My son bought a bearded dragon baby 10 days ago, and he is a smashing little fella - he enjoys being handled, eats well (salad every day plus salad and mealworms/crickets dusted in nutrient powder every other day) and seems to be settling in well. Today he has noticed that he did not eat his salad, and this afternoon at handling time, he seemed uninterested. As he has shed his skin on his legs over the last few days, we thought it best to leave him. We just checked him again, and he is jumping and shrinking back from us as though scared. He is also trying to bite, which he has never offered to do before.
He is in a 3x2x2 viv with a basking spot of around 100, and a ambient temp of around 85 - 90. He is on sand, and has several branches/rocks for climbing. I must admit that, after reading up on the internet, I am worried about impaction, but don't know the symptoms.
Any ideas please?

Vulcan, I have quite a bit of experience with bearies and it does sound a little odd. Could you give us an idea about the age and gender (if known) or its size? Also, is it just on salad? All beardies should have some meat in their diet but babies in particular should have livefood every or every other day.

Vulcan, I have quite a bit of experience with bearies and it does sound a little odd. Could you give us an idea about the age and gender (if known) or its size? Also, is it just on salad? All beardies should have some meat in their diet but babies in particular should have livefood every or every other day.

Sorry I was a bit vague, I have just edited my post. He is a male, and is about 9" long. He eats crickets (around 20, plus 6 mealworms) every other day.

At nine inch long I think he's more of a juvenile than a baby. Have you noticed him bobbing/nodding his head or attempting to puff out his chin? If so, this behavior could be the onset of adolescence.

Is he trying to bite (as in snap towards you) or openning his mouth wide?

I have never dealt with impaction (mine are on sand too) so couldn't comment.

At nine inch long I think he's more of a juvenile than a baby. Have you noticed him bobbing/nodding his head or attempting to puff out his chin? If so, this behavior could be the onset of adolescence.

Is he trying to bite (as in snap towards you) or openning his mouth wide?

I have never dealt with impaction (mine are on sand too) so couldn't comment.

Yes, he is doing exactly what you describe - don't say I've got another sulky teenager to put up with! Thanks for your reassurance x

Yes, he is doing exactly what you describe - don't say I've got another sulky teenager to put up with! Thanks for your reassurance x

Yes, I'm affraid so but it doesn't last quite as long and they don't slam their viv doors.

Happy to be of help, the internet can be great at times (like this place) but there'd a lot of scare mongering too.

Yes, I'm affraid so but it doesn't last quite as long and they don't slam their viv doors.


:lol: I liked that!

i own a bearded my self maybe a silly answer but maybe the cage is to large for the bearded and it feels unsurcure,i had that with a couple of leos so i added alot more hiding places and they was fine

Yes, I'm affraid so but it doesn't last quite as long and they don't slam their viv doors.

Happy to be of help, the internet can be great at times (like this place) but there'd a lot of scare mongering too.

Lol! It makes perfect sense now! He's a bit happier today, and has eaten his salad and mealworms. His crickets are chilling in the fridge (My son Joe has vision probs and finds them a little spirited!) He has been handled today and seems much happier. Joe's gonna play him some heavy metal music:hihi:

Hi I also would like to add that 10 days is about what time he needs to settle in and hee wil now be seeing his viv as his and show a litle dominance over the territiory. Best thing to do is just keep an eye on him and make sure hes eating and defacating on a regular basis and he should be fine.

If you need to know anything at all Im sure many people on here will be able to help

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions guys, it's easy to panic and think something is wrong. He seems fine now - he's not eating as much as he was, but we think this week's crickets are larger than last week's, so that would probably account for it. Cheers x

We were told to feed ours 10 crickets everyday, if you are giving 20 every other day maybe it's too much at once for a little one?

Ours hates salad, fruit and veg and although he can't slam the viv door he stands tapping on it :hihi: He winds up our cats no end, wait's until one of them looks and then runs backwards and forwards across the viv till they try and get him at which point he'll sit on his rock, right up against the glass and stare them out :hihi: He doesn't like to be picked up though, he likes to be stroked but he refuses to go on your hand.

We were told to feed ours 10 crickets everyday, if you are giving 20 every other day maybe it's too much at once for a little one?

Ours hates salad, fruit and veg and although he can't slam the viv door he stands tapping on it :hihi: He winds up our cats no end, wait's until one of them looks and then runs backwards and forwards across the viv till they try and get him at which point he'll sit on his rock, right up against the glass and stare them out :hihi: He doesn't like to be picked up though, he likes to be stroked but he refuses to go on your hand.

Maybe we'll try giving a smaller meal every day and see how he goes. I think this week's crickets were larger as well. Stewie likes our dog Maggie - he comes to the front and licks the glass, and Maggie copies! He also cranes his head to see the telly, and gets the face on when it's turned off:hihi: