Why would he do this??

[Jeanne]

After Oscar sat in the window enjoying the sun and watching cars and the dogs for entertainment, I put him back in his home, soon after, he began doing what looked like nibbling his substrate. Upon closer look, he actually was not, he was "picking" out the little tiny pieces of reptocal he found, its the stuff I use to coat his crix. So, on a hunch, I put some on my finger and he began licking it off my finger... after this, I put a little on his dish to see what would happen. He continued to lick it up. After a few seconds he crawled back up under his basking light and is still there. I have never seen him do this before. Have any of you seen this type of thing with your dragons? Why would he be doing that? I even out of curiosity tasted the reptocal, to me it is plain with little taste at all. (LOL, Ok, I am kinda weird, I was curious to see if it was sweet or had some taste that might interest him.... and yes, I was the child who tried every new dog food or cat food Mom brought home)

[mlededee]

maybe he is deficient in one or more of the vitamins or something that is in the reptical and he is trying to make up for it? some animals know when something is lacking and they will specifically seek out food or even non-food items that contain whatever it is. i'm not sure if that applies to beardies but maybe that is what is going on.

[Python-77]

yep I keep tiny little dish's (milk caps most of the time) in all my herp enclosures that way they can lick up a little herp vit or calcium powder as they feel they need it works out well with all but my frilled he is jsut to spaztic to have it in the tank.

[Marla]

That's different. I knew leos would lick it, but had not heard of beardies doing it. That's great that he recognizes the deficiency and is trying to fix it, though.

[Jeanne]

Yeah- I figured it was that he knows what he needs, but if he feels he is calcium difficient, cant figure out how for the life of me.. little booger gets his crix coated daily with reptocal. Guess I am gonna keep some in his home with him for next time he gets a craving.