Not eating

[BrianH]

I have a new dragon and i am having trouble getting her to eat. She is around a year old in a 50 gallon tank. Basking spot is around 90°other end of tank is at 70°. I have been trying to feed kale and spinage along with carrots and crickets. If she is eating its not very much i have had her about week now and she is starting to shed i believe. The skin is starting to get a lighter color to it.

 

[Canicke]

Welcome Brian – a couple of things – shedding can make them moody she may not want to eat because of that. Sometimes they go through what one of our members calls "moving sickness" – they take some time to adjust to their new surroundings. I'd like to see a little more variance in your temperatures – up the basking side to closer to 100 and dips the cool side down to 65. Although spinach and Kayle or good I don't generally recommend them for a steady diet they are on the occasional list. Check out beautifuldragons.com She also may just want more protein – super worms and Dubia roaches are good choices. My six-year-old girl only eat your greens if she absolutely has to my four-year-old male pretty much devours everything most of the time. Right now he's going through a brumation . – He's awake for two or three days he's asleep for two or three days and doesn't eat much at all when he is awake. Hang in there – and keep us posted

 

[Hdrydr31]

Welcome to the forum! Canicke said is pretty much what I was going to suggest...Is she pooping? Maybe a warm soak will help in multiple ways will help with the shed and may get things moving inside. Do you know what her conditions were prior to you?

 

[BrianH]

Yes i got her(cleo) from a friend that resuces reptiles. Cleo was doing good in her care.i have been feeding her the same things she did and i have her in the same tank it is just set up with different thing. And yes she has pooped i seen some in the sand

 

[Hdrydr31]

Just make sure Cleo stays hydrated being on sand to avoid blockages. It sounds like she just needs some time to adjust to her new home.

 

[PatsyB]

Here is a link to some veggies that would be better to feed her http://greathousefarm.com/Greathouse-Reptile-Nutrition-List.pdf Kale is good to feed along with other things like mustards, collards and dandelion and spinach is not good to feed at all. Bump up her basking spot to 100 and give her some time to settle in to her new home.

 

[ARUTLOSJR11]

Why is spinach not good? That's one are that I've messed up in, as I feed him baby spinach daily.

Have I messed him up?

 

[Duane Howell]

As far as I know spinach binds to the calcium. And therefore the calcium cant be absorbed by your beardie. Having spinach as a staple can cause some problems like metabolic bone disease. I don't think you've messed him up by giving it to him. Some people do give spinach to their dragons as it is rich in vitamin A. It is the oxalates in the spinach that causes the problem. Then again some people believe that spinach should never be given. I don't know what the experts on this forum think, would like to know.

 

[Hdrydr31]

As far as I know spinach binds to the calcium. And therefore the calcium cant be absorbed by your beardie. Having spinach as a staple can cause some problems like metabolic bone disease. I don't think you've messed him up by giving it to him. Some people do give spinach to their dragons as it is rich in vitamin A. It is the oxalates in the spinach that causes the problem. Then again some people believe that spinach should never be given. I don't know what the experts on this forum think, would like to know.

I tend to avoid spinach as Duane is right. I think that there are many other greens you can give to make a well rounded meal.
like PatsyB linked here are the 2 links that I use when making decisions on what to offer and I change it up alot to different items to keep a good variety.

http://greathousefarm.com/Greathouse-Reptile-Nutrition-List.pdf
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html