9 month old bearded dragon

[KF5Mama]

Hello,

We bought a bearded dragon at our Petsmart. We were told he’s around 9 months. I think we may have been given some misinformation. We were told to feed him 3 times a week. I called and spoke to someone else who said to feed him one time a day. Can someone please help? How often should we feed him and how often should we use calcium? At this stage how many crickets should he be eating per feeding? Sorry, I’m just concerned that the information I was given was incorrect and I want to make sure we’re taking care of him properly. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

 

[IAmAMirage]

Hello,

We bought a bearded dragon at our Petsmart. We were told he’s around 9 months. I think we may have been given some misinformation. We were told to feed him 3 times a week. I called and spoke to someone else who said to feed him one time a day. Can someone please help? How often should we feed him and how often should we use calcium? At this stage how many crickets should he be eating per feeding? Sorry, I’m just concerned that the information I was given was incorrect and I want to make sure we’re taking care of him properly. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Lets get some people who can help! These folks are very knowledgeable and can help you with the information you need!
@Drache613 @xp29 @KarrieRee

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello,

We bought a bearded dragon at our Petsmart. We were told he’s around 9 months. I think we may have been given some misinformation. We were told to feed him 3 times a week. I called and spoke to someone else who said to feed him one time a day. Can someone please help? How often should we feed him and how often should we use calcium? At this stage how many crickets should he be eating per feeding? Sorry, I’m just concerned that the information I was given was incorrect and I want to make sure we’re taking care of him properly. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Welcome you have come to the right forum -- for starters please DO NOT listen to the Petsmart people most give bad info and have not a clue as how to take care of these dragons--- so 9 month old he should be eating around 20-25 appropriately sized crickets so I am going to say large - I didnt feed crickets to my 2 I fed dubia roaches silk worms BSFL super worms as treats along w/ horn worms -- those were all fed as a variety but the staple mainly was the dubia roaches so the amount my vary w/ the crickets - are you feeding any salads? The main staple feeder should be dusted ONCE per feeding lightly coated 5 x per week w/ calcium D3 --- vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated --- this is going to change when he turns a year --- now for this to be effective we need to know what kind of UVB your using if its a coil you need to get rid of it -- they are inadequate and will cause all kinds of health problems - surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100 - place the probe where he sits to bask get temp -- you will need 2 of those one for the cool side of the tank around 80 ish -- we can help get this tank set up properly w/ temps and UVB please ask for more help ---

 

[xp29]

Welcome you have come to the right forum -- for starters please DO NOT listen to the Petsmart people most give bad info and have not a clue as how to take care of these dragons--- so 9 month old he should be eating around 20-25 appropriately sized crickets so I am going to say large - I didnt feed crickets to my 2 I fed dubia roaches silk worms BSFL super worms as treats along w/ horn worms -- those were all fed as a variety but the staple mainly was the dubia roaches so the amount my vary w/ the crickets - are you feeding any salads? The main staple feeder should be dusted ONCE per feeding lightly coated 5 x per week w/ calcium D3 --- vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated --- this is going to change when he turns a year --- now for this to be effective we need to know what kind of UVB your using if its a coil you need to get rid of it -- they are inadequate and will cause all kinds of health problems - surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100 - place the probe where he sits to bask get temp -- you will need 2 of those one for the cool side of the tank around 80 ish -- we can help get this tank set up properly w/ temps and UVB please ask for more help ---

Yup what @KarrieRee said.
Maybe post a few pictures. I seriously doubt it's nine months old. Petsmart is selling them really young now. Most of theirs are a fews weeks old at best. My girl Zsa Zsa turned 9 months old September 2nd. I'll post a picture so you can compare size. ( you can't go strictly by size, better husbandry equals faster growth).

 

[KF5Mama]

Welcome you have come to the right forum -- for starters please DO NOT listen to the Petsmart people most give bad info and have not a clue as how to take care of these dragons--- so 9 month old he should be eating around 20-25 appropriately sized crickets so I am going to say large - I didnt feed crickets to my 2 I fed dubia roaches silk worms BSFL super worms as treats along w/ horn worms -- those were all fed as a variety but the staple mainly was the dubia roaches so the amount my vary w/ the crickets - are you feeding any salads? The main staple feeder should be dusted ONCE per feeding lightly coated 5 x per week w/ calcium D3 --- vitamins w/ beta carotene 2 x per week ONCE per feeding lightly coated --- this is going to change when he turns a year --- now for this to be effective we need to know what kind of UVB your using if its a coil you need to get rid of it -- they are inadequate and will cause all kinds of health problems - surface basking temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100 - place the probe where he sits to bask get temp -- you will need 2 of those one for the cool side of the tank around 80 ish -- we can help get this tank set up properly w/ temps and UVB please ask for more help ---

Thank you. Yes, I went and spoke with someone who used to breed Bearded Dragons. She said about 30 small crickets a day until he’s about a year old. We are also feeding him collard greens daily and a tiny bit of blueberries. I also give him a hornworm once a week as a treat.
I have a long UV light and I have mounted it under the mesh of his terrarium to make sure it is not being filtered out by the metal mesh on top of his terrarium. I also bought him a mopani driftwood and put it under his heat and UV lamps that he basks on and his terrarium has a cave, some succulents, and his water and food dish. The breeder told me to do the calcium dusting 3 times a week. I ordered a temperature gun to make sure his basking area is what it should be. I have one of those little thermometers on his terrarium that monitors the humidity and temperature but it’s mounted away from his basking area and stays around 80°. His humidity levels remain within the designated zone. I’m really sad about the misinformation we were provided and I’m trying to make sure we keep him happy and healthy.

