Baby Nacho not eating

[maxxdout]

So I have a new baby beardie that has not eaten more than a couple crickets about 4 days. I've had him about a month. He is shedding, and I've read that it's normal to have a decrease in appetite. However he looks skinny to me. Just concerned that where he is so little, he might die...or I'm overreacting...I've tried every kind of food, hand feeding, warm soaks to help with his shedding, and daily body misting. His energy level is good, and he is still pooping everyday. He's a little jerkish about being picked up right now too. But I've been giving him his space during this. I am head over heals in love with this dragon! Please help

 

[Josh]

Welcome to the forum, thanks for joining BDF! Can you tell us some more about your dragon's setup and enclosure? What are his temps like? What other kinds of things are you trying to feed him? How big are the crickets? Sounds like his behavior is generally normal but you're concerned he isn't eating enough volume? Is he eating every day?
Can you post some photos of him and his enclosure? A picture is worth 1,000 words, after all.

 

[maxxdout]

So I'm having a really hard time uploading a photo of his enclosure. I will admit he is in a tank. He (or she) is in a 40 gal breeder. I have reptile carpet on the bottom, a big log for bask in, a rock hide, a water dish, and a climbing rock. It's pretty basic as I found he likes his cage less busy. He's finished his shed the day before yesterday, and still not interested in food. Trying crickets, and I've even tried breaking their legs to make them easier to catch. I've tried mealworms, but am nervous of them, so I've been breaking their heads off. Ewwww....I've offered him sweet potato, collared and mustard greens, banana, baby food sweet potatoes and green beans...just isn't working ...his basking spot is 105-110, and the cool side is 80. Night time dips down to mid/low 60s. Too cold???? I mist him daily, and he only drink water off my finger. He looks skinny and wrinkly to me. Was thinking electrolyte bath. 5-6 days of no food now

 

[maxxdout]

Crickets are the tiny ones, as my beardie is still very small. I make sure I give him nothing bigger than the space between his eyes. His behavior has been very normal before the shed...and he shed beautifully, no stuck sheds or any problems other than not eating.

 

[river-7]

Maxxdout; I have had a few dragons in my time here and I always find less is better. He/she might be over-whelmed by all the different foods stuff you have been giving.Try just a couple of things at once=ie; collard greens at 2-hours after lights go on and then his crix; after he warms up. Example I use to give salad first and nothing for a few hours and then crix; after lights were on for a few hours as dragon is warmed up then.Hope this helps you a little-river-7

 

[Zaiden07]

So I'm having a really hard time uploading a photo of his enclosure. I will admit he is in a tank. He (or she) is in a 40 gal breeder. I have reptile carpet on the bottom, a big log for bask in, a rock hide, a water dish, and a climbing rock. It's pretty basic as I found he likes his cage less busy. He's finished his shed the day before yesterday, and still not interested in food. Trying crickets, and I've even tried breaking their legs to make them easier to catch. I've tried mealworms, but am nervous of them, so I've been breaking their heads off. Ewwww....I've offered him sweet potato, collared and mustard greens, banana, baby food sweet potatoes and green beans...just isn't working ...his basking spot is 105-110, and the cool side is 80. Night time dips down to mid/low 60s. Too cold???? I mist him daily, and he only drink water off my finger. He looks skinny and wrinkly to me. Was thinking electrolyte bath. 5-6 days of no food now

Crickets are the tiny ones, as my beardie is still very small. I make sure I give him nothing bigger than the space between his eyes. His behavior has been very normal before the shed...and he shed beautifully, no stuck sheds or any problems other than not eating.

Mkay, when was the last time he/she pooped?

Mealworms are very bad for small Beardies so absolutely stay away from worms until he's big enough.

how much calcium are you using? UVA? UVB?

also, how long has he been in the 40gal? Usually with small bearded dragons it Is recommended that you start out with a smaller enclosure because they'll feel overwhelmed by so much space.

 

[Zaiden07]

Have you taken his poop to get tested??

