Is your bearded dragon not eating? Are you starting to get worried about their poor diet? If your bearded dragon is refusing food and you don’t have any idea why, this article is for you.
Unlike other animals, bearded dragons usually eat sparingly due to their small appetite. This is one of the reasons why it can be challenging to determine if your bearded dragon is eating than he should. If your bearded dragon stops eating for a long period, he may become very ill and develop serious health.
We understand how tough it is for you to see that your bearded dragon won’t eat, which is why we’re here to help. We’ve created this article to educate you on the reasons why your bearded dragon is not eating and offer solutions to treat the problem.
- Brumation
During the winter, bearded dragons go through a period of dormancy to save energy. This phase is called brumation and usually starts during winter, right after the temperature begins to cool down.
Aside from saving energy, brumation is essential in lizards as this natural process increases their chances of successful breeding and survival. Reptile owners who breed bearded dragons encourage brumation in lizard species for this reason.
Brumation is why your bearded dragons stop eating because this natural process affects their metabolism. During brumation, bearded dragons and other lizards can go for three months without eating a full meal and will only consume more water. Some bearded dragons will only snack occasionally to maintain their energy levels.
- Shedding
Bearded dragons shed the outer layer of their skin as they age. During this natural process, their skin becomes papery and white and is often rubbed off in patches.
The frequency and length of the shedding process vary depending on the age of your bearded dragons. For example, large adult bearded dragons usually take about two weeks to shed completely. A juvenile dragon or baby beardie will finish shedding after a day or two, while younger dragons can shed every month or every two weeks. Older bearded dragons usually shed only twice every year.
Shedding can be a possible reason why your bearded dragon won’t eat. If you notice significant changes in your pets’ skin, this is the likely cause.
Bearded dragons don’t eat as much before and during the shed. They will often resume eating within a week after they shed or when most of their skin has been shed.
Shedding happens throughout the entire life of your bearded dragons, which is why the pattern of seeing changes in a lizard’s appetite when shedding is already a routine for experienced reptile owners. First-time keepers often get worried and will need some time to adjust.
- UVB Lighting
Bearded dragons in the wild are active during the day, making it easy for them to get plenty of sunlight. Pet species, on the other hand, rely on UVB lighting in their enclosure to get “sunlight.” UVB light helps bearded dragons synthesize vitamin D, so they’ll have better bone health.
Generally, bearded dragons require a 10.0 UVB bulb and should be replaced every six months as the UVB output decreases over time. Without this resource, your bearded dragons can develop metabolic bone disease that causes broken bones. Metabolic bone disease can become a serious health problem when not caught early as it can deform the limbs, skulls, and spines of your bearded dragons.
The absence of UVB light isn’t usually the reason why your bearded dragons suddenly stop eating; this behavior is often triggered by the symptoms and stress associated with metabolic bone disease. This health problem can be too hard on your lizard’s appetite, making it hard for them to eat as usual.
If your bearded dragon stops eating even if their enclosure has UVB lights, schedule an appointment with a licensed veterinarian for blood tests. This can show if your bearded dragon has low calcium levels. This is an early symptom of metabolic bone disease.
- Cold Tank Temperature
Bearded dragons and other reptiles naturally thrive in deserts. If your bearded dragons won’t eat even if you feed them insects, the cold temperatures might be the culprit.
Bearded dragons lose the appetite to eat or have trouble digesting food when they’re consistently exposed to cold temperatures. Over time, this can also become the reason why your pets will have weaker immune systems, increasing their risks to several health problems.
In general, bearded dragons need a basking spot of at least 95-degree Fahrenheit. Their night-time temperatures should be no lower than 75-degree Fahrenheit but can be changed (decreased slightly) during their brumation. The temperature of your bearded dragons’ enclosure should be checked several times a day to ensure that it remains in the right range.
Because they’re cold-blooded, bearded dragons will not unless their bodies are fully warmed up. They also need their enclosure to stay warm for at least two hours after eating, so they can easily digest their foods.
