Conflicting advice on feeding???

[randtm]

So, my 5 month old beardie got us concerned when she started only pooping every three days two weeks ago instead of the every day she had been doing, so we took her to the vet. Her fecal came back positive for pinworms and coccidia (as some searching here now suggests I should have been expecting with a new beardie as it appears to be pretty pervasive). So, the vet started her on panacur for the pinworms and is trying to get in ponazuril for the coccidia next week. I'm glad we didn't wait any longer to take her in as she doesn't seem to have had many ill effects so far other than the drop off in her stools and a slightly decreased appetite...

Anyway, my main question is this... the vet surprised us with their recommendation that instead of the 20-30 crickets twice a day plus greens that we now feed this five month old, that we cut that down to 20 crickets once a day and have her eat greens/vegetables for the rest of her diet. Everything I've read says that they should get as many crickets as they want 2 to 3 times a day, plus greens until a year old, and then they eat crickets only every other day and the rest of their diet is greens. Put another way, I've heard 80% protein - 20% plant matter until 1 year, then 20% protein - 80% plant matter for an adult. Fortunately, other than the slight decrease in her appetite recently with the current parasite issue, she eats both her crickets and greens well. The vet did also admit that she is not an expert on bearded dragons, though she does see many reptiles.

So, should I change her diet mix at this point, or continue with my original understanding until 1 year old?

 

[Freeie]

Oh I'm not sure. Is your beardie big already?

Intresting question.... I've always fed my young ones bugs(crickets) 3 times a day intill they were full for the protine they needed to grow. I gave them their veggies before bugs so they always ate that aswell. When they stopped growing so fast (around 5 months) I went to 2 times a day bugs (noon and evening)and veggies for the first meal. Now they pretty much have salad(always left in viv incase they get hungry) first meal and 1 big meal of bugs. Except for Bobble(6 month old) he dosnt eat his veggies yet he only wants his bugs so he gets a noon/evening feeding of bugs. I still offer him his veggies first meal.

The vets recomendation to you sounds about what ive done for mine :shock:

I'm sure someone will come along who might have some advise. If im feeding mine wrong id like to know.

I hope your little one gets better soon!

 

[fresnowitte]

For a 5 month old beardie 20 crickets per day is not enough. Unless of course you have an obese beardie and the vet is thinking she needs to go on a diet. But seriously they need that protein until they are atleast 10 months to a year.

 

[randtm]

Yes, I didn't think 20 crickets a day sounded right either. Just to clarify cause I know someone will ask... basking light comes on, she basks about an hour and a half, then about 10am, we feed greens, usually turnip, mustard, or collard. Then about noon she gets all the crickets she wants, usually about 20 to 30, then about six, she gets all the crickets she wants, usually another 20 to 30, then two hours of basking until lights off. This has seemed to do her well and she has grown by leaps and bounds, but I don't believe she is overly heavy by any stretch. I'm just hoping we can get the bugs cleared up without any substantial slow down in her eating and growth.

One more question, I know we should scale her lighting duration back to simulate the shorter days, but just how far down should we go. Given our hectic life, it's tough to get her feedings in some days while being careful to make sure she has adequate basking time before her first meal and after her last. I hate to scale her lighting down too much to where it couid greatly interfere with feedings. Have her on 12 hours a day now, do I really need to get down to 10 for the winter?

 

[fresnowitte]

No you don't have to lessen her hours.

Actually I don't lessen the light hours on beardies that are to young to brumate. The main purpose for shortening the hours in the Winter months is for brumation purposes with adults. I feel that young beardies not yet adult should be given the maximum everything that they need. This will help make sure they are happy healthy adults.

I have all my babies' lights on for about 13 hours perday.
Where with my adults I do cut back to 10 hour days because I do allow brumation. However with Zak-n-Wheezie being we didn't know how they would do with their first brumation we tried to keep them from it but it didn't work even though I kept lights on for 14 hours and temps up...they still went to sleep.

BTW your feeding schedule sounds fine to me. :wink: