My Water Dragon won't eat Superworms. How can I get him to eat?

Thanks for reaching out. Water dragons are predominately insectivorous. Typically live insects attract the attention of the dragon, stimulating appetite. You might try pinhead crickets or small mealworms. Hand-feeding might be an option to start. Intestinal parasites or an infection, might also be a possibility, a veterinary visit needs to be scheduled for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck.

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Low temperatures can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50 /50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20 minutes. This can warm him up and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. Offer appropriately sized crickets and mealworms as well as fresh, chopped greens and fruits. Follow the link below for more information regarding care. http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html

Confirm proper environmental parameters, especially temperature. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles and amphibians. Be sure you are offering appropriately sized prey as well. Nothing bigger than the space between the eyes. I would suggest you correct the type of pet you have in the information section. I don't think you have a tadpole if he hangs out with you on the desk. Knowing the species allows us to provide more accurate advice.

Confirm proper temperatures. Low temps can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Soak Jax in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide heat and may treat or prevent mild dehydration. Be sure prey is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between the eyes. Look for pinhead crickets or freshly hatched/molted dubia roaches. Gutload them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Fluker's Repti-Boost can be used as a supplement. If Jax does not begin eating, have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose illness or injury.

Thanks for reaching out about Smaug and including photos. Adult bearded dragons are omnivorous eating bugs and vegetation. With the vegetables, red, yellow and orange vegetables are also important. Insect have inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio and are a poor long term diet. Gut loading the insects is important to provide appropriate nutrients. If he doesn't get as much bugs, he might be hungry and eat the vegetables. By the photos, he is a little overweight indicated by the thickness of the tail and fat pads in the axillary (armpit) area. Good luck.

If you used a water conditioner in the bowl, it is not recommended to let him drink from it or soak in it. The chemicals may cause illness. Plain tap water or bottled water is best. Check the temperature in his enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity. Follow this link for more information regarding care and housing. http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html Be sure to offer appropriately sized prey, nothing bigger than the space between the eyes. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte to warm him up and to prevent or treat mild dehydration. If he doesn't begin eating, have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

Check the temperature in the cage. Low temps will affect appetite in reptiles. Next, make sure prey are appropriately sized. they should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. If she is chilled, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide heat and hydration. Supplement her diet with a product such as Fluker's Repta-Boost. You can find it in the local Petco ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/flukers-reptaboost-insectavore-and-carnivore-high-amp-boost ). Review dragon care at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Bearded-Dragon/