Feeding Baby dragons

[puckett26]

I got a baby dragon about a week ago. He was eatting from the beginning but I read lots of places that you should feed baby beardies twice a day. He doesnt eat twice he eats once a day, is this odd? I keep leafy food in there for him all the time. I found out I was feeding him the wrong things and that he was actually eatting it cuz of runny poop. I went online and checked again and I read the care sheet wrong and it said romaine was bad I thought it was just regular iceberg leattuce that was bad. I went and got some squash and collard and he began eatting again the next day. So is the not eatting twicw a day thing bad?

 

[Lena]

Anything with "Lettuce" or "Romaine" in the name is bad.

Stick with the "Greens".. Collard Greens, Mustard Greens. Escarole and Endive are great, too. Those are the ones I find most commonly in my grocery stores.

Feed him about an hour after his light turns on and 4 hours before his light goes off. See if that stretch of time in between meals makes him more eager for his second meal!

How much is he eating, what are you feeding him, and what size?

Also, tempuratures and UVA/UVB can be a HUGE factor in appetite. Do you have a source of UVA/UVB such as a mercury vapor bulb or a Reptisun 10.0? Does your basking spot reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit?

AND make sure he isn't on sand. If you've been keeping him on anything particle-y like sand or walnut shells or anything of the like, he could have impaction which will definately affect his appetite. Switch to paper towel, newspaper, repticarpet, or tile ASAP.

 

[Alliemac]

Babies need to eat protein (crickets) more often than once a day if you can get them to eat. They grow at a crazy rate for the first year and need lots of food. For salad a base of collard, mustard and/or turnip greens is good with squash, peppers and other fruits and veggies thrown in. They also need a multivitamin and calcium pretty much every day for the first year.

How high are your basking temps? Are you using a UVB light?

 

[Lena]

Babies need to eat protein (crickets) more often than once a day if you can get them to eat. They grow at a crazy rate for the first year and need lots of food. For salad a base of collard, mustard and/or turnip greens is good with squash, peppers and other fruits and veggies thrown in. They also need a multivitamin and calcium pretty much every day for the first year.

How high are your basking temps? Are you using a UVB light?

I second this. Mine loves squash and zucchini!

And definately dust daily with calcium and weekly with a multivitamin.

 

[puckett26]

My temperature stays between 112 and 115. I have a reptisun coil bulb that is about 6 inches above his basking spot. The first couple of days I fed him small crickets, about 8-10 gut loaddusted. Also I was putting romaine lettuce in there and a few pieces of carrot. Then when he got the runny poop, I switched to collard greens and yellow squash. I seen him eatting the squash the other day. He has been on tile since I recieved him. Ill post pics of my setup when I get home from work. I usually see him eat all but like 2 of his crickets then later on that day those 2 will be gone.

 

[Lena]

I can't vouch for the reptisun coil bulb, but I haven't heard good things. All of the beardie enthusiasts seem to say it doesn't work.

The amount he's eating doesn't sound too bad, actually.

And good move on the tile! *Highfive*

 

[puckett26]

i post pics tonight maybe you can look at him and tell me if you think he is healthy

 

[Alliemac]

I can't vouch for the reptisun coil bulb, but I haven't heard good things. All of the beardie enthusiasts seem to say it doesn't work.

The amount he's eating doesn't sound too bad, actually.

And good move on the tile! *Highfive*

I thought it was the reptiglo line that had the problems but that might have been for the tube lights.

Anyway, the debate revolves around the fact that it's too strong and can damage the beardie's eyes. In affected beardies they will twitch and kind of shudder if it's bothering them.

 

[Lena]

I wouldn't recommend any of the reptiglo bulbs. And yes, I have heard that coil bulbs can cause eye problems.

The only ones that I know of that DEFINITELY give off the right amoung of UV rays:
T-Rex Active UV Mercury Vapor Bulb
MegaRay Mercury Vapor Bulb
Powersun UV Mercury Vapor Bulb (I can vouch for this. Used for my Uromastyx with great success)
Reptisun 10.0 TUBE light (Make sure it spans 3/4 of the tank. I use this for my beardie in conjunction with a regular halogen flood bulb for heat)

 

[Spooki]

none of the baby beardies at my store have ever wanted to eat twice a day, i wouldn't worry as long as he isn't losing weight.

 

[puckett26]

well I was doing some more reading trying to figure out why lettuce was bad and it said because it gives them diarhea. Which in turn can dehydrate them. So I thought maybe I should give him a bath, I thought it would be a good idea for that and he is going through a shed. Can either one of those factors cause him to eat less, dehydration or a shed?

 

[puckett26]

well I gave him that bath in about 90 degree water and as soon as I put him in the water it looked as if he was drinking for like the whole first 30-45 seconds. Then after that he started running and splashing around

 

[Alliemac]

They normally LOVE baths and it will help with a shed. I bath my girl everyday and I get dirty stink eye from her if I skip a day. lol

If you give a bath it will help both issues if that's the problem since they absorb water through their vent in the bath and can take big drinks too.

 

[Alliemac]

He sounds thirsty. I hope that was your issue.

 

[puckett26]

Here is a pic of my set up.

 

[KnECritters]

Lettuce doesn't dehydrate. There is no nutritional value. It's just water. I suggest looking over this feed chart for bearded dragons. It's a wonderful site and full of information. I've been keeping bearded dragons for 10 years now, and I don't know what I would have done without this site: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutritionframeset.html

 

[puckett26]

well after his bath last night he perked up and he ate nearly 2 dozen crickets lol. So i guess that was the issue. He got another bath today, I think Im gonna keep that up

 

[Alliemac]

That's great news! They really like the bath. My girl swims around and then fills her belly with air, closes her eyes and just floats until the water gets cold. Then she gives me the stink eye until her stupid human puts more hot water in. lol

 

[clear]

none of the baby beardies at my store have ever wanted to eat twice a day, i wouldn't worry as long as he isn't losing weight.

Baby dragons should always be gaining weight, even if they are maintaining weight then they are not being feed enough. Dragons grow rapidly up till they are adults!

If he isnt eat a lot of insects you might want to try different insects. Roaches, phoenix worms, silkworms, hornworms. Superworms and mealworms are not good feeders for young BD. But once yours hit about 18" then supers make a good food for them. I hope this helps!