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 #1631140


Stray_Mongrel
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 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

Okay, here’s the deal. I’m planning on bringing home a Yellow-throated plated lizard this coming Tuesday. I’m getting the cage all set up as I research more on it, and I’m already realizing a big part of this guy’s problem where it’s at is not having the option to burrow. He does hide under his egg carton, but that’s not a good substitute at all!

Extra tips are welcome, but my main question is about getting this guy to eat. I’m not against force feeding -I did it for a fully mature male iguana, so a possible y-t bite just doesn’t intimidate me much- if I must. The main question is what would be best nutritionally? He’s severely dehydrated, and hasn’t been eating, even when offered fresh fruits. (And some rhacodactylus diet in desperation.)

I may have fresh, tiny pinkies to try by then from my own little mouse who I know is healthy and well fed. I have plenty of fresh greens, finely chopped by blender for my bearded babies and the iguana I mentioned before. I have organic baby food, and access to more fresh fruits. Oh, I have small mealworms and half-sized crickets, too.

What shall I first try if I must force feed, and what would be best to leave in the cage for free choice feeding in addition to the greens?
02/20/08  07:27pm

 #1631153


Stray_Mongrel
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1631140


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

Forgot to mention: He’s at least a foot long right now. Possibly longer, I don’t often go into the room he’s caged in.

I am also fully aware I’m insane for loving to rescue reptiles so much. No need to point that out~
02/20/08  07:38pm

 #1631263


R0NST3R
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1631153


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

I’ve never really haed to force feed, but I would suggest trying a pinky mouse first, or even a fuzzy mouse. As for the dehydration, maybe try it in a bath with luke warm water
02/20/08  08:52pm

 #1631911


Stout Dude
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1631140


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

i agree also if he is not eating maybe yours did what mine did after brought them for about a week they ate when i was gone . and for a good borrowing dirt i use eco earth which they sell at pet co. last if he never eats then u most force feed
02/21/08  12:12pm

 #1633126


Stray_Mongrel
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   Message To: Stout Dude   In reference to Message Id: 1631911


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

Thank you for the advice! He comes home with me on Tuesday, and I’m going to try a pinkie mouse first, but of course have greens and fruit available to him. Maybe some mealworms, too. And plenty of substrate and hides to seek shelter in!

I’m def. going to force feed if he doesn’t eat by the second day home. He’s gone at least a month where he is now with no evidence of him doing more than tasting the rhacodactylus diet. I normally give a full week for reptiles to adjust before worrying about them eating, but it seems too risky to wait him out.
02/22/08  05:38am

 #1634552


R0NST3R
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1633126


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

You’re gonna force feed if he hasn’t eaten by the 2nd day home? I wouldn’t advise this, remember moving for a reptile is a stressfull thing and they will go off food for a few days then, and force feeding will only add to the stress. If you wanna try something, maybe only put the one hide in for now and put the pinky mouse in the hide before you turn the lights out, then check in the morning (I’m pretty sure it would be gone and the plated would of eaten it.) Before force feeding try all foods you could possibly try. Other things they really like is Chicken, Waxies, Roaches and one that isn;t spoken of to often Scrambled Egg.
02/23/08  10:48am

 #1636376


Stray_Mongrel
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   Message To: R0NST3R   In reference to Message Id: 1634552


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

I know how they can go off feed when first moved. The thing is, this plated lizard has gone almost two months with barely enough to survive. We’re only guessing it’s even eating because it is still alive.

I’m going to give it access to a few choices of foods in very small amounts so I’ll know if it eats. I’ll try to post a pic as soon as I can of him, and you’ll be able to see why I’m so concerned. I pulled my iguana - who came from a different place than this y-t - back from the brink of death, and that required an immediate trip to the vet for antibiotics the same day I took him home and drastically switched his environment. (Now that was stressful for him!) Sometimes it’s a choice between waiting to take extreme measures and failing to act soon enough, or not waiting and doing more harm. I’ve learned from experience; I’ve been involved with various rescues for nearly ten years now. Thank you for the extra warning, but I assure you this is not a rash decision. It will all depend on how the yellow-throated acts. I’ll be using extra care with him because he’s not familiar with me, whereas the iguana thankfully was.

A big thank you for the extra food ideas! I was already considering wax worms, but never would have thought about some scrambled egg or chicken.
02/24/08  05:45pm

 #1641972


Stray_Mongrel
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1636376


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

Update: He, I think, is a she. She is more dehydrated than I thought as her dehydration fold is actually curled up. She seems to have spent most of the day in her water dish, though. I put her in it before work and when I returned home she was in it. So, ten minute soaks as suggested by the vet will wait a bit longer before I start them.

I did start the first stages of force feeding. Her first night home I only had one hide for her, but enough substrate for her to burrow in. She hasn’t shown any interest in burrowing yet, but she did use the hide, which is where I left the pinkie I brought home for her. She killed it, but not in any sort of helpful way.. she used it as a pillow. Yeah, I tried to tell her baby mice are food not pillows, but I don’t think she listened. So, today (day two in her new home) I left some greens actually in the hide. They were ignored. Tonight I treated her as I did my young crested when she decided not to eat for a week: I rubbed a little food around her mouth. My silly little y-t now has baby food on one side of her mouth, and the other has the same crested gecko diet she had shown a little interest in where she was. I saw her tongue out a few times, so I’m taking that as a good sign. Maybe she’ll show more interest in her food after licking it off her face.

Pictures will come when I actually remember to grab the cord for my camera.
02/28/08  09:04pm

 #1644008


R0NST3R
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   Message To: Stray_Mongrel   In reference to Message Id: 1641972


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

For the dehydration, isn’t there something you can put in her water? Or something that you can syringe into her mouth?

What exactly did you do to force feed? Sounds more like assisting feed to me :S
My plateds never really show any intrest in burrowing and only use the one hide. (Provide 10 hides and they will still both share the one at times lol)
03/01/08  07:28pm

 #1644135


Stray_Mongrel
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   Message To: R0NST3R   In reference to Message Id: 1644008


 Yet another eating question for yellow-throated

I’m not sure about anything to put in her water. My vet never mentioned anything, but then she had told me to feed my iguana crickets, so I always research all her advice. =/

I used baby food and a fruit mixture. It was just assisted feeding last night. Tonight I may actually force her with a syringe. She’s simply showing no interest in her food, though I have found her in different areas of the cage. I’ll give her water and a fruit mix again.

Thank you! And it’s nice to know there are healthy plateds out there who don’t feel inclined to burrow. She keeps choosing to sleep curled up in a deli cup covered with newspaper with her tail as a pillow since I removed the pinkie she decided not to eat. I feel like I bought her the larger rock hide only for decoration. =p
03/01/08  09:08pm


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