Can Bearded Dragons become fussy?

[Ossie48]

Hi all,

I own a bearded dragon that is kept as a primary school pet. She has always eaten well and regularly until last three weeks when she has really slowed. She hasn’t stopped all together but is only eating maybe 5/6 locusts every few days. This has coincided with us introducing Wax Worms as a treat a few weeks ago. She will still gobble these up now but I’ve stopped these completely to try to get her back on to the locusts.

Are they/can they be fussy and any tips for this?

Some extra info:

temps - hot end 36
Basking 42
Cool - 30

she is alert and seems happy - she’s actually running around exploring classroom more than ever.

She is pooing.

She is drinking.

she’s around 8 months and weighs 250g (has been steady at this for around a week but I know this is at the low end of where she should be.)

34cm long.

photos attached.

Thanks!

 

[Sadie]

Hi all,

I own a bearded dragon that is kept as a primary school pet. She has always eaten well and regularly until last three weeks when she has really slowed. She hasn’t stopped all together but is only eating maybe 5/6 locusts every few days. This has coincided with us introducing Wax Worms as a treat a few weeks ago. She will still gobble these up now but I’ve stopped these completely to try to get her back on to the locusts.

Are they/can they be fussy and any tips for this?

Some extra info:

temps - hot end 36
Basking 42
Cool - 30

she is alert and seems happy - she’s actually running around exploring classroom more than ever.

She is pooing.

She is drinking.

she’s around 8 months and weighs 250g (has been steady at this for around a week but I know this is at the low end of where she should be.)

34cm long.

photos attached.

Thanks!

Yes they will get hooked on the waxworms and they are not good healthy wise --- they are very fatty and can cause long term liver damage if fed too many and too often -- super worms horn worms and meal worms and butter worms are better treat wise --- you did not mention a UVB ? Does your UVB fixture have a reflector on it? what are you using and where in the tank is it? the temps are good but as dragons get older they dont like the basking so hot 95-100 F is more like it-- does she have a gradient heat there as to be able to pick a spot she likes to bask at ?

 

[Skybug]

Dragons are very smart, i got my dragon hooked of super worms a little while back, they definitely crave the fattier bugs, but like sadie said it can cause liver issues, she looks very nice and alert and healthy i bet the kids are loving having her around.

 

[Ossie48]

Dragons are very smart, i got my dragon hooked of super worms a little while back, they definitely crave the fattier bugs, but like sadie said it can cause liver issues, she looks very nice and alert and healthy i bet the kids are loving having her around.

 

[Ossie48]

Thanks for this. I’m thinking she’s a clever one. Was loving morio worms... a few wax worms and now she’s not interested. I’ll be firm and play long game with her! The children love her - couldn’t ask for a better class pet!

 

[Ossie48]

Yes they will get hooked on the waxworms and they are not good healthy wise --- they are very fatty and can cause long term liver damage if fed too many and too often -- super worms horn worms and meal worms and butter worms are better treat wise --- you did not mention a UVB ? Does your UVB fixture have a reflector on it? what are you using and where in the tank is it? the temps are good but as dragons get older they dont like the basking so hot 95-100 F is more like it-- does she have a gradient heat there as to be able to pick a spot she likes to bask at ?

Yes they will get hooked on the waxworms and they are not good healthy wise --- they are very fatty and can cause long term liver damage if fed too many and too often -- super worms horn worms and meal worms and butter worms are better treat wise --- you did not mention a UVB ? Does your UVB fixture have a reflector on it? what are you using and where in the tank is it? the temps are good but as dragons get older they dont like the basking so hot 95-100 F is more like it-- does she have a gradient heat there as to be able to pick a spot she likes to bask at ?

Thanks for this. I’m sure she’ll get back to the bugs soon. Also good to know about the basking spot. Current tank is very wide so there’s a good gradient and different places to bask. The UVB thing is interesting - it’s in the middle and doesn’t have a reflector. I’m assuming I should look to get one of these?