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My bearded dragon won’t eat!!

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
I got my beardie about a week ago and even since I got him I have been trying to feed him crickets and mealworms and a few kinds of veggies. He will eat the meal worms but he has a hard time hunting the crickets in his tank. He just won’t eat them. I have also tried grabbing the crickets with tweezers and holding it near him for a couple minutes but he is simply uninterested in them. He has had a few greens and bell peppers in his tank but will not touch them whatsoever. Please let me know things I can try so that he doesn’t starve and die
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
I got my beardie about a week ago and even since I got him I have been trying to feed him crickets and mealworms and a few kinds of veggies. He will eat the meal worms but he has a hard time hunting the crickets in his tank. He just won’t eat them. I have also tried grabbing the crickets with tweezers and holding it near him for a couple minutes but he is simply uninterested in them. He has had a few greens and bell peppers in his tank but will not touch them whatsoever. Please let me know things I can try so that he doesn’t starve and die
How old is the dragon? Babies should not have meal worms they are too harsh on the stomach - if he does not like the crickets which we wont know till you quit feeding the meal worms I would then suggest getting some dubia roaches -- www.dubiaroaches.com order the size no bigger than the space between the eyes -- I would also recommend getting him some BSFL www.symtonbsf.com -- drop on his salads in front of him to lure him to the salad bowl https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
here is a website for nutrition http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale info its outdated and a good staple feeder --
Please go over the surface basking temps and how your taking them -- NO stickons they are inaccurate - also what kind of UVB are you using? Please NO coils they are inadequate - you want a long tube fixture - I can post links for 3 good ones -- the basking temps and UVB are crucial to the dragons health --
 

Kimberley1228

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
5
I got my beardie about a week ago and even since I got him I have been trying to feed him crickets and mealworms and a few kinds of veggies. He will eat the meal worms but he has a hard time hunting the crickets in his tank. He just won’t eat them. I have also tried grabbing the crickets with tweezers and holding it near him for a couple minutes but he is simply uninterested in them. He has had a few greens and bell peppers in his tank but will not touch them whatsoever. Please let me know things I can try so that he doesn’t starve and die
Sometimes it takes a minute for them to reacclimate to their surroundings. Lighting is important. Proper heat and uvb helps them with digestion. But it could be just stress of readjusting to lighting, surroundings, scents, etc
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
How old is the dragon? Babies should not have meal worms they are too harsh on the stomach - if he does not like the crickets which we wont know till you quit feeding the meal worms I would then suggest getting some dubia roaches -- www.dubiaroaches.com order the size no bigger than the space between the eyes -- I would also recommend getting him some BSFL www.symtonbsf.com -- drop on his salads in front of him to lure him to the salad bowl https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
here is a website for nutrition http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale info its outdated and a good staple feeder --
Please go over the surface basking temps and how your taking them -- NO stickons they are inaccurate - also what kind of UVB are you using? Please NO coils they are inadequate - you want a long tube fixture - I can post links for 3 good ones -- the basking temps and UVB are crucial to the dragons health --
What kind of basking and UVB light should I use? I got both my basking bulb and could UVB from PetSmart
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
What kind of basking and UVB light should I use? I got both my basking bulb and could UVB from PetSmart
A solid clear bright white basking bulb examples flukers basking - exo Terra intense-- Arcadia halogen- surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- uvb NO COILS PLEASE- if the uvb is in a dome it's a coil and this would be why he's not eating- if you need recommendations for uvbs I can post links for you
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
A solid clear bright white basking bulb examples flukers basking - exo Terra intense-- Arcadia halogen- surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- uvb NO COILS PLEASE- if the uvb is in a dome it's a coil and this would be why he's not eating- if you need recommendations for uvbs I can post links for you

