When your bearded dragon not eating, then you scoop up the roaches from bearded dragon’s cage and drop them back into their bin for the third time this week. Or you take another full, wilted salad out of your bearded dragon’s cage. Your normally voracious pet has been avoiding food recently, and you’re not sure why.
You’re probably worried sick, asking yourself frantically, “Why won’t my bearded dragon eat?”
If this is happening to you, please know that you are not alone! A variety of factors can cause bearded dragons to lose their appetites or refuse to eat, some serious and some minor, for example, bearded dragon’s cage is too small.
What is the best diet for a Bearded Dragon?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous and should be fed a diet that includes both plant and animal matter. The plant portion of an adult Bearded dragon’s diet should consist of leafy greens, vegetables, and occasionally fruits. The last 25% of their food should be live insects like crickets, locusts, cockroaches, and other live foods that can be bought in stores.
A hatchling or juvenile Dragon’s diet should emphasise insects, with daily insect feeding, though insects with tough chitinous shells, such as mealworms, should be avoided for youngsters, as the hard shells can cause impaction if allowed to build up in a young Bearded dragon’s stomach.
Turnip greens and other leafy greens, broccoli, kale, parsley, watercress, red or green cabbage, bell peppers, and green beans are all good plant foods for a Bearded dragon. Figs, apricots, raspberry, and strawberry are some healthy fruits to include, but fruit should only make up a small portion of a Bearded dragon’s plant diet. In terms of the insect,Dubia roaches are an excellent staple, and other insects such as crickets and locusts can be used to add variety.
A varied bearded dragon diet, on the other hand, is insufficient for providing adequate nutrition to Bearded dragons. Their food items should also be dusted with supplements on a regular basis. We recommend taking a calcium-rich multivitamin with each feed, a calcium plus magnesium supplement every fourth feed, and a calcium plus vitamin D3 supplement every eighth feed before restarting the cycle.
REASONS WHY YOUR BEARDED DRAGON WILL NOT EAT
- YOUR BEARDED DRAGON IS ANXIOUS.
Is your bearded dragon brand new? Then being patient and persistent is the best course of action. Whether or not food is refused, continue to offer it on a daily basis.
As it enters the reptile tank from above, new bearded dragons, especially babies bearded dragon and rescues, may perceive your hand as a predator. Even though you are offering food, they are afraid and unsure whether they can trust you. Allow them to examine your hand for a few moments to become acquainted with it. Then, touch them softly for as long as they will allow it.. Your dragon will eventually realise that your hand does not belong to a predator, but to someone who loves them.
Was your dragon’s environment recently altered?
This could be as simple as a new tank decoration that is frightening your dragon (in which case, simply remove it) or as difficult as a new dog whose barking is causing a problem. If you can’t remove the stressor, such as a dog, street noise, or a new baby, be patient with your dragon and try some de-stressing methods until she gets used to the change. A warm bath or wrapping your dragon in a blanket can help. Bearded Dragon enclosure too small will also cause Bearded Dragon not eating, For the bearded dragon to live a free and happy life, you need to choose an appropriate reptile terrarium based on its size.
- Care deficiencies that may cause a Bearded dragon to refuse to eat
Cold temperatures are the most common and perhaps most obvious of these examples. Because they are ectothermic (cold-blooded), they cannot regulate their internal body temperature and must rely on external heat sources to do so. If the temperature in your Bearded dragon’s tank is consistently too low, they will be unable to digest their food properly and, as a result, will lose their appetite.
Inadequate UVB lighting is another common cause of Bearded dragon appetite suppression. A Bearded dragon will develop metabolic bone disease due to a lack of Vitamin D3 in its system if it is not exposed to a high-quality UVB light with a percentage tailored to the distance between the light and the highest basking spot.
Metabolic bone disease can be caused by two major husbandry deficiencies: bearded dragon lighting and inadequate dietary supplementation. It is a serious health issue that causes Bearded dragons to become ill, deformed, and in severe cases, fatal, though it is treatable if detected early. A Bearded dragon is unlikely to eat due to the stress of such an illness. If you suspect your Bearded dragon has metabolic bone disease, you should consult a veterinarian right away.
- YOUR DRAGON WITH BEARD IS SHEDDING.
Bearded dragon shedding shedding is extremely painful for dragons, and most don’t want to eat much until the process is complete. There are some bearded dragon shedding tips: If your dragon is having a particularly difficult time, remember to never pull any skin off. Warm baths make her more comfortable and encourage the skin to fall off on its own more quickly. Misting the bearded dragon cage on a daily basis while your dragon sheds can also help.
