she only seems to want to eat food that is moving. We have been feeding her fruits and veggies through a syringe type thing and she will eat it when it is injected into her mouth but as far as putting veggies in a dish, she doesn't want anything to do with it. My question is, What kind of live food is best for my adult female beardie, and how (if possible) can I get her to start eating her veggies and fruits on her own? I do not want to keep feeding her mealworms because she has trouble digesting them. On another note, I just switched from calci-sand to a carpet today. When she did poo the other day after 4 weeks of no poo, there was no sand in there. She doesn't eat it but I switched anyway. I think her main problem was what the vet said, The vit D and calcium deficiency. I just need her to start eating more veggies and whatnot instead of only the live food. Help!! Thanks!

As Vit D is produced via a chemical process triggered by exposure to UVB rays, I don't see a vet testing for that when testing blood calcium levels makes far more sense.

If you don't have a UVB light get one installed in her tank. If you currently have one, replace it if its more than 9 months old.

I would stop feeding mealworms completely and crickets for that matter. An adult dragon that was eating greens in the past, should have no problem eating greens now. If she only wants to eat moving things, drop the greens into the bowl infront of her, to encourage her to eat. You can also just put in a few superworms, silkworms, butterworms or hornworms onto her salad..hide a few as well, to give some 'life' to her greens.

As a 6 year old adult, she may not be as hungry as a younger dragon would be due to not growing anymore. My adult female ate well but didn't eat every day, usually every other day and she was a good healthy weight and size (19" long, 450g last time I weighed her before I had to sell her). Weigh your dragon and try feeding her greens every other day (and nothing on the 'off' days) This may get her to eat more as her appetite will have time to build. I will also stop the syringe feeding...no point to do that right now unless she's loosing alot of weight. Monitor her weight though, to make sure she's not dropping in weight. A couple grams a week isn't a concern if she's currently a good healthy weight for her size.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Thanks for your response. She was xrayed at the vet to make sure she had no broken bones or metabolic bone disease. She doesn't, but he said some of her bones are a tad light and look like they may be in the beginning of losing density. The doc recommended I get her a series of calcium injections, the second of which she will get tomorrow. She has a 3 month old UVA/UVB bulb and we take her outside very often to soak up natural sunlight. Doc claims the calcium injections natural sunlight should have her moving around more and being more active in the next couple weeks or so. he also said he wanted her at 95 or so. She isn't too keen on the heat but he says it will help her heal. I have done all these things and will try your suggestion at feeding her every other day to see if her appetite flares up a bit. We have tried putting the worms under/within the salad but she isn't having it.. What would you recommend as the most nutritious worm to feed them?
Thanks again!
Magnus's momma

Natural sunlight definitely is the best you can provide your dragon. A few things to keep in mind, if you don't already, don't leave her alone outside, make sure she has a shaded area to retreat to, should she get too hot..and avoid glass tanks for outside. They heat up really fast. Typically about half hour mid morning or late afternoon about 5 times a week..pretty much replaces any need to have her exposed to UVB lights indoors. But since it isn't always possible to have her out most days (high/low temps, clouds, rain, schedule etc.) good to have them in their cage too.

Also, if you are in an area that has fireflies (lightning bugs) be very careful she doesn't eat any, they are toxic. Keep her away from fire ants too..not sure if they are toxic to dragons but I expect they won't appreciate being stun by them either (that and a swarm could very well eat a dragon if given the opportunity)

Calcium injections will help get her calcium back up..but you do need to provide it in the diet as well. Calcium supplements can be used..if your dragon isn't keen on eating greens. As yours seems reluctant to eat non moving food, you can try hand feeding, dangling pieces of healthy greens infront of her. Or you can drop several into her bowl. Sometimes this catches their attention enough to get them to eat some. Usually a mouthful or two is enough to get them to eat it on their own.

Try a variety of greens too..sometimes they will go for one kind more than others..which is a good way to get them started. If the 'favorite' happens to be not very nutritious, can slowly reduce the amount while adding better quality greens (and mix very well so she can't just pick out her favorites).

I like to over a variety of insects...alternating between superworms, butterworms, silkworms and hornworms. (depending on availability). Crickets are good too when gutloaded but I Hate having adult crickets in the house, so stuck mostly with superworms.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess