New baby beardie sort of.. lazy?

So I found a baby beardie yesterday. So we took him to the petstore and such and they gave us all the housing needs etc. The temperature is correct, we have plenty of food in there, water, etc. But I'm not sure if it's because he's a baby in a new home, or winter is approaching but he just isn't... active. He'll be on his rock and bask and then he'll sort of doze off. And all he's eaten since I got him was a little lettuce, and he licked some cut-up grape off my finger. Yesterday he was so sweet when he was in the jar when I first found him, but today when I try to reach my hand in the cage, he closes his eyes, ducks down and cowers and then like.. runs to the opposite side. So I read somewhere this could be becasue he's new and such, and that you should leave them alone blahblahblah. My mom and I haven't been doing to good at that.. we keep staring at him and stuff. So finally I draped a towel over part of it. (to where light still gets through and we can moniter it)

New baby beardie sort of.. lazy?
Okay, he sounds very lethargic and that's not right for baby beardies.





I'm a little worried at what the pet store told AND sold you, because all they care about is making more money.





If you have the little guy on sand remove it immediately and replace it with paper towels. Particlue substrates aren't good for reptiles (especially babies) because it can be accidentally ingested, and it cannot be digested so it ends up sticking there and causing deadly impactions. His cage should be kept very simple, this is what I had my hatchling in two years ago: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/m...





Contrary to what people have said here, DO NOT FEED MEALWORMS! Especially for such a tiny baby! Mealworms have a very hard outer shell that is very difficult to digest and also are very low in nutrition. I wouldn't worry about his veggies much because he is young and needs more protein, but it's a good thing he's tasting them now. You should be feeding crickets no larger than the space between his eyes (pinheads preferably) or silkworms.





You will also need to purchase a calcium powder to dust his food. Hatchlings can't grow without calcium, and will develop metabolic bone disease if there is none in his diet.





His basking temp should be between 100 - 110F and should be provided with a UV source. Normally, beardies rarely drink from water bowls and ilke to be misted instead. Mist him daily and he'll usually drink up the droplets from his snout.





Good luck





EDIT: Are you sure your "beardie" isn't one of these? http://www.kingsnake.com/dfw/checklist/l...





EDIT 2: Lol, kay then. I think I can finally take your word. Why do my posts always end up super super long?





Alrighty, he's not eating because everything is very new to him. Give him about a week to adjust to his new surroundings and he should settle in fine. I would also advise to not handle him during this time.


Keep offering him food and take out any that are left over when its time for lights out. Hungry crickets like to nibble on sleeping beardies :/
Reply:Um, it's weird to find a baby beardie....unless you're in Australia, anyhow...lettuce is completely the wrong thing to feed him, a Beardie's diet is maybe 20-30% veggies, you may want to get some mealworms, or crickets, then he may liven up a bit. They aren't terribly active when they're not eating anyhow, so I'm not sure what to tell you. But I would start with some live food.


I totally encourage you to read this article on Bearded Dragons, I trust this womans advice completely. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html





P.S. A picture might help with the I.D.
Reply:Try getting some really small mealworms. Maybe their movement will trigger a feeding response from him. You could try very small crickets as well. Don't try anything too big. Get the smallest you can find to start with. Hopefully that will work...