I've been seeing weight charts pop up that claim that a 1 month old dragon should weigh 4 grams, a 9 inch dragon 20 grams and a 24" dragon should weigh 400-550 grams. Also people are passing around info saying that a baby-juvenile dragon needs only 4-6 insects per day. Has anyone else come across this ? See what you find when you search those topics online. I know that it's best for beardies not to grow too fast or to be stuffed at every meal but what I'm reading is alarming.
I agree, 4-6 crickets for a baby is absurd. And especially of the smallest size, those poor babies will be so hungry. I am all on board for getting rid of obesity in pets (especially in reptiles) but it’s all kind of ridiculous. At least he had the decency to mention that if your beardie starts losing weight with that set diet, to alter it to your liking but the fact that they start losing weight to begin with! It’s horrific!
And the weight charts are downright unrealistic, not all beardies will sit at that weight. Leo’s 125-220 grams heavier than what a chart I found online said, and he is 100% not overweight. And in most cases it relies on length as an outstanding factor in weight. I get that they could set an ‘average’ for weight but still, for many beardies it’ll be waaaaay off. Leo included.
Overall, I’m kinda in the neutral zone about this ‘beardie vet’. I don’t doubt he’s researched bearded dragons in the wild, and I don’t doubt he wants the best for this community but not everything has to be identical to as it would in the wild. He’s got some good points, husbandry wise, but less so diet wise. Not dissing anyone’s opinions though, all are valid.