Worrisome new Mommy has a cricket count question!

[Explora]

I've been worrying about the cricket question for some time :/ I've had Atlas for almost two months, and I give him a dozen crickets in the morning along with lots of cactus and either collard greens or cilantro. He gobbles the crickets up and then chomps on a few pieces of cactus, but by the end of the day he'll usually finish the cactus and munch on his repti-pellets. Basically, he might not be getting the "right" amount of crickets, but the little tubster is certainly not starving lol. Any opinions? He's pooping fabulously and seems otherwise very healthy and happy, and VERY active. He's a little big for his age, and my roommate (who works at PetSmart and is studying to be a vet) thinks it's because I'm feeding him such a veggie-heavy diet.

Here are a few pics for reference, taken tonight

 

[randommonks]

Actually loading up on protein is what makes them grow. I would give more crickets, and stop feeding the pellets. My beardie used to go through 20-30 crickets per day, sometimes per feeding if he's feeling particularly hungry. I've read that babies can eat up to 100 crickets in a day (seems a bit excessive but meh) but I think a normal upper limit is around 50. I would keep it up with the veggies though, because babies and juveniles often don't develop a taste for it. You may find that if you feed more proteins, he might cut back on his veggies.

But, as the cliche goes, there are more than one ways to skin a cat (I wouldn't try it though, the cat might not appreciate it). So if what you're doing works for you, then cool. Most people on here though tend to load up on feeders when they're babies, and worry about the veggies when they're closer to adulthood.

 

[drgnfly2265]

I focused on feeding the protien first when they were little and growing and then the greens 2nd. I have never had the need to feed pellets at all. And now that they are older I feed more greens now and not so many feeders.