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Beardie Not Eating

Posted By:

Lizardsarelikewow

I went to my cusins house a couple days ago and he keeps a 1 yr old bearded dragon he is not a happy reptile he is not moving much and eats no fruit or veg he will eat one locust at a push i also tried feeding him a mealworm but was not intrested any ideas?
thanks
Nathan.

sorry no photos


Points:	150
Topics:	General Health , Feeding
Tags:	Feeding, Health, Refusal
Species:	Lizards > Lizards > Pogona vitticeps
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

8/28/2009 5:48:24 PM

Krestie Kate

Alot of beardies won't eat veggies. I don't know if it's even safe to give them fruit.
What kind of bedding is the animal on?
What are it's temps and humidity like?
Dose it have UVB lighting?
Not alot of people are going to be able to help you without this info.

Member Comment

8/28/2009 6:14:00 PM

Floof

Try to find a herp vet in the area, and take them a fecal sample to be tested. I read recently that coccidia (a common beardie parasite) can kill the dragon's appetite. I'm having a similar issue right now--my beardie is on a hunger strike, and will only take the occasional pinky mouse... As soon as he has a bowel movement, it'll be going in to the vet for testing. It might also be a case of MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) if the beardie isn't getting enough calcium or doesn't have a UVB source, or impaction if it is kept on a loose substrate. Again, both require a vet visit. Really, it sounds like your cousin's beardie should go to see a vet, anyway... You can find one in your area on http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

This "formula" was suggested by a member of another forum to get some sustenance into another member's beardie that was too weak to eat. I haven't had the chance to try it yet with my guy, but I'm going to as soon as I can get the main ingredients (even if I have to skip the Jumpstart for now). It's primarily for beardies who lose their appetite completely while being treated for parasites:

From beardeddragon.org: http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/parasitecare/

"If, during this treatment period, your dragon has stopped eating entirely, or if you are concerned that he is dropping too much weight, you can syringe feed him a formula which is super nourishing until he starts eating again on his own.

To make this formula, you will need to purchase a tube of "Jumpstart", which is a caloric supplement and reptile appetite stimulant that comes in a paste form. This product is made by Zilla Reptile, and can sometimes be difficult to find in Pet Stores. If you aren’t able to purchase it locally, you can purchase it online at ReptileSupply.com. It can be found under reptile appetite stimulants. This product was formerly manufactured by ESU Reptile, who have now sold the rights for it to Zilla.

Mix about a teaspoonful of the “Jumpstart” paste with a jar of Gerber #2 Chicken Baby Food, a pinch of your beardie’s vitamins and of his calcium supplement, and some Pedialyte (like you give small children when they have diarrhea). Mix everything up but the Pedialyte, and then add just enough Pedialyte so that it flows easily through the tip of the syringe. I would recommend using the Cherry or Orange flavored Pedialyte, since the unflavored Pedialyte tastes really unpleasant!

Try to get two or three teaspoonfuls of this formula into him at least once a day (or a smaller amount, if your dragon is still a small baby). This amount will provide him with the protein that he requires (from the baby food), and all the vitamins that he needs (from the Jumpstart) until he starts feeling better and begins to eat again on his own."

Assisted Answer

8/28/2009 8:15:36 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Just curious if the owner has tried any of these things... I am by no means an expert when it comes to Beardies, but when the male I have wasn't eating well a while back and was starting to look pretty thin, these are some of the things I did and he ended up getting back to eating. My guy was about 18 months old when he did this. I ended up holding out each piece of food for it to take. For awhile, this was the only way he'd eat, and he didn't respond as well if any one else tried to feed him this way, though. I also felt he was maybe dehydrated or possibly constipated, so I soaked him a few times in the tub. Each time, he drank a bunch while in the bathtub, but I never saw him drink from his dish. He also went through a phase that when he saw me with my misting bottle, he'd run to the door and open his mouth... so, I would just lightly squirt water into his mouth, and he loved it! LOL Again, he was a bit particular, and only did this when he saw me. I have now seen him drinking from the saucer I have in the cage - has to be real shallow one I found out. My two beardies get finely chopped veggies (same as Melissa Kaplan's Iguana diet) and smaller broken up pieces of the greens every other day, and about once/week, I feed them 2 - 3 Dubia roacheseach. OMG do they LOVE those!! A couple other things to check is how old the UVB bulb is and how far away is it from the animal. Is there any interference - the plastic guard, a screen or something? And, of course double check the temps., and other basics of husbandry.

Accepted Answer

8/29/2009 12:09:12 AM

icygirl

Checklist:

-UV light which has been replaced in the last 6 months. Essential to bone development.
-Basking spot, hot side, and cool side are at proper temperatures.
-Safe substrate that will not cause impaction. Best choices for beardies are newspaper, paper towels, Kraft paper, or tiles. Or, feed the beardie outside the enclosure.
-Adequate watering - either by baths or by dripping water on its nose until it licks the drops off.

-Normally colored/smelling feces, deposited regularly (daily or sometimes every other day).
-Clear eyes and mouth, no discharge anywhere on face
-Silent breathing

If all of these things are good and he's still not eating, take him straight to a qualified HERP vet. Make sure the vet has lots of experience with herps - some vets ADVERTISE that they treat exotics, but their experience may be very minimal. Check out this vet list: www.herpvetconnection.com

When my beardie stopped eating he was impacted. This means his gut was clogged up because he had ingested some of his substrate. The vet was able to push out the blockage and then gave him a vitamin B shot (I believe). A good vet will know what to look for!

Member Comment

8/29/2009 3:18:34 AM

shellboa

My first thought is, give him a nice warm bath. Then make sure his environment is correct, then get a fecal to the vet and treated if needed. After that feed it! Veggies some fruits and a variety of insects

anapsid.org has a good beardie page including good veggies fruits and how much of what etc.

Assisted Answer

8/29/2009 1:15:37 PM

Skelegirl

I agree w/ everyone else that his environmental conditions need to be checked first. If it's too cool in his enclosure, he may not be digesting properly, and therefore will have a smaller appetite. If he's on sand, he could very well have an impaction, and need to see a vet. A fecal test should be run...they can get such a load of parasites that they lose their appetites, as well as become quite lethargic. How does his poop look/smell? If it's excessively runny and/or smelly, it could very likely be parasites. If there are undigested bits in there, it could very likely be a temperature problem. There are many different variables that could play a part in his condition. My recommendation would be to get him to a herp vet who knows beardies well, and have a general "once-over" exam, including a fecal and an ionized calcium level check. Beardeddragon.org has a message forum, I believe. I'd post there to see if anyone could recommend a good beardie vet in your area. Also, fruits are ok as a treat, but not an everyday food for beardies. Here is the best resource on the nutritional value of food for beardies I've found: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html Keep us posted on his condition!

Member Comment

8/31/2009 12:19:57 AM

Shadowwolf

I have heard that if you put a dab of plain yogurt on the tip of the lizard's snout, he will eventually lick it off. Beneficial bacteria cultures in the yogurt will help to trigger his feeding respose in a more natural way than force feeding will, and he may find his appetite again.

Member Comment

10/25/2009 9:04:24 PM

zachrfields

Alot of beardies wont eat greens or fruits. Try crickets, or pinkies, mealworms.

Member Comment

1/17/2011 12:12:07 PM

abi21491

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