Am I starving my Beardie?

[rustyshackleford]

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[rustyshackleford]

we got 3-month-old rusty at the pet store yesterday, the guy told us to feed him 4-5 crickets a day. he said he had 3 beardies of his own and did not seem to have any reason to lie about it. that's what we fed him today, but it worried me a little since he ate them all so quickly. he seems happy and energetic, and sleeps like a log at night. if i gave him say, 20 crickets at one time and left them in there indefinitley, would he eat them all whether he is full or not? not saying i would do that but just want to get an idea of eating habits.

 

[bunnyrut]

we got 3-month-old rusty at the pet store yesterday, the guy told us to feed him 4-5 crickets a day. he said he had 3 beardies of his own and did not seem to have any reason to lie about it. that's what we fed him today, but it worried me a little since he ate them all so quickly. he seems happy and energetic, and sleeps like a log at night. if i gave him say, 20 crickets at one time and left them in there indefinitley, would he eat them all whether he is full or not? not saying i would do that but just want to get an idea of eating habits.

He will eat all or most of them. But whatever he doesn't eat within 20 minutes needs to he removed. They will bite your beardie when he is sleeping.

Leaving the tube in there (if you got a cricket cage) will make it easier to collect them. I got a bug vacuum from toys r us. That helps to catch rogue crickets

 

[rustyshackleford]

he just looks so small to eat that many at once! and then do that 2-3x a day?

 

[bunnyrut]

he just looks so small to eat that many at once! and then do that 2-3x a day?

Yeah. My little female eats anything that is in front of her. She also poops two to three times a day.

 

[rustyshackleford]

i will give him as many as he can eat tomorrow and see how it goes. i don't want him to overeat because i have been underfeeding him.

 

[rustyshackleford]

he just looks so small to eat that many at once! and then do that 2-3x a day?

Yeah. My little female eats anything that is in front of her. She also poops two to three times a day.

does she keep eating until they are gone or do you have to remove any because she gets full eventually? and how many do you put in at once?

 

[rustyshackleford]

he will take them down without an issue its really awesome to see a dragon take off in growth and go into sheds i had a shed break lastweek and its like christmas eve for most people they come in one color and can totally change within a single shed really interesting because under that shed you cant see whats going to come out there is simply no way to tell it looks as if nothing has changed until she or he pops out

i can already tell having rusty around is going to be awesome, lots to look forward to i'm sure.

 

[bunnyrut]

I drop in about ten at a time. I would keep dropping them until she wasn't diving at them like she was starving (because she is always hungry!)

After I think she's had enough I would fill her dish with greens. So if she is still hungry she can eat.

 

[rustyshackleford]

I drop in about ten at a time. I would keep dropping them until she wasn't diving at them like she was starving (because she is always hungry!)

After I think she's had enough I would fill her dish with greens. So if she is still hungry she can eat.

that is very helpful thank you. can't wait to give it a try, feeding him is the funnest part.

 

[MoeandFranklin]

Quick update for anyone who cares Hes eating up to 24 in a sitting now but won't eat anymore through out the day so hes only taking 24 a day. Also he doesn't poop very often should I be concerned?

 

[doodledragon]

No need to be concerned... yet. If the problem continues, try using an eyedropper or something to give him apple juice or vegetable oil. That trick always helps my beardie, Spyro!
-Lisa

 

[rustyshackleford]

Quick update for anyone who cares Hes eating up to 24 in a sitting now but won't eat anymore through out the day so hes only taking 24 a day. Also he doesn't poop very often should I be concerned?

Rusty didn't poop for 2 days, this is after we started feeding him as many crickets as he could eat in one day (usually about 9) but I think a couple of them were too big for his digestives system. So we called the vet and asked what we should do. She said only feed him greens until he starts pooping. I'm not sure how old yours is but I'd say rusty is 8-10 weeks. We fed him dandelion and collards only for about 18 hours and he just passed about 3 medium sized, dry looking poops. I'd say he has to poop once a day!

 

[diamc]

Yes, an 8 to 10 wk old baby should be pooping at least once a day, sometimes it is 2 to 3 times a day for that age. I hope he finally cleaned himself out. Make sure to keep him well hydrated and to double check the size of the feeders. Glad he is doing better now.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Yes, an 8 to 10 wk old baby should be pooping at least once a day, sometimes it is 2 to 3 times a day for that age. I hope he finally cleaned himself out. Make sure to keep him well hydrated and to double check the size of the feeders. Glad he is doing better now.

Thank you, I am too, I was literally unable to sleep worrying about him. Just reading other people's problems with pooping, I would never wait more than 3 or 4 days before worrying about him not pooping! Imagine how uncomfortable that is! Come on people imagine you were constipated for up to 2 weeks and you couldn't do anything about it. They have to be clearing house regularly. So if he's not pooping, a trained herpologist's advice: if he will still eat, let him eat only greens and give him lukewarm baths daily or semi daily until he passes something. If he stops eating take him to the vet!