feeding

thetupak · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 05:04 AM

I dont have a beardie yet but iv been looking up the care for them and was wondering how many crickets do you feed them a day and how often do you feed them greens also how do you know when to incress the size of the crickets

Constrictor_BO · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 07:51 AM

Crickets are to be more like a treat than a meal. Feed the greens(collard, mustard) finely chopped for thier main diet and crickets afterwards. When I had my BD(which was sent to someone for educational purposes) I fed the greens in the morning and crickets in the afternoon with a fresh supply of the greens.

Cricket size should be no longer than the space between the BDs eyes.

natas · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 08:39 AM

Hint Hint *cough* Someone write up a caresheet for a bearded dragon and send it to natas@spamcop.net so I can submit the dang thing

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 02:08 PM

My beardy gets some BD pellets once a week...some iguana (TREX) flowers, and veggies each once a week....fresh veggies every day (mostly baby mesc greens)....pinkys once a month with parazap treatments......crickets/supers/waxes/silks and tomato horn worms (her favorite) 4 times a week.
You will find many differing opinions about BD diet but like most lizards, they key is variety. Dusting with supplements is great when giving insects that are not very nutritional.
Also start with a good source (breeder wise) and a dragon that is a little larger then you might prefer....tiny hatchlings are extremely fragile and have a high death rate, especially with beginners.
Good Luck!

JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 02:25 PM

AH! Nicole ...you just made me remember what I have been wanting to ask for opinions on forEVER! and keep forgetting...(dusting crickets for a beardie) calcium supplements come 2 ways that I know of...Liquid spray and powder...What I am wondering is, If I am spraying the greens with the liquid supplement, is this enough or should I still dust the crickets too? Too much calcium is bad too right?....or should I stop spraying the greens and start dusting the crickets?

NicoleRussell · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

AH! Nicole ...you just made me remember what I have been wanting to ask for opinions on forEVER! and keep forgetting...(dusting crickets for a beardie) calcium supplements come 2 ways that I know of...Liquid spray and powder...What I am wondering is, If I am spraying the greens with the liquid supplement, is this enough or should I still dust the crickets too? Too much calcium is bad too right?....or should I stop spraying the greens and start dusting the crickets?

Man, you have hit on a subject that so many people disagree on---I'll tell you my theory on lizards (especially omniverous ones).
The Ca to PH ratio in a lizards diet is so important ---Ca will not bind within the animals body if too much PH is present...whatever Ca supplement anyone uses needs to be PH free---not only that but there is a question of D3 supplemntation. I am a believer in taking the shortest, simplest route to the destination--meaning:
D3 synthesis should be left to the animal to regulate. Regular exposure to uv (a quality light like PS or the natural sun when weather permits) is the absolute best source of d3 production. You can overdose an animal by attempting this chemically through supplements and very little is known about proper dosage for specific animals. For this reason I do not use powders that are d3 fortified. I stay away from drops (solar in particular) at all costs.
If you feed a variety and balanced diet, supplementation is needed very little (unless the animal is suffering from Ca deficiency, MBD, is gravid or some special circumstances are present). With greens, silks, goliath worms and fruits I believe these things do not need anything...crickets waxes, supers and other deficient foods should always be dusted.....with a vitamin/ca powder.
You will find people who dust their BD's salads---I just don't see the need if everything else is there...especially a good quaility pellet like zoomed, reptical, monster diet and Trex....these are perfectly balanced already and make a great addition to any omnivore's diet.
Not that any pelleted food takes the place of salads---it's just a great compliment to any existing diet.
Now that I have said all this I forgot the question

JuliusSqueezer · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 03:11 PM

Yah I'm hip to the D3 thing...just wondered if it mattered if the suppliment went in the greens or on the bugs....I have to use spray for the iggy and torts because they don't get bugs. I have to use dust for the leos...cause they don't get greens. But beardie gets both so just wondered if it really mattered where the supplement came from.

NicoleRussell · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 03:25 PM

do you use a pelleted food for the ig's? I use the Trex pellets and find they are perfectly balanced for igs(monster diet I think has tort food)---in addition to fresh foods. (Monster diets are supposed to be the only food actually traced back to the animal's natural environment and diet in the wild)....can't say I know anything about tort's and thier eating habits although one day I hope to learn more.
With Beardy's it's very easy because they eat everything.
With carnivores like tegus--I make meatballs and put some plant matter or powder in that way....my rhino eats the pelleted foods readily so I know she's getting what she needs...

ReDTaiLgirl · #9 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 03:17 AM

Does it matter for iguanas if you dust the greens? What is the difference between dust and spray anyway? I dust the crickets only(not greens) when i feed my BDs. Is that what i should do?

NicoleRussell · #10 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReDTaiLgirl

Does it matter for iguanas if you dust the greens? What is the difference between dust and spray anyway? I dust the crickets only(not greens) when i feed my BDs. Is that what i should do?

I dust the bugs/worms and gutloa them..greens I use variety and don't enahnce. I find pellets balance out everything with Igs and Beardys....

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