my baby bearded dragon isnt eating!

Question
hi i just purchased my baby bearded dragon he is a hatchling
only about 5 days old i got him last night and i have
attempted feeding him today but he doesnt seem to want to
eat. could it be because of the stress of moving .. and how
long should i wait before i get more concerned

his cage has the right temperatures 105-110 on the basking
side and 80-85 on the cool  measured with a electronic
thermometer  

Answer
Hi Alfredo

It is likely a combination of two factors. The first is that he is only five days old. Hatchling reptiles continue to feed off the absorbed yolk for several days after hatching and often do not feed during this time. It can take around a week before they eat. Some reptiles will not feed until they go through their first shed which happens shortly after they hatch.

Reptiles also go through re-location stress when they move from one environment to another and again, can take a week or so to settle in a feel secure enough to hunt. It is a good idea to keep handling to a minimum until he has settled and started feeding for you. There will be plenty of time after that to handle him daily.

Five days is really too young to be sold, in my opinion. Most reputable breeders keep their hatchlings long enough to make sure they are eating and well established (at least 3 to 4 weeks) before subjecting them to the stress of being re-homed.