Appetite

[BrookeE]

Well my dragon is about 5. Ive had her since she was a baby. Ive had her on a pretty consistent diet of salads daily along with a few crickets a couple of times a week. But for the last few weeks, she is eating like a truck. She eats anything and everything I put in there for her and still looks at me like, dude is that it?? When she was younger, sometimes she wouldn't even eat her whole salad. So I started refilling her salad bowl when it would empty and it seems like her appetite is endless. So I start wondering, have I not been feeding her enough? Well this morning I said okay, Im going to feed her as many crickets as she will eat. Well she ate 17 large crickets and thats all I had. Still, looked at me like she was looking for more. Fast forward to just now (3 pm) and I put some salad in there and she attacks it like she's never eaten before. I gave her some water, and she drank that. All the sudden she's doing this wide gaping thing like she's going to throw up. Looks like she ate too much. Also ill add she's had diarrhea for a few weeks now. Isn't going away.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? any advice? and could someone tell me about their dragons weekly or daily diet?

 

[BrookeE]

Also I remember last time she had eggs, she had diarrhea for a little bit before she finally laid them and also ate like crazy. Perhaps that could be the problem? Or could she have worms?
She keeps on gaping even though she's not even in her basking spot so i seriously doubt she's trying to keep herself cool. Ive heard of them getting respiratory infections, maybe thats it?
Any input would be appreciated. Im at a loss and growing more concerned.

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

does she look like she could possibly be gravid?
If not, maybe grab a fecal and get it to the vet to check for parasites?

 

[BrookeE]

Well theres no doubt in my mind she's dehydrated right now. I have to trick her or force her into drinking water because she won't do it on her own or even take any water from droppers. Do they gape when they're dehydrated?

 

[Hdrydr31]

It's likely she is gravid again have you felt for eggs in her? I would get a fecal done on her to make sure she's free of parasites, it could also be that she is well hydrated if there is no consistency in her poop..

 

[PatsyB]

How is your dragon doing? The whole gaping like she's going to throw up, sounds like she ate to much too fast. My girl kinda does a puffing thing when she eats too much. Sounds like she could be gravid again if this is the same behavior she did before. I would think about varying her diet though. Crickets aren't very nutritious. Try dubia, hornworms (good for hydration), silk worms, super worms. I would also have a fecal test done. Diarrhea is bad and usually a sign of parasites. Also, they don't just get water from drinking water. They get water from the bugs and the salad they eat. They are able to extract the smallest amounts of water out of everything they eat.