Beardie question.

[jeweledmonkee]

My SO and I went on vacation for a week and boarded our 4 month old lizard kids with afriend who is part of reptile rescue. as far as I know they ate and acted fine while we were gone. The day we got back as we were heading to her house to get them, she told us a very cute story. She was getting waxworms out for her 2 camelians as treats. She was

Comments

[krag_carbine]

Waxworms are basically the Krispy Kreame of the insect world. Yummy and yet fattening. Not exactly a good diet for a young beardie. You possibly spoiled your beard with the high fat treat. Just shred up some carrot to feed the crickets. The beardie will also enjoy the orange treat, plus its good for them. Spinach and kale finely broken up for the juvie is good too, crickets will eat that as well.

[jeweledmonkee]

I know that waxworms are basically little sticks of wiggly butter. I did not and do not feed them waxworms. they were given them for being too cute at the sitters house while I was on vacation.

they are given fresh salad every day. mostly collard and mustard greens from my garden with shredded carrot and whatever other veggie we have in the house. They still nibble at the saladas they always have, but they are still too young to eat salad as thier major food source. All the crickets we have ever given them are gut loaded as well.

[jeweledmonkee]

Also, isn't spinach far too high in oxilates to feed to beardies? Oxilates bind with calcium and can rob them of the much needed mineral.

[blaydrosmatria]

niether kale, carrots or spinach are very good. They have high oxilates and high in D3 and carotine, which beardies have been know to OD on.

[teacupdiaries]

It could be all of the things you listed. I know, not a very helpful answer, huh? ;)

I've heard that waxworms can actually be addictive to some beardies so it wouldn't surprise me if your guys think that they can ignore all other food until you treat them to their favourite snack. For now, I'd recommend checking their basking temps to ensure it's 100-110F, and withdraw all crickets for 2-3 days offering only salad instead.

After that time period, re-introduce the crickets. If they ignore them just stick to your usual routine until they get it through their little heads that waxies are not forthcoming.

If they start losing weight, grow lethargic, have any sudden behavioural changes, or if the 'famine' goes on for longer than 1-2 weeks, I'd recommend a vet check just to be on the safe side.

[jeweledmonkee]

I am leery of the lethargic bit because the temp IS dropping. Being cold blooded they are less inclined to scurry around when it gets cooler. I keep thier basking spot at a constant temp by raising and lowering it in relation to the bulb, but the ampiant house temp is at least 10 degrees cooler this week than last week.

[teacupdiaries]

Well, by lethargic I don't just mean more slow-moving due to the cold, but complete sluggishness, i.e. not lifting their heads very much, barely moving at all, not wandering to the food bowl, just lying in one spot, etc.