Help Me Rehabilitate Bearded Dragon After Neglect !

[Kiki011]

Hi group,

A friend of a friend was trying to give away his bearded dragon because he was never home and felt bad for neglecting his pet. Hearing that, I jumped on the occasion to give this animal a good home. I usually take in mammals, she is my first reptile. Now I need guidance as I am worried for her well-being.

She’s 5 yrs old and needs to gain some weight. She’s very alert, active and loves cuddles. Her poop looks normal. She loves basking in the heat and taking baths. It seems like everything is fine, apart from her not eating enough !

She arrived to me 5 days ago and here is her food journal :

Day 1 - She ate 2 raspberries
Refused to eat the greens (bok choy + collard green)
Refused to eat dried insects (worms + crickets)

Day 2 - She ate 1 raspberry and a few dried worms
Refused to eat the greens

Day 3 - She ate 2 superworms*
Refused the live crickets (I tried all day to have her eat a cricket)
Refused to eat the greens
Refused to eat grapes

Day 4 - She ate 1 superworm*
Refused the live crickets
Refused to eat greens
Refused to eat grapes

Day 5 - She ate 1 superworm*
Refused to eat greens
Refused to eat pepper
Tried twice to eat a piece of apple, but it wouldn't stick to her tongue so she gave up

* I only give her the superworm after she refuses to eat anything else. I also put calorie supplement on them as well as calcium powder on everything.

I tried putting her food at different places and hand feeding her, but she’s difficult.

I welcome any advice ! Thanks !

 

[PatsyB]

At 5 they aren't going to want to eat much protein very often. My 3 year old eats bugs every 2 or 3 days and when she eats them she only has one or 2.

You can try to offer more variety of live bugs (dried bugs don't have any nutritional value). Dubia roaches are good, worms like silk, or hornworms are good plus horn worms are good for hydration and can help put on weight if needed. Most beardies get picky with their salads and what they like today may not be what they like next week. Keep offering variety, here's a good food link http://greathousefarm.com/Greathouse-Reptile-Nutrition-List.pdf
I've heard people have success when adding parsley or cilantro to their salads. I've also heard that putting a white paper towel under the greens to give them more contrast could help. With my girl I found that if she sees me sprinkle powder on her salad she's more interested in it. You just have to keep trying different things to find what works for you.

Leave the salad in all day long, it's possible that you have a shy eater that doesn't want to eat greens in front of you. My girl is like that. I will put them in her tank and she won't eat them until I am out of her site.