6 year old bearded dragon won’t eat anything but worms

[finleybeardie2018]

Hi guys, I have a 6 year old bearded dragon named finley. I’ve have him since he was 4 months old and have never had this issue before. He is special needs as his back was broken as a baby before I got him causing his back legs to be partially paralyzed but this has never impacted his diet. The past 2 months or so he has refused to eat any vegetables, fruit, or insects asides from the large super worms from petco. I’ve tried everything, giving him foods with different colors and textures and i’ve tried all his old favorites like dandelion flowers and blueberries that he used to go crazy for and he now just closes his eyes and ignores them. He’s even refusing roaches and crickets, i can truly only get him to eat super worms. He doesn’t seem stressed or sick other than the fact that he isn’t going to the bathroom as much as he used to because he is refusing to eat and there have been no new stressors in his life that could’ve caused this but it’s been going on for so long and i’ve tried everything i simply don’t know what to do. He is still acting like his normal self with the same energy he’s always had but I am worried about his nutrition and he’s seemed to be losing a bit of weight. There are no exotic vets near me at all so im really out of luck. Any advice would be great thank you (edit: he still goes crazy for the super worms like he is hungry so i know he isn’t just not hungry for anything because he would eat 10000 worms if i let him)

 

[Sadie]

Hi guys, I have a 6 year old bearded dragon named finley. I’ve have him since he was 4 months old and have never had this issue before. He is special needs as his back was broken as a baby before I got him causing his back legs to be partially paralyzed but this has never impacted his diet. The past 2 months or so he has refused to eat any vegetables, fruit, or insects asides from the large super worms from petco. I’ve tried everything, giving him foods with different colors and textures and i’ve tried all his old favorites like dandelion flowers and blueberries that he used to go crazy for and he now just closes his eyes and ignores them. He’s even refusing roaches and crickets, i can truly only get him to eat super worms. He doesn’t seem stressed or sick other than the fact that he isn’t going to the bathroom as much as he used to because he is refusing to eat and there have been no new stressors in his life that could’ve caused this but it’s been going on for so long and i’ve tried everything i simply don’t know what to do. He is still acting like his normal self with the same energy he’s always had but I am worried about his nutrition and he’s seemed to be losing a bit of weight. There are no exotic vets near me at all so im really out of luck. Any advice would be great thank you (edit: he still goes crazy for the super worms like he is hungry so i know he isn’t just not hungry for anything because he would eat 10000 worms if i let him)

Please go over the UVB and his surface basking temps and how your taking them- he is hooked on those super worms and he needs to start eating something else besides those - too many I am afraid it may impact him being he is paralyzed in the rear --

 

[finleybeardie2018]

Please go over the UVB and his surface basking temps and how your taking them- he is hooked on those super worms and he needs to start eating something else besides those - too many I am afraid it may impact him being he is paralyzed in the rear --

His UVB light has just been replaced and his his basking spot is 110 degrees as it has always been. those are not the issue. I am aware he needs to eat other things that’s what im trying to get him to do. I need to specify that only his legs are impacted by him being partially paralyzed his digestive system isn’t affected

 

[Sadie]

His UVB light has just been replaced and his his basking spot is 110 degrees as it has always been. those are not the issue. I am aware he needs to eat other things that’s what im trying to get him to do. I need to specify that only his legs are impacted by him being partially paralyzed his digestive system isn’t affected

Ok so improper UVB will effect appetite - if your using a coil they are inadequate and will cause all kinds of health issues and appetite loss - long tube fixtures have certain placement and distance depending on screen and bulb being used -- dragons over 6 months of age do not like the hot temps and recommended temps 95-100 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer - stick ons give ambient only and IR guns can be off -- dragons poop is going to be slow w/ the non appetite -- it is winter and at that time of year they go thru slow periods being off the food intake - that is normal - is he losing weight?

 

[Musicmanslady]

Hi guys, I have a 6 year old bearded dragon named finley. I’ve have him since he was 4 months old and have never had this issue before. He is special needs as his back was broken as a baby before I got him causing his back legs to be partially paralyzed but this has never impacted his diet. The past 2 months or so he has refused to eat any vegetables, fruit, or insects asides from the large super worms from petco. I’ve tried everything, giving him foods with different colors and textures and i’ve tried all his old favorites like dandelion flowers and blueberries that he used to go crazy for and he now just closes his eyes and ignores them. He’s even refusing roaches and crickets, i can truly only get him to eat super worms. He doesn’t seem stressed or sick other than the fact that he isn’t going to the bathroom as much as he used to because he is refusing to eat and there have been no new stressors in his life that could’ve caused this but it’s been going on for so long and i’ve tried everything i simply don’t know what to do. He is still acting like his normal self with the same energy he’s always had but I am worried about his nutrition and he’s seemed to be losing a bit of weight. There are no exotic vets near me at all so im really out of luck. Any advice would be great thank you (edit: he still goes crazy for the super worms like he is hungry so i know he isn’t just not hungry for anything because he would eat 10000 worms if i let him)

My Kai does the same...it is really really hard but I guess you just have to be tough...put down a nice variety of veggies..collard greens, turnip greens, spring mix, endive, etc and walk away. If he is really starving he will eat them. Now this is easier said than down...I sometimes break down after a few days and give him what he wants lol. They are so smart and can be sooo stubborn! After a couple days of just greens, offer some silkworms, bsfl, or dubias and see if he forgot about the supers.