Yes please!! I just want the best for my baby beardie and I was given misinformation about which lights would be fine.
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
Yes please!! I just want the best for my baby beardie and I was given misinformation about which lights would be fine.
This one comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you will need the 10.0 bulb posting a link for that as well
https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood-24-inch-zmlf71 - this is good for a 40+ gallon tank -- 22" bulb https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/zoo-med-reptisun-10-0-uvb-fluorescent-t5-ho-bulb-22-24-watt-zmos524
this is another good one
https://www.pangeareptile.com/colle.../products/arcadia-prot5-12-uvb-bulb-with-hood
or this one you will need to change out the bulb to the one posted above the Reptisun 10.0 you can also get that same bulb from pangeareptiles as well---- you want the 2 ft or 24" fixture
Please let me know when you get the UVB I will help you get it placed for your tank - the screen will determine the placement and distance
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
This one comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you will need the 10.0 bulb posting a link for that as well
https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood-24-inch-zmlf71 - this is good for a 40+ gallon tank -- 22" bulb https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/zoo-med-reptisun-10-0-uvb-fluorescent-t5-ho-bulb-22-24-watt-zmos524
this is another good one
https://www.pangeareptile.com/colle.../products/arcadia-prot5-12-uvb-bulb-with-hood
or this one you will need to change out the bulb to the one posted above the Reptisun 10.0 you can also get that same bulb from pangeareptiles as well---- you want the 2 ft or 24" fixture
Please let me know when you get the UVB I will help you get it placed for your tank - the screen will determine the placement and distance
I did get a reptisun 14 in UVB bulb. Do you have any basking bulb recommendations!?
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
I did get a reptisun 14 in UVB bulb. Do you have any basking bulb recommendations!?
You got the 14% bulb? Recommendations for basking bulbs Flukers basking you can order them from Walmart - Exo Terra Intense found at PetSmart etc they are spendy or Arcadia Halogens are all good bulbs
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
You got the 14% bulb? Recommendations for basking bulbs Flukers basking you can order them from Walmart - Exo Terra Intense found at PetSmart etc they are spendy or Arcadia Halogens are all good bulbs
I got a 14 inch reptisun UVB. My baby beardie is doing a lot better in his enclosure. He is eating a lot more insects. I have stopped proving mealworms. He still isn’t interested in his salad bowl that I replace with new veggies daily. I was going to order some BSFL as a topper as someone has said in the thread, but I am going to keep on trying to hand feed his greens.
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
I got a 14 inch reptisun UVB. My baby beardie is doing a lot better in his enclosure. He is eating a lot more insects. I have stopped proving mealworms. He still isn’t interested in his salad bowl that I replace with new veggies daily. I was going to order some BSFL as a topper as someone has said in the thread, but I am going to keep on trying to hand feed his greens.
Where did you put the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen - the 14% bulb is really strong- distance for that bulb inside the tank should be 17-18 inches directly above the basking decor- glad to hear hes doing better and eating they are stubborn when little and eating greens but you want him eating some- getting the BSFL will lure him to the bowl -- let me know when you get them and I will help you get him started on them - hand feeding them is a good way to hand tame them as well
sorry 14 inch fixture or 14 inch bulb ??--- just caught that
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Where did you put the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen - the 14% bulb is really strong- distance for that bulb inside the tank should be 17-18 inches directly above the basking decor- glad to hear hes doing better and eating they are stubborn when little and eating greens but you want him eating some- getting the BSFL will lure him to the bowl -- let me know when you get them and I will help you get him started on them - hand feeding them is a good way to hand tame them as well
sorry 14 inch fixture or 14 inch bulb ??--- just caught that
I can attach an image of his enclosure. Give me a moment.
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Where did you put the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen - the 14% bulb is really strong- distance for that bulb inside the tank should be 17-18 inches directly above the basking decor- glad to hear hes doing better and eating they are stubborn when little and eating greens but you want him eating some- getting the BSFL will lure him to the bowl -- let me know when you get them and I will help you get him started on them - hand feeding them is a good way to hand tame them as well
sorry 14 inch fixture or 14 inch bulb ??--- just caught that
image.jpg
 

jskatelyn2024

Bearded Dragon Egg
Messages
8
Where did you put the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen - the 14% bulb is really strong- distance for that bulb inside the tank should be 17-18 inches directly above the basking decor- glad to hear hes doing better and eating they are stubborn when little and eating greens but you want him eating some- getting the BSFL will lure him to the bowl -- let me know when you get them and I will help you get him started on them - hand feeding them is a good way to hand tame them as well
sorry 14 inch fixture or 14 inch bulb ??--- just caught that
Also in the image it does look like the tree he climbs on is very close to the basking bulbs, right now it is off to the side so it doesn’t get too hot and potentially burn him and I also to check probe temperatures
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,461
Also in the image it does look like the tree he climbs on is very close to the basking bulbs, right now it is off to the side so it doesn’t get too hot and potentially burn him and I also to check probe temperatures
Ok the screen on the tank is a fine mesh or wide hole type? Is there a cool in the dome? The screen on the tank is going to determine where the uvb needs to go - a 14 inch uvb for a 40+ gallon tank is way to small - you need a 24" - the basking bulb should be at least 6" away from the basking decor
 
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