Dusting Tips

[onceblue]

I've read older posts and I've also watched videos but I'm still a little unsure about dusting.

I dust with calcium with D3 five times a week and a multivitamin two times a week. One meal only. But my beardie can eat around 30-40 dubia in a sitting.

So here are my questions:

1. How do I know if I am overdusting? How coated should the dubia be? I've seen/read everything from just a very light sprinkle to making sure they're evenly coated. Right now, I take a sizable pinch, put it in a bag, shake up the bugs, then shake them into the feeding bin. They get fairly covered and there's excess left over — is that too much?

2. I tend to dust more than he eats, and put the ones he doesn't eat back. Is that okay? Is he getting too much calcium if he eats those previously dusted dubia for dinner?

3. Is it okay for all 30-40 or so to be dusted? Or is that too many? Should I dust less?

4. How easy is it overdose a beardie on calcium with D3? I've read mixed responses to this.

5. If I feed reptiworms for dinner, should I avoid dusting the dubia for breakfast?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to sort this out. Thanks!

Eta: I should also mention I gut load my roaches with a calcium cricket feed right now as well, so that is also extra calcium. I'm thinking I should transition to just veggies...

 

[CooperDragon]

Your dusting in a bag idea is good. I use a small cup sized tupperware container and just shake the bugs in that until they're coated nicely. You can do this for all of the bugs that are offered, it's designed to supplement their natural vitamin/mineral level. I like to dust them in small batches of about 5 or so at a time because it's easier to track the bugs around the enclosure. Just repeat the dusting in small batches until he's had enough. You can put roaches that have been dusted back into their enclosure. They'll work the dust off on their own so it's not a big deal. The D3 is controversial as you mentioned. If you're using a lower powered light such as a T8 tube, then I'd use calcium with D3. If you're using a T5 tube or a Mercury vapor bulb then I'd just use plain calcium because those provide enough UVB for them to synthesize their own D3 as far as I know. As far as gutloading goes, I like to offer my roaches fresh veges that I'd feed to my dragon. It's also pretty healthy for them. My colony goes on a diet of greens, cut up green beans, squash, and orange slices for the most part. They absolutely love summer squash.

 

[onceblue]

Thanks so much for the info, I appreciate it. I was concerned because I had read that too much calcium/D3 leads to problems similar to deficiencies of calcium/D3, but it sounds like I'm dusting correctly. I do have a T8 tube, so I'll continue with the calcium with D3 poweder.

I wish my roaches would eat greens! They only pick at collard/mustard/turnip greens for some reason. Which means my leftovers get chucked...I did experiment with some squash and they ate that up, and they seem to really like blueberries, so I'll transition them to eating just veggies/fruits.

One more question, if you don't mind. If I take my beardie outside for some sun for, say, 30+minutes (theoretically, because he's still too small to trust him not to bolt out there), do I still supplement with D3? Or would it be better to get a calcium-only powder for those days?

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm not sure. I suppose if you have him out there long enough, and on a regular basis, he would be able to synthesize his own D3. The natural sunlight is great for them either way. I like to provide outside time whenever I can. You could probably go with regular calcium on days you have him outside and D3 otherwise. Or you could have a schedule dusting a couple of days D3 and others no D3.

 

[onceblue]

I'm definitely hoping to get him some good natural sunlight as soon as he's a little older and less skiddish.

Thanks again for the tips!