Baby Beardies are a bit difficult sometimes, you might have to get some baby food, mix it with Calcium and water and feed it to him through a syringe. That or blend up some crickets.

 

[timbalan]

Mine did this same thing. I had to feed baby food with calcium and vit. Mixed with it. He refused to eat crix. So i got some dubia and now he eats with no problem still refuses to eat his greens tho. Hes about 6 months

 

[maxxdout]

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! Where he's so small, I booked an appt with my reptile vet for tomorrow afternoon. Have a nice poop sample to take in. I'll let everyone know how Nacho make out!

 

[maxxdout]

 

[maxxdout]

He looks really skinny to me. Hoping the vet can get us back on track. LOVE my Nacho, and want to give him the best. Finally able to upload pics of his enclosure. Any suggestions? I'm open to constructive criticism. The last thing I want is my animals suffering due an error on my end. I posted his temps and some more details in an above comment

 

[maxxdout]

And I've taken the fake plants out of his enclosure.

 

[PatsyB]

He does look a little thin. Hopefully the vet can tell you whats going on with him. First thing I notice about the tank. You are going to get a more accurate reading with a digital thermometer than with an analog. The analog is giving you the temperature at the glass and not on the basking spot. He should also be able to get closer to the UVB bulb. He needs to be 6-10" from it.

Good luck today, keep us updated!

 

[timbalan]

Mine looked just like that when i got him skinny and kind of wrinkly. He refused to eat crix and still wont. He doesnt eat his greens either. But when i first got him i was feeding babyfood mixed with calcium or vitamins cuz thats all he would eat until i got my roach colony. He loved them. He was 6inches and only 10 grams when i got him. Just had him to the vet and hes now 7 1/2 inches and 20.5 grams. Kind of a slow going process but were getting there. Good luck. Try fatty worms or maybe roaches if you can find some

 

[maxxdout]

Thank you very much! Just ordered heat gun, and dig thermometer off amazon! And I stuck a thick piece of slate under his basking log. Took it up another couple inches...I'm going to an expo at the end of the month and meeting with a vendor to get me started with dubia. I've heard so much good about them, and I HATE crix, HATE THEM I TELL YOU! Lol at the vets now. Nacho is getting fluids as we speak. Hoping my little one feels lots better soon!

 

[diegothediggy]

How did trip to the vet go ??

 

[maxxdout]

So Nacho is touch and go at the moment. He was severely dehydrated, despite my efforts. the vet gave him fluids, and gave him an appetite stimulant. He immediately perked right up and looks 100 times better. I managed to get him to willing eat a mixture of baby food, carnivore care powder, and critical care mix out of a syringe. I'm hoping progress continues. He's flying all over his enclosure, and has a nice fat little belly! The vet said daily soaks, as only way he drinks. They also said he could crash again. This could potentially take another turn for the worst. She said this is VERY common for pet shoo babies as they're not properly cared for. But I'm praying!

 

[PatsyB]

It sounds like you got a good start with him though. Wonder if some unflavored pedialyte would help him keep his energy up too. We used that with our frogs and our geckos when they were lethargic and needed a boost. If you are able to feed him food with a syringe you might be able to give him water too. If he has the habit of licking his lips, you can drip water on his tongue as he sticks it out. It's a lot easier than it sounds, I've just learned how to do it with Dexter when she's really thirsty she licks her lips and once I start dropping water on her tongue she keeps sticking it out to get more!

Maybe some appropriate sized wax worms will help fatten him up too. They are high in fat and worms usually tend to get their attention, they are like candy!

 

[maxxdout]

I'm hoping he will be back to his live food soon. Didn't offer crix tonight as he's had a lot happen today. I picked up wax worms today, but they are huge. Gonna swap em out tomorrow. I noticed he licks when I touch his face. I will definitely start offering him some pedialyte! Is it safe to give a few times a week? I'm extremely worried about dehydration now

 

[PatsyB]

A couple times a week should be okay. Maybe dilute it with some spring water. Or use it to mix your powders.