Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a male bearded dragon at the white plains show(nov 27). He was eating like a champ up untill 10 days ago, he has slowed down with eating and just does not seem interested in eating. He is about 7 1/4 inches long and 14 grams. He is still very active and alert with everything. I purchased a female from a different breeder and she is growing like a weed but he is just not growing. He is not skinny or lathargic, he has a overall good body condition. I am just lost and don't know what to do? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Cage set up is
15 gallon tank, paper towel substrate, wood branches, hides. Hot spot is 110, cool side is 81, crickets offered 2 times a day, veggies offered every day. A dish of water and a dish of dried mealworms are always offered in the cage. He is soaked once a week.
Thanks for any help
Tom

Are you keeping these two together? It could be that the one not eating may be getting picked on. It isn't something that you may even notice. Try separating them and see what happens.

My bearded dragon picks on my uromastyx from across the room. I had to place him in the room differently so that he could not see my poor uromastyx.

Linda

They are in two different cages, the are next to each other with cardboard seperating the two cages so they can not see each other. He does some times wave(I think he sees himself in the reflection?)
Thanks
Tom

Have you tried some finely cut up mustard greens, carrots, etc? My bearded dragon loves his salads. Maybe something to try as I do think they can get bored with the same thing after a while. Mine will no longer touch crickets?? He will eat super mealworms and mealworms but his favorite is waxworms. I trick him and give him some of each so he gets a variety.

If not eating continues I would reevaluate its enclosure and make sure everything is optimal as far as heat, UVB, etc. If you are using sand I would replace it with newspaper as little ones can eat it and become impacted which will cause them not to eat.

Just some ideas.

If you dont have a light on them that emits uva and uvb rays, that might be a problem. uva helps them digest thier food, uvb helps process calcium.

Also arm waving is a submissive behavior which might be a clue to the problem. Maybe cover 3 sides of the tank so there are less reflections to freak him out.

As far as i know he is still barley eating, he will eat the Flukers repta-boost, he likes it,
His cage has a zoo med 10.0 on it so he is getting his uv-b. i offer him 1/4 inch crickets daily, wax worms, and greens. And it doesn't seem like he's eating them. I took him to my vet and we dewormed him any way(not enough fecal to do a fecal test), my vet was shocked when i told him what was going on(i use to work there) when i brought the little guy in and told the vet he was barley eating and not defecating but still was so alert and everything he didn't believe me until he say the lil guy trying to run all over the exam table.

he hasn't changed he is still very alert and active, any other suggestions i could try as to getting him to eat? he seems like he's getting longer in a little over a month of me having him he has grown a little over a inch.
Any suggestions will help
Thanks
Tom

Can you refresh my memory as to the temps in his enclosure and have you actually measured them? I would monitor his weight closely. If he is gaining weight he must be eating enough. You can buy a digital gram scale for kitchen use at Walmart for cheap. Keep offering salads with shredded carrots, parsnip, turnip and add a little cut up fruit like bananas, apples, etc.

The fact that he is still active is a good sign. He may not be a huge eater. Mine isn't.

Linda

hot side is 110 degrees(with probe) and the branch reads 113.6 with thump gun. cool side is 81, weight when purchased was 15 grams he is now 14 grams. so he has lost a gram. this guys has me going nuts, when i use to breed my beardies the some babies would be bad eaters then snap out of it and become the best eaters out of the litter.
thanks for the help
tom

I think the temp is too high. Bring your basking spot down to 98 degrees and the rest of the enclosure will cool naturally. My basking spot is about this and the cool end is around 75. He stays in the middle when resting which is about 80. He moves to his basking light for a few minutes as needed.

I would at least try this. Also, try some warm soaks. Mine loves it. He splashes around and drinks when he is in his water. Make sure the water isn't deep though. Mine has his own little rubbermaid container that I place directly in his cage. He can get out but he never does. I take him out and remove it when the water cools.

Try this and give an update.
Linda