- Injury
An injured bearded dragon will stop eating, especially if the injury is bad and affects their ability to eat and chew food. If you notice any injuries on your bearded dragons, see a licensed veterinarian immediately. These injuries should be treated immediately, so your pets can stay healthy.
Bearded dragons can get injured for different reasons, but some can be prevented, as discussed below:
- Pay attention to the material on your tank decors, as some have sharp or abrasive edges. These can injure the toes and stomach of your bearded dragons. When adding decors, make sure that they’re safe for reptiles.
- Beardies should be placed in a separate enclosure. Males are naturally territorial and will cause injuries to each other when placed in the same enclosure.
- Don’t allow live insects to roam inside your bearded dragons’ enclosure, as they can cause injuries. For example, large crickets can chew on your lizards’ tails and feet. When left untreated, these wounds can cause infections.
- Sickness
Similar to humans, certain illnesses can cause your bearded dragons to stop eating. Reptiles are at risk of several health problems, but internal parasites and infections are the most common.
One infection you’ll often see in your bearded dragons is mouth rot. This is a serious health problem that occurs when an infection in the mouth worsens and causes bleeding, swelling, and tooth loss. These symptoms would make eating painful for your pets, resulting in severe weight loss.
Parasites can also cause your bearded dragons to stop eating. This will cause them to feel ill and lose the willingness to eat (or do much of anything).
It’s common for bearded dragons to get parasites as they often eat insects. This is another reason why you should only feed them high-quality food from trusted pet stores in your area.
- Impaction
Impaction occurs when food or any item gets stuck in the intestinal tract of your bearded dragon, resulting in a blockage. This can cause extreme pain and discomfort, leading to a bearded dragon not eating.
Some of the most common signs of impaction are a sudden change in feces (change in color and frequency) and a lack of appetite. A bearded dragon with this health issue will usually have grainy poop.
Unlike brumation where your bearded dragon’s appetite slowly decreases, impaction causes your pet to suddenly lose the desire to eat. Impaction is often caused by using the wrong substrate, such as sand and gravel, in the enclosure.
- Vitamin Deficiency
Your bearded dragon needs several vitamins to stay happy and healthy. For example, your household pet needs vitamin D to maintain their digestive system and support their bodies to absorb more calcium.
Vitamin deficiency can cause a lack of appetite in some lizards. To prevent this from happening, feed your bearded dragon with a well-balanced diet with lots of vegetables. This should be your topmost priority, especially if your pet is recovering from a hunger strike.
- Wrong Diet
The wrong diet is also another possible reason why your bearded dragon suddenly stops eating.
Because they’re insectivores, bearded dragons eat mostly plants and live insects. You should never offer your bearded dragon dead insects, peppers, onions, meat, fish, and dairy, as these can cause health problems.
In general, adult bearded dragons need to consume about 25% insects and 75% plants. Feeding too many insects or plants can trigger impaction and constipation. On the other hand, a baby beardie needs more insects than vegetables. They should be fed with insects high in chitin, such as mealworms. Insects with hard shells shouldn’t be included in their diets as these can cause choking and intestinal blockages.
Keep in mind that different pets like different foods. While some love crickets, others would only want to eat dubia roaches. Offer your bearded dragon a variety of insects, vegetables, and fruits to see which ones they like best. Food variety is a great way to prevent vitamin deficiency and ensure that your bearded dragon maintains good health.
- Age
This might come as a surprise, but the age of your bearded dragon can impact their appetite. It’s not common for owners to link lack of appetite to their pet’s age, but it’s actually possible.
Young bearded dragons eat a lot because their bodies are still developing. They need to consume more food to meet their bodies’ needs. When they get older, things begin to change. Once they’re full-grown, they won’t need to consume as many foods as they used to as their bodies are already fully developed. In short, they’ll eat less when they’re older.
- Grumpiness
Your bearded dragon is naturally expressive and will communicate their negative emotions by showing aggression or lack of interest in food. Because they’re enigmatic lizards, you should never rule out grumpiness as a reason why your bearded dragon won’t eat.
