When a baby bearded dragon is not eating, it can create a lot of stress and worry for a bearded dragon owner.
This page contains five different reasons why your bearded dragon may be not eating, and how you should react to it.
Why is my baby beardie not eating?
The most common reason why your baby bearded dragon isn’t eating is that it doesn’t feel well.
If your baby bearded dragon is lethargic or shows signs of illness, then you should contact your vet immediately.
If your baby bearded dragon is not ill, then there are several reasons why he may be refusing food:
He’s scared
Baby bearded dragons may not want to eat if they are scared or nervous.
The best way to get past this is by making sure that your cage is comfortable for him and that he has enough hiding places where he feels safe.
You can also try feeding him in different locations such as outside his cage so that he doesn’t associate feeding with being in the cage alone.
He’s not hungry
Sometimes baby bearded dragons will refuse food because they’re not hungry yet or because they’re satisfied with what they already had on their plate.
If this happens, try leaving his dish out for another day or two before trying again.
It’s too hot or cold in the tank
If your tank is too warm or too cold for your bearded dragon, it can affect its appetite.
Bearded dragons like temperatures between 72˚F and 80˚F (22˚C to 27˚C).
If it’s too hot or cold in the tank, try moving your bearded dragon to another area with more appropriate temperature levels until the weather changes, or install an aquarium heater or air conditioner to regulate the temperature inside.
Incomplete digestion
If you notice that your bearded dragon is still having soft poops and diarrhea after 3 days, then this could mean that they have an intestinal parasite such as tapeworms or pinworms.
These parasites live inside the intestines of reptiles and can cause them to stop eating due to discomfort or pain.
Sometimes these parasites can be removed by giving your pet a dewormer like Drontal Plus.
If this doesn’t work, then you will need to see a vet who can prescribe stronger medications to treat these parasites.
Malnutrition
Bearded dragons require a very specific diet in order to thrive properly.
If they don’t get enough vitamins or minerals in their diet, then they may not feel like eating at all!
It’s important that you feed your pet fresh greens daily (I recommend kale).
Learn More:
Baby bearded dragon not eating: What to do?
Baby beardies are very delicate and fragile.
This is why it is important that you know how to handle them properly.
If your baby is not eating, here are some things that you can do:
- Make sure that the temperature in their tank is within the recommended range of 24-28 degrees Celsius (75-82 degrees Fahrenheit). The ideal temperature range for baby beardies is between 25-27 degrees Celsius (77-81 degrees Fahrenheit). If the temperature in the tank is too low, this will cause stress to your baby bearded dragon and may lead to illness or death.
- Make sure that there isn’t any mold on the food or in their tank. This can also cause stress to your baby bearded dragon and may cause illness or death.*
- Make sure that there aren’t any other pets in the room with them (since they may smell like another type of animal). This can cause stress for your baby bearded dragon and may cause illness or death.*
- Check for signs of illness-Look for signs of illness in your bearded dragon. If it is lethargic or doesn’t move around much, has diarrhea, seems dehydrated, or has any other unusual behavior or appearance, then it may be ill and should see a vet immediately.
- Offer food regularly-Bearded dragons should be fed once every day at the same time each day until they become adults (if you’re keeping them as pets). Don’t offer too much at once; just give one piece of food at a time so they don’t choke on it.
