UPDATE: SHE HAS STARTED EATING MORE**********I have a beardie who I got two weeks ago and I think I'm not feeding her enough. If I'm lucky she eats about 7 crickets a day and I know she should be eating more. I offer her maybe four or five 3 to 5 times a day and she rarely eats them all. I know she doesn't have parasites but I'm just not sure if she just doesn't like crickets or what. I ordered dubia roaches from dubiaroaches.com and they should be getting here soon. I'm going to avoid mealworms because they cause impaction but I plan on getting black soldier fly larvae. But until those get here, who do I get her to eat more crickets?! I don't want her to be stunted. =(
I am using a tube UVB bulb from the brand thrive and I'm using a heat bulb from the brand ZooMed. The Temperature in the tank is 105 degrees and it stays there pretty continuously. I offer her salads every other day or so and they consist of bell peppers, spearmint, fennel, rosemary, and occasionally sugar snap peas. I know how to get her to eat her veggies, I just wanna know how to feed her more crickets until I get the other feeders.
The Thrive brand is no good --- is it a T 8 ? or a T 5 I am guessing its the T 8 -- does the hood have a reflector in it? where is it in the tank ? on top of screen?
The thrive brand is just fine, I've done a ton of research on it. It's not the best but it's what I can get for now. And yes It sits on top of the screen. I want to know how to get her to eat more.
The UVB controls the over all health and behavior of the dragon --- the Thrive brand is a clone and not a very good brand --- if you want your dragon to be healthy I would recommend getting rid of the brand and go w/ a Reptisun 10.0 bulb you did not say whether its a T 8 if its the T 8 on top of the screen your dragon is getting little to NO UVB soon she will quit eating all together --- the screen blocks 30% of the T 8's rays - the Reptisun is not strong enough to get thru the screen --- so w/ the Thrive brand its even worse ---- they are cheap Chinese clones -- I recommend you get the Reptisun bulb and if your fixture does not have a reflector in it I would recommend you get a new fixture as well - the reflector directs the rays downward and intensifies the rays of which is what you want --- if you are going to haft to get a new fixture I recommend you get a 24" for a 40 + gallon tank - then if you upgrade to a bigger tank that fixture would go right into it --- w/ a 24" you would need a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or a Arcadia 12% bulb --- the T 8 bulb and T 5 bulbs have different placement and distance requirements ----- the T 8 inside the tank w/ NO obstruction 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor piece -- the T 5 has options depending on the screen ---- those UVB and basking temps are the TWO MOST IMPORTANT things in that tank --- I cannot stress that enough
I know that I need to get a better one and I said that, but I currently don't have any access to better UVB. But having crappy UVB is better than having none. I need to know how to get her to eat more. I know thrive is not the best and I've known that for a long time but it's the only thing I can get right now, I just need to know how I can get her to eat more. :/
You wont ---- she will not eat w/ out proper UVB --- get a Reptisun bulb $20 at petco or petsmart get it in the tank w/ NO clear plastic cover over the bulb 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor --- the UVB helps her absorb / synthesize the calcium she is taking in -- it is extremely important for her to have this -- it prevents MBD --- among other health issues --- I dont know if that fixture has a reflector on it or not you didnt say but that is really important as well like I stated in myn last post --- once you get the UVB fixed and I am assuming the basking temps are correct -- 105-110 for a baby taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- she cannot digest her food w/ out proper temps ---