Beardie growth question.

[Puzzleman]

Hello all. I'm fairly new to owning a dragon. Got my first one last year as a birthday present . about 5 months after i got him, I had to leave town on work related issues and left my roommate to tend to him... i was gone for close to 8 mo. come back home and see my guy looking about the same size i left him. He was never handled and seam to be under weight . i asked what was she feeding him and she said strictly collard greens. The question is. Do dragons stop growing at a particular time or with me now in the picture with the right light ,food , hydration can make him go back on a growth spurt?

 

[Redleg]

You didn't say how big or how old your Dragon is.

Feeding a Dragon nothing but collard greens for 8 months is an inadequate diet in the extreme. These animals need some protein; how much depends on the age and size of the dragon. Plus, in my experience these animals need variety. Just one food will induce boredom and depression leading to illness and malnutrition.

While they are growing, i.e. first year or two, they should eat 80% protein/20% greens. This ratio flips once the Dragon matures. But they always need some protein.

I would feed your Dragon some hornworms or silkworms to get some protein in him and also that will hydrate him.

 

[kingofnobbys]

You didn't say how big or how old your Dragon is.

Feeding a Dragon nothing but collard greens for 8 months is an inadequate diet in the extreme. These animals need some protein; how much depends on the age and size of the dragon. Plus, in my experience these animals need variety. Just one food will induce boredom and depression leading to illness and malnutrition.

While they are growing, i.e. first year or two, they should eat 80% protein/20% greens. This ratio flips once the Dragon matures. But they always need some protein.

I would feed your Dragon some hornworms or silkworms to get some protein in him and also that will hydrate him.

They grow very fast In their first 6 months, and continue growing until they are about 2 years old.

Silkworms are the better choice (more nutritious , better Ca/P ratio). Add gut loaded calcium dusted crickets or roaches to the live insect staples for his daily insect protein feeds, I'd have him on two live insect feeds per day at his age, as many insects as he wants each time as well as his greens and chopped/diced/grated vegs.

My Peppa and Toothless are now 7 months old and each eating about 30-35 x 2/3sized (medium) crickets per day split into 2 meals each (they'd eat more if given the chance but then they'd have no room for their greens and vegs).

 

[Puzzleman]

You didn't say how big or how old your Dragon is.

Feeding a Dragon nothing but collard greens for 8 months is an inadequate diet in the extreme. These animals need some protein; how much depends on the age and size of the dragon. Plus, in my experience these animals need variety. Just one food will induce boredom and depression leading to illness and malnutrition.

While they are growing, i.e. first year or two, they should eat 80% protein/20% greens. This ratio flips once the Dragon matures. But they always need some protein.

I would feed your Dragon some hornworms or silkworms to get some protein in him and also that will hydrate him.

he is ruffly 1 year 4 months or so. the length i'm not exactly sure since he has a nub tail. Here is a pic Nubby,

 

[Redleg]

You didn't say how big or how old your Dragon is.

Feeding a Dragon nothing but collard greens for 8 months is an inadequate diet in the extreme. These animals need some protein; how much depends on the age and size of the dragon. Plus, in my experience these animals need variety. Just one food will induce boredom and depression leading to illness and malnutrition.

While they are growing, i.e. first year or two, they should eat 80% protein/20% greens. This ratio flips once the Dragon matures. But they always need some protein.

I would feed your Dragon some hornworms or silkworms to get some protein in him and also that will hydrate him.

he is ruffly 1 year 4 months or so. the length i'm not exactly sure since he has a nub tail. Here is a pic Nubby,

Well, he is a good looking Dragon. Give him some protein with the greens and he'll be fine. Hornworms are particularly good for re-hydrating Dragons as these worms contain a fair amount of water. And every Dragon I've ever seen loves them.

 

[kingofnobbys]

You didn't say how big or how old your Dragon is.

Feeding a Dragon nothing but collard greens for 8 months is an inadequate diet in the extreme. These animals need some protein; how much depends on the age and size of the dragon. Plus, in my experience these animals need variety. Just one food will induce boredom and depression leading to illness and malnutrition.

While they are growing, i.e. first year or two, they should eat 80% protein/20% greens. This ratio flips once the Dragon matures. But they always need some protein.

I would feed your Dragon some hornworms or silkworms to get some protein in him and also that will hydrate him.

he is ruffly 1 year 4 months or so. the length i'm not exactly sure since he has a nub tail. Here is a pic Nubby,

Well, he is a good looking Dragon. Give him some protein with the greens and he'll be fine. Hornworms are particularly good for re-hydrating Dragons as these worms contain a fair amount of water. And every Dragon I've ever seen loves them.

Silkworms are better choice .