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ideas needed to encourage baby beardie to eat


Lush

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Hi, last week i picked up my 1st baby beardie Sanchez, thanks to navarre pointing me in the right direction.

anyway he ate a wee bit the day i bought him home and had the odd fly the next morning, but he hasn't eaten since. i know its common for them not to eat for a while due to the stress of moving to a new environment, but i'd like ideas on how i can encourage him to eat without stressing him out.

Also would reflection in the glass contribute to him being stressed?? At the mo i am using a blue background vinyl but i have noticed that it reflects a lot and was thinking maybe he is feeling like he's being watched etc from both sides??? i am in the process of making a background for the back of the tank, he loves climbing on the side wall i made. i have done heaps of research before i got him but sometimes peoples personal experiences can give more insight then a book. any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

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can loose appetite a lil prior to shedding but hardly noticeable especially when young

whats basking temp? if to cold that could be why not so hungry

basking temp/rock should be 35+

I aim for 40-50C for young bds

my babies i had at that age were eating 20 or more lil crickets each a day, feeding morning and night :o

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i was giving him crickets but he wasn't eating them. i will try offerring them to him again. Was told to offer him veges, live food etc, which is what i've done but he's just not into any of it now. basking temp is 30-33 was told to have it on that.

:o 40-50 seems really high, dont think my tank would handle that heat. so maybe i need to up the temp to say 35 then??

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yea good to offer veges but they eat more insects when young and more an more vege with age.

ive had 30-40C recommended for basking

but also on overseas sites tell me 100F+ (37.7C) most aiming at 110-115F (43-46C) basking temp and cool end of tank down around 80F (26C)

id be interested to hear what other bd keepers aim for actually..40-50 does seem hot but then again the bds seem to lap it up they only bounce of the walls every now and again :lol:

ive found if bds not getting enough heat they will be right under heat light often if rock/heat light to hot they will sit off to the side of light etc.

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buy some mealworms and feed them up and breed from them - they're cheap enough to buy and vibrating dishes work well since mealworms don't move very fast to tempt some beardys

or plan b) go catch your own bugs our Beardy loves tunnelweb spiders and cicadas

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our Beardy loves tunnelweb spiders and cicadas

how often do you feed those out? and obviously its save?

try worms in vegies too,

i would up temp and wiggle cricket to side of mouth so it sees it and is interested(hold back legs)after its warmed up(the dragon not cricket)

good luck(it just takes time)

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omg thank you so much phoenix for your advice to hand feeding, hand fed him last night and he gobbled it down and he's been eating today yay yay yay.

also re basking temp, thanks to those that suggested hotter temperature, as now he's actually a bit more active at times and he doesn't snob me now, lol before he'd turn his back to me.

thanks everyone for the advice, i am so happy he is eating :D:D

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Hi Lush, welcome to the world of beardies. I have had my fella six months now and I can tell you something, you may get lots of worries like you have just experienced, but you will never regret having him. They are the most amazing creatures ever. Enjoy your new friend.

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Hi sweetysmum, thanks. it took me ages to finally make up my mind and get one. Sanchez really should've been called houdini as he has escaped 3 times and almost given me a heart attack each time. the last time he escaped i looked everywhere and couldn't find him, was just about to give up inside and start looking outside, when my boy noticed a leg sticking out under the hood of the uv light. lol the lil bugger managed to yet again squeeze himself thru the mesh and was chillin out up top. i was so pleased i found him, he was not eager to move from his new found hidy spot tho. he cant fit thru mesh now tho had to use smaller stuff for my own sanity, dam they can get thru some small gaps. he adds lots of personality to our family, mind u i think he's finally gotten used to all the craziness in our house and has fitted in quite well.

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  • 11 months later...

hi, i have a beardie of 6 weeks, first couple of days ate nothing,

most likely stress, now he will only eat 3 locusts a day, he does run over to

the pot they are in and will grab them as i put them on the floor, but thats all he will eat,

i have tried hand feeding but no luck, hes quite active, hes in a 40 inch tank, basking temp 40

and cool end 25, help i know he should be eatting more,

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from the care sheet, some of the other foods they eat

DIET: They are omnivorous and in the wild eat many types of insects, small vertebrates, vegetation, fruits and flowers.

In captivity they can be fed Crickets, mealworms, Locusts, Slaters, Grasshoppers Etc, Frozen mixed vegetables: beans, carrots, peas, fresh vegetables: carrots, Grated pumpkin, dandelion greens, rock melon, Pawpaw, strawberries, Kitten cat food (rabbit or chicken) once or twice a week and Calcium & vitamin D3 supplement powder can be lightly sprinkled once or twice a week on food.

Salad tip; make enough for 3-4days, store in ziplock bag in fridge. Feed out as needed, Its good practice to take the salad out at night.

Good site for greens http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.c ... ition.html

Also the balance between phosphate and calcium intake is important

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.c ... ition.html

Care must be taken to provide your reptile with a well balanced diet, over feeding or feeding too much of one type or rich food can lead to obesity and possibly metabolic bone disease.

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