 

[IAmAMirage]

She said about 30 small crickets a day until he’s about a year old. We are also feeding him collard greens daily and a tiny bit of blueberries. I also give him a hornworm once a week as a treat.

@KF5Mama
Just so you know, the vet I use told me that crickets are not a recommended feeder. They can carry lots of parasites. When I first got Mirage he had coccidia and pinworms. I was told the crickets probably transmitted it to him. I recommend feeding dubia roaches, discoid roaches, super worms, meal worms, and soldier fly larvae as staple feeders. Waxworms and hornworms are a great treat though! As for the salad, there is a great website I've used for nutrition information: Nutrition Content

It has a great list of what to give your beardie and what not to give. Blueberries should not be given everyday. They are high in sugar. Because of this it is something that should only be given occasionally.

 

[KF5Mama]

Yup what @KarrieRee said.
Maybe post a few pictures. I seriously doubt it's nine months old. Petsmart is selling them really young now. Most of theirs are a fews weeks old at best. My girl Zsa Zsa turned 9 months old September 2nd. I'll post a picture so you can compare size. ( you can't go strictly by size, better husbandry equals faster growth).

 

[KF5Mama]

This is my little guy. This is the first time I’ve given him blueberries and I will make sure to give it to him as a treat occasionally. He is tiny.

 

[KarrieRee]

This is my little guy. This is the first time I’ve given him blueberries and I will make sure to give it to him as a treat occasionally. He is tiny.

Please feed outside off the sand or get rid of it all together - dragons cannot digest sand and it will cause impaction if he eats too much- you can get some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut to the size of the tank -- the uvb is what brand and bulb please?

 

[KF5Mama]

Please feed outside off the sand or get rid of it all together - dragons cannot digest sand and it will cause impaction if he eats too much- you can get some textured NON adhesive shelf liner cut to the size of the tank -- the uvb is what brand and bulb please?

It is a Neptonion 8W 10.0 UVB. Can you recommend a shelf liner?

 

[KF5Mama]

It is a Neptonion 8W 10.0 UVB. Can you recommend a shelf liner?

The top layer is crushed walnut shells.

 

[xp29]

The top layer is crushed walnut shells.

Crushed walnut is the most dangerous of all loose substrate. Please get it out asap. If you want to keep loose substrate a 50/50 mix of play sand and reptisoil is worlds better, you can also mix in some excavators clay. Keep an eye on the dust levels tbough, it can get bad. It will also coat the uvb tube and block some of the uvb if it isn't kept under control.
Your beardie doesn't look like a hatchling but still probably not more than 4ish months old.

 

[KarrieRee]

The top layer is crushed walnut shells.

Please get rid of the walnuts NOW they are toxic to dragons----------- the UVB I have never heard of -- please get one of these
24" fixture for a 40+ gallon tank
Zoo Med Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood (24 inch)
you will need this bulb 22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent T5 HO Bulb (22", 24 Watt)
PetSmart was carrying these but I dont think they are anymore

Arcadia ProT5 UVB Kit (Includes Hood)

ProT5 is a highly adaptable lighting kit with high quality internal electronics, a high effective but removable reflector, power cable, fittings kit, free link cable and choice of Arcadia Reptile HO-T5 UV-B lamp. ProT5 uses the very finest electrical components to ensure safe running and long...

reptilighting.com

or this one Sunblaster Nano Tech you will need to change the bulb out to the one posted above you want the 24" or 2 ft fixture https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
please get a digital probe thermometer 2 of them
looks like Petsmart has now started carrying this

Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 10.0 High Output Terrarium Hood

Buy Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 10.0 High Output Terrarium Hood at Petsmart

www.petsmart.com

Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Digital Thermometer

Buy Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Digital Thermometer at Petsmart

www.petsmart.com

and you want a digital probe hygrometer placed on the back center wall of the tank something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Digital-Hygrometer-Probe/dp/B00101KWYW

please let me know when you get the UVB so I can help you get it placed the placement and distance will be determined by the screen on the tank
the shelf liner can be found at your local Walmart or home improvement store

 

[xp29]

Crushed walnut is the most dangerous of all loose substrate. Please get it out asap. If you want to keep loose substrate a 50/50 mix of play sand and reptisoil is worlds better, you can also mix in some excavators clay. Keep an eye on the dust levels tbough, it can get bad. It will also coat the uvb tube and block some of the uvb if it isn't kept under control.
Your beardie doesn't look like a hatchling but still probably not more than 4ish months old.

I wanted to elaborate on the walnut. It's dangerous for multiple reasons. The first being impaction. It's a serious possibility. The second is more scary. Crushed walnut even though crushed fine still has very sharp edges that are more than capable of causing internal lacerations. It can lead to internal bleeding or infection.
It's pretty much bad for any animal but especially bad for animals thar use their tongue to catch food.

 

[KF5Mama]

Crushed walnut is the most dangerous of all loose substrate. Please get it out asap. If you want to keep loose substrate a 50/50 mix of play sand and reptisoil is worlds better, you can also mix in some excavators clay. Keep an eye on the dust levels tbough, it can get bad. It will also coat the uvb tube and block some of the uvb if it isn't kept under control.
Your beardie doesn't look like a hatchling but still probably not more than 4ish months old.

Thanks so much. Reptisoil can be found at petsmart?