PotsieShoomaker
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 3
Hi all,
I've recently, acquired a beautiful juvenile bearded dragon from a situation where he was very neglected. When I got him, he was very thin and malnourished and had tail rot so severe he had to have about half of his tail amputated. He couldn't open either eye due to complications from vitamin deficiency or possibly infection. He did have UV lighting at his old home but was only ever fed mealworms straight from the fridge a couple times a week at most and lived in one of those horrible 10 gallon pet store enclosures. The vet said he was about half the size he should be for his age (around 8 months) and had mdb and severe vitamin deficiency. I've had him for about a month now and have him set up in a much larger enclosure with proper lighting and heat. He has received vitamin injections and eye treatment. He is doing much better and can see out of both eyes but he still will only eat mealworms. I feed him every day as many as he will eat (which isn't a lot). They are always gut loaded and dusted (alternately with and without D3). I have read that mealworms can be a problem due to impaction but I'm not sure what else to try. After doing research I tried black soldier fly larvae but my beardie won't touch them. I managed to trick him by mixing them with his mealworms but once one got in his mouth he actually spit it out and selectively avoided them after that. The only other bug I've had success with is wax worms which I feel might be helpful in putting a little weight on him but I know they're not a great staple. He also will not touch his greens though he always has them available. He actually won't even try for anything that isn't moving. I can sometimes pop a piece in his mouth while he's eating but that sometimes causes him to spit everything out which isn't great considering what a finnicky little eater he is to begin with. When I first got him, I was syringe feeding him powdered omnivore rescue diet mixed with water. That helped get him through a period when he was too sick to eat at all. Should I keep supplementing with that? I have a vet appointment this week but thought I'd see if any of you have insight here as it's been almost a decade since I've cared for one of these little dudes. Thanks in advance!
I've recently, acquired a beautiful juvenile bearded dragon from a situation where he was very neglected. When I got him, he was very thin and malnourished and had tail rot so severe he had to have about half of his tail amputated. He couldn't open either eye due to complications from vitamin deficiency or possibly infection. He did have UV lighting at his old home but was only ever fed mealworms straight from the fridge a couple times a week at most and lived in one of those horrible 10 gallon pet store enclosures. The vet said he was about half the size he should be for his age (around 8 months) and had mdb and severe vitamin deficiency. I've had him for about a month now and have him set up in a much larger enclosure with proper lighting and heat. He has received vitamin injections and eye treatment. He is doing much better and can see out of both eyes but he still will only eat mealworms. I feed him every day as many as he will eat (which isn't a lot). They are always gut loaded and dusted (alternately with and without D3). I have read that mealworms can be a problem due to impaction but I'm not sure what else to try. After doing research I tried black soldier fly larvae but my beardie won't touch them. I managed to trick him by mixing them with his mealworms but once one got in his mouth he actually spit it out and selectively avoided them after that. The only other bug I've had success with is wax worms which I feel might be helpful in putting a little weight on him but I know they're not a great staple. He also will not touch his greens though he always has them available. He actually won't even try for anything that isn't moving. I can sometimes pop a piece in his mouth while he's eating but that sometimes causes him to spit everything out which isn't great considering what a finnicky little eater he is to begin with. When I first got him, I was syringe feeding him powdered omnivore rescue diet mixed with water. That helped get him through a period when he was too sick to eat at all. Should I keep supplementing with that? I have a vet appointment this week but thought I'd see if any of you have insight here as it's been almost a decade since I've cared for one of these little dudes. Thanks in advance!
