Juvenile dragon not eating crickets

[Angela]

Good morning, everyone!

I have a new bearded dragon. I bought him from a pet shop so unfortunately I don't know his exact age but based off some of the reading I've found around the internet about their sizes, I'd put him around 6-8 months.

I've had him for about a week and a half now and each day he will only eat about 2-5 crickets. I usually try to feed him once in the morning (during which time he usually eats about 2-3 small crickets) and then once again in the evening (during which time he usually just glares at the crickets and at me until I take him out of his feeding container.

Around noon I usually feed him some collard greens and he **loves** those! He will just gobble them all right up.

I thought it might just be him needing time to settle in. He was also shedding when I got him so I know that can play games with their appetite.

But I'm starting to get a little more concerned now (new Mommy syndrome. ) According to other posts he should be eating about 10+ crickets a day and he's just not anywhere near that number.

Would you recommend trying him on another protein and see if he likes it better? Problem is my squeamish factor can handle crickets easily. Roaches? Not so much. But maybe I should consider a worm? Or is this fairly natural for younger dragons to not eat so much?

Thank you so much for your responses! I am *so* grateful to this forum and community as just reading through various posts has already helped me with alot of newbie questions.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the beardie world lol Have you posted any pictures of him??
I don't think you need to worry too much yet the relocation or moving stress will ease up some just take a bit longer than others. Being that he may be older they will typically eat less protein and more greens as an adult. But every dragon is different... Keep offering him bugs and he should be able to eat some supers (depending on his size) Variety is important. If you haven't already have a look at the links at the bottom of several of our signature lines as we have put together information for new comers and in that you will find 2 great links for food items as most of us use the same. I wasn't a roach person either still am not however I have a large colony as they are super good for them. 1 roach = 5 crickets, easy to gut load, don't stink like crickets and don't have pin worms like crickets can have. (I used to raise crickets)

 

[Candybugs]

Worms are a great idea I know you don't like roaches none of us do BUT they are cleaner quieter they don't escape and even if one did get away it won't breed . They look like rolly pollys . I think they're cute. They huddle together like little families. I find it sad to feed those to my Hef so I leave the room. I don't like the sound. Are you doing calcium and vitamins. You need calcium with d3 and without. They can overdose on d3 so that's a once a week or so thing. The supplements are important because they get mbd. If you don't know about mbd read up on it.

 

[Angela]

Hey guys!

Thank you so much for your replies. My little beardie did eat a few more crickets today than he has in the past and Im excited about that - but Im still looking for some possible alternatives to his diet.

I thought about dubias after what you guys said and I looked them up online and...I just...I cant do it! LOL! I seriously have one big phobia in my entire life and that's roaches. I thought maybe I could handle smaller ones but just looking at the pictures almost gave me a panic attack! so silly...

I have seen superworms being mentioned in various dietary lists - however, I have also heard that they are fattening? Would it be bad to make superworms his primary form of protein? I think they would definitely be cheaper than crickets, easier to come by, and lower on the squeamish factor.

If not supers, is there a certain worm that could be replaced for a beardie as their primary protein that would be healthy and not too fattening and "treat"-like?

 

[PatsyB]

I do supers as a staple. My boy got real fat eating them! Now that he's older I give more salad and cut back on the supers to about 12 a week. I do however mix things up with mine and add in other worms like silk worms and hornworms and I have one bearded dragon that will eat crickets so she gets those too. Variety is the key as long as you aren't giving them too much of one thing you should be fine. I can't do roaches either!

 

[firehawk0285]

Try dubias. I know they have the eww factor, but compared to crickets, they are soooo much better. Way less smell, no noise, they don't escape. There is like no downside. And beardies love them. Check out discountdubias.com.

 

[Candybugs]

They're Roly polys start telling yourself that they're just Roly polys. Hef used to go nuts for them. Now he's a worm guy. I find it a little sad feeding dubias because they're cute to me.

 

[PatsyB]

They're Roly polys start telling yourself that they're just Roly polys. Hef used to go nuts for them. Now he's a worm guy. I find it a little sad feeding dubias because they're cute to me.

We were at a show a few weeks back. My nephew is starting a frog tank and we walked past the dubia table and he said "I need to come back for those" and I said "ROACHES"??????!!! He said he thought they were roly polys!

 

[Candybugs]

They're just big Roly polys. Lol

 

[Candybugs]

What kind of frogs is he getting.

 

[PatsyB]

What kind of frogs is he getting.

Dart frogs.

 

[Candybugs]

They're cute. I'm loving my dwarf frogs. They're a blast to watch. Is he doing a live tank

 

[PatsyB]

They're cute. I'm loving my dwarf frogs. They're a blast to watch. Is he doing a live tank

Yep, he's doing a bioactive. He's got everything to start putting it together, just needs to find someone that has the frogs in stock.

 

[Candybugs]

Frog forum people would know a good breeder.. my daughter wants dart frogs too. Zeus was putting on a good show last night he was all over the place. That's my big dwarf frog.