12 week old Beardie - how many crickets can it eat?

[WarDaddy]

So the simple idea of getting our boys a Bearded Dragon as a pet has turned into a nightmare of sorts. The first attempt ended with a dead dragon in about a week, respiratory infection. We got a replacement from the breeder and we are right back where we started from. you can read the Saga up to this point here: Rocket's Tale.

So I am now force feeding the little guy and have a procedure down to get the mouth open, keep it open and insert a freshly killed and vitamin powdered cricket into his mouth. Once it is in his mouth instinct kicks in and he swallows it. This morning I fed him2 this way, it went well. The second took a while for him to get down, I could see those hind legs sticking out the corner of his mouth for a few minutes, but they were gone when I checked on him before leaving for work. He was sitting on his basking rock, head held high.

This little guy is tiny, he can sling to my thumb and perfectly fit there. How many of these crickets can I feed him in 1 sitting. I need him to get his energy back so he will start hunting on his own again.

 

[ScooterBlenny]

Gosh, that's a tough one. I got Pudge at 12 weeks (9 inches), and the little bugger easily ate 50 crickets in a sitting. I certainly wouldn't try to force feed that much, but I'm thinking that at least 10 appropriately sized crickets per feeding. Are crickets the only thing that you've tried feeding?

 

[WarDaddy]

I have tried Crickets and Phoenix worms. I have seen him eat 1 cricket (the day we got him) and 3 phoenix worms.

Other than that, he has not eaten much in the week and a half I have had him. I force fed him 2 phoenix worms yesterday, and 2 crickets today.

50 crickets, dare to dream! I will try and see if I can get 5 in him for supper tonight.

 

[ScooterBlenny]

I'm glad you're trying to feed him PWs also - so often somebody is lamenting that they can't get their beardie to eat, only to discover that it doesn't like what they're trying to feed him. Keep us updated, and I hope the little guy settles in and gets comfy soon.

 

[WarDaddy]

I also have a colony of Dubias growing in the garage. They have been going almost 8 weeks now. I hope to have them to a size where the colony will sustain itself and feed the little guy in a few more months.

Once he has a little more energy, I will dig up a little Dubia, and see how that goes.

 

[LQDragons]

I also have a colony of Dubias growing in the garage. They have been going almost 8 weeks now. I hope to have them to a size where the colony will sustain itself and feed the little guy in a few more months.

Once he has a little more energy, I will dig up a little Dubia, and see how that goes.

I would suggest a whole handfull of tiny dubia nymphs(babies), if you have an empty aquarium or even a small rubbermaid tote, put white paper in side and put your dragon in it, then introduce the roaches, a few at a time. He just might go crazy over the roaches