Implementing small changes around in your bearded dragon’s environment can cause them to be grumpy. For example, if your bearded dragon isn’t happy after you change their diets or temperature in their enclosure, they’ll refuse to eat food.
Fortunately, this response will settle in time. But if your bearded dragon is not eating weeks or months after you made the changes, you might need to revert back to your old systems. This usually means giving them the same diet as before or changing back the temperature in their enclosure.
- Stress
Stress is also a possible reason why your bearded dragons stop eating. A sudden change in your lizards’ appetite is a common sign of stress. Other signs include lower activity levels, black beards, increased aggression, and pacing all the time.
There are many reasons why your bearded dragon gets stressed. This can be due to the wrong tank temperature, small enclosure (less than 75-gallons), improper handling, poor diet, and aggressive tank mates. Your household pet can also be stressed due to illness.
Out of all the reasons listed in this article, stress is the most challenging to understand. If you suspect that your pets are stressed, seek veterinary advice right away. Once vets provide veterinary advice, it’ll be easier for you to determine if your pets are stressed, the reasons why they’re stressed, and find treatment solutions.
How Long Can A Bearded Dragon Go Without Food?
Your bearded dragon can go weeks without food, sometimes even a few months. This enables your pets to survive in their natural habitat even when the food sources are scarce.
To ensure that your bearded dragon stays healthy if he goes off food for a certain period, do weekly weigh-ins. This will help you keep track of his growth and changes in weight. The information you can get from your weekly weigh-ins is very helpful, especially during their brumation.
How Often Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
A baby beardie needs to eat two to three times a day. Older babies, sub-adults, and juveniles from 4 to 12 years old need to eat twice a day. Adults more than 12 months old should eat once a day.
How Can You Get Your Bearded Dragon To Eat Again?
A bearded dragon not eating for weeks or months is a cause for concern. All species of reptiles require a well-balanced diet to prevent health problems and remain healthy. The longer your bearded dragon doesn’t eat, the more prone they are to health problems.
Here are some tips to get your bearded dragon to eat again:
Food Colors
Lizards are often attracted to certain colors more than others, namely red, green, and yellow. This is one of the reasons why most of a bearded dragon’s favorite foods are in these colors.
One way to get your bearded dragon to eat again is to feed them food with colors that are attractive to them. Butternut squash is a great option because reptiles are naturally drawn to its bright yellow color.
Food Dish Colors
Aside from the color of the food, the color of the food dish will also affect your bearded dragon’s desire to eat. Some pet owners responded that using a reddish dish seems to help reptiles eat again. Using food dishes in warmer colors, like orange and yellow, is also something worth trying.
Bugs/Bait Switch
Another technique you can do to get your bearded dragon to eat again is the bugs and bait switch. For this, feed your bearded dragon’s favorite live insects and then stick some vegetables as they’re chewing.
This technique can be a hit or miss as some lizards manage to spit their food. But in some cases, this technique might be successful. Just make sure to keep their mouth shut after you feed them veggies.
Foods To Stimulate Their Appetite
There are foods that can naturally stimulate the appetite of your bearded dragon. For example, you can feed them canned pumpkins with mixed vegetables. Other baby foods are also great options as they’re easy to chew and flavorful.
Different lizards will have different reactions to certain foods, so do a little trial and error to see which they like best.
Should You Force Feed Your Bearded Dragon?
Force-feeding your bearded dragon using a syringe should only be done with the approval and supervision of a vet. Force-feeding is often stressful for you and your pet but necessary on some occasions. Depending on the reason why your bearded dragon won’t eat, your vet will recommend a specific solution to feed, such as Oxbow’s Critical Care.
Consult a vet first before force-feeding your bearded dragon. This is especially important if you never force-fed your pet in the past. Aside from being able to provide veterinary advice, the vet can also teach you how to properly and safely force-feed your bearded dragon.
Learn From Veterinary Advice
If you have tried all of the recommendations mentioned in this article, but your bearded dragon is still not eating, reach out to a licensed veterinarian for expert advice. They can provide the best course of action to ensure that your bearded dragons resume eating and stay healthy for the longest time possible!