New beardie not eating enough

[haleyannette]

I brought home my beardie on Saturday (this is my first beardie). He is about 8 inches long.

He didn't eat with me on Saturday (I brought him home around 4, I'm sure he ate at PetSmart earlier in the day), on Sunday (yesterday) I tried to feed him crickets multiple times, he ate maybe 3 total in the whole day. I got him some mealworms to see if he'd eat those and he ate 6-7 last night around 8. He also ate a few small pieces of squash. So total he ate yesterday: a few crickets, 6-7 mealworms, few tiny pieces of squash.

Today, I again kept trying to feed him. Total he ate today: 1 cricket and 2 mealworms.

He seems to have an appetite because sometimes he looks at the worms/crickets, even licks them if I put them in front of him with tweezers, but then doesn't care most of the time.

He is active and seems completely normal other than that. Last time he pooped was yesterday (it was normal). I know that he would take some time to adjust because of the new environment and home, but is it normal for them to not even want to eat that much during this adjustment period? I just know he should be eating WAY more than that, especially as a juvenile, and I'm worried.

Can someone tell me if this is normal for a new beardie who has only been in his home for a couple days?

 

[Tabasco]

Every beardie is different, some adapt right away, some can take a few weeks. As long as your basking temps are good and lighting (UVB) correct I would not worry about it yet.

 

[Hdrydr31]

The relocation stress varies from dragon to dragon but can last a couple of weeks. Just keep offering bugs and greens. Mealworms are very hard for them to digest as they contain alot of chitlin in their exoskeleton causing impaction. I would offer dubia, silkworms, BSFL, superworms (not as a staple:high in fat) butterworms and waxworms can be offered only as a treat item.

 

[haleyannette]

The relocation stress varies from dragon to dragon but can last a couple of weeks. Just keep offering bugs and greens. Mealworms are very hard for them to digest as they contain alot of chitlin in their exoskeleton causing impaction. I would offer dubia, silkworms, BSFL, superworms (not as a staple:high in fat) butterworms and waxworms can be offered only as a treat item.

Thank you! Today he ate 20 medium crickets in the morning and 10 large at night, and veggies in between. Where can I get dubia roaches and what size? And I saw superworms at PetSmart today - they look like mealworms but much bigger, is that what you're talking about?

 

[haleyannette]

Every beardie is different, some adapt right away, some can take a few weeks. As long as your basking temps are good and lighting (UVB) correct I would not worry about it yet.

Thank you! Today he ate 20 medium crickets in the morning and 10 large at night, and veggies in between.

 

[PatsyB]

Glad he's eating for you! Yes super worms look like fatter versions of mealworms. Just don't feed to many because they are high in fat. As far as the dubia go, you could start with small ones and see how he does with those.