force feeding a bearded dragon

[vinnie-gecko]

ok i have been force feeding my bearded dragon 4ml of baby food for about a week now as she hasnt been eating well for over a month. i will be taking her to the vets as soon as i can, but that wont be until when i get paid (in about 2 weeks) or next month after my birthday.

i usually give her 2mls in the morning and 2mls in the afternoon. is that enough or does she need more. she seems to perk up a bit after i have fed her the baby food as she ate half her salad today.

here is a bit of info on her

age 1 year (i think)
sex female (i think, im not 100% she is a she)
size 16"
weight 238g (her biggest weight she has been was 260g)
tank size 40 gallon breeder
substrate. carpet tile
temps. cool side 75, middle 88, basking spot 110-130

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Shouldn't be feeding baby food at all...
At one year old they should still be eating live prey everyday with a plate of fresh veggies available every day too. If your dragon will drink from standing water, then fresh water every day too. Otherwise you can put your dragon in a tub of 90 degree water for 10-15 mins every other day to keep her well hydrated. Usually causes them to poop too. And helps when they're shedding.

Why are you force feeding? Is she eating at all on her own? What are you measuring temps with? What UVB bulb are you using and how old is it?

 

[vinnie-gecko]

Shouldn't be feeding baby food at all...
At one year old they should still be eating live prey everyday with a plate of fresh veggies available every day too. If your dragon will drink from standing water, then fresh water every day too. Otherwise you can put your dragon in a tub of 90 degree water for 10-15 mins every other day to keep her well hydrated. Usually causes them to poop too. And helps when they're shedding.

Why are you force feeding? Is she eating at all on her own? What are you measuring temps with? What UVB bulb are you using and how old is it?

she wont touch her live food at all. has been like that for a month and the only time i have seen her touch her veg/salad is after i have fed her some baby food. if i dont give her baby food she wont eat her veg/salad. she wont drink from standing water. i try to give her a bath a few times a week but it doesnt help her go to the toilet at all. and i use a infrared thermometer to measure the temps and her uvb light is an arcadia 12% which will need changing next month.

she is all skin and bones. she is losing weight i mean her biggest weight was 260g. she is now only 238g

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Well if you're going to force feed anything, make it an insect slurry. Baby food is not what they need. Pretty sure there are a few good recipes floating around on some bearded dragon forums.
And get her to a vet as soon as possible for a check for parasites.

 

[vinnie-gecko]

Well if you're going to force feed anything, make it an insect slurry. Baby food is not what they need. Pretty sure there are a few good recipes floating around on some bearded dragon forums.
And get her to a vet as soon as possible for a check for parasites.

well my mam wouldnt let me stick a load of bugs in a blender so i am going to have to buy her some oxbow critical care. she has started putting some weight on since ive been giving her the baby food.

 

[Yamori]

Get a bowel and a spoon or better yet, mortar and pestle, mix and grind some crickets or woodies, water, calcium powder and multivitamin and mineral powder, mix well then get a pipette or syringe, suck some up and slowly squirt some in to your beardies mouth.