Ever feed Pinkies or Mice?

[czuber]

Just watching Youtube vids and seeing guys feed small mice to their beardies. Almost seems wrong but, I guess people feed them to snakes all the time. Mine our months away from this. Noticed also he has two adults together

Video link removed by moderator because it is breaking a site policy that can be read about here: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=51296#p393167

 

[TheWerewolf]

OH! That's horrid! :x No, big NO. There are videos of beardies eating other reptiles. That is pure wrong! It's cannibalism! (Okay, not real cannibalism. Yes they do eat reptiles in the wild but I still think that feeding your 'pet' others herps is wrong to me.) You can feed pinkys but they are not recommended due to high fat. Here is a VERY good food chart to follow. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html Just a tip, please don't listen to the YouTube videos. Most of them show bad care. Mice are good for snakes but not for dragons. It shows two dragons housed together. That is wrong.
Hope this helps!

 

[Maxwellsmomma1989]

i was actually told by my licensed herp vet..that a occasional pinky is fine and perfectly healthy for them just not to much because it is like stated very high fat i usually give max one after hibernation to jump start him..and my vet is very well known in my area forher extreme knowledge in reptiles i was not going to feed pinkies until she asked if i had yet and said thats its good for them in moderation..raw hanburger is good in moderation as well.just if your going to do those things as treats make sure to get fecals done every 6 months! and only get the mice from one place only..not petco they tend to carry parasites .ive heard about feeder reptiles however im just not going to go that way with max but like stated if your going to do a pinky as a treat dont give frequent and make sure its not too big other than that its fine

 

[traceyb73]

I was told it was a very rare thing if you do, but I can tell you I won't be doing it...she is fine with crickets!!! lol

 

[Claudiusx]

There is absolutely no GOOD reason to feed pinkies to your dragon.

There is nothing a pinky can offer that other SAFER insects can't.

-Brandon

 

[traceyb73]

There is absolutely no GOOD reason to feed pinkies to your dragon.

There is nothing a pinky can offer that other SAFER insects can't.

-Brandon

I have to say I'm NOT disappointed to hear that! Yet another rumor about beardies. :roll: I forgot someone told me that until I saw this threat.

 

[morphmom]

Ok. Yes you 'can' feed the odd pinky here or there. I choose not to because the risk of parasite is VERY high. I'm battling Coccidia now and let me tell ya, NOT fun The point is that it is a choice. Your choice. :wink: If you like, you can check out my thread "My Myah-This means war!" found in beardie tales. It may help you choose what's right for you. Good Luck.

 

[kjinxx2]

Those are not pinkies, those are old hoppers, they have full bones at that point and it's dangerous to feed to a bearded dragon.

 

[ClydesGirl]

With the issues beardies have with impaction just due to the high chitin of some types of insects, I can't imagine what kind of havoc trying to digest something with BONES could do to them!

 

[lillylizard]

I was told by the breeder that i got Elyott from that she gives her females a pinky after they lay and she's never had a problem with them. And the bones they can take the calcium from. And even though canneablism is fround apon with many lizards in the wild they will eat each other. Not really with beardies but it happens.

 

[kjinxx2]

I was told by the breeder that i got Elyott from that she gives her females a pinky after they lay and she's never had a problem with them. And the bones they can take the calcium from. And even though canneablism is fround apon with many lizards in the wild they will eat each other. Not really with beardies but it happens.

The truth is that pinkies have no bones, they're born with only cartilage - therefore they have very very very little calcium. The only reason to give a pinky is to help after a dragon's been anorexic and needs fat.

 

[patrickmb21]

Couple times a year is a healthy diet

 

[kjinxx2]

Couple times a year is a healthy diet

You'll see fatty liver disease pretty quickly

 

[RainMaiden]

i was actually told by my licensed herp vet..that a occasional pinky is fine and perfectly healthy for them just not to much because it is like stated very high fat

The vet I took my beardie to said the same exact thing. I have given him 1 frozen/thawed pinky so far, but with all the dangers I'm hearing I won't be doing that again.

 

[esn]

People keep saying parasites. I would like to point out that most mice that are fed to snakes are frozen mice humanely killed, then thawed and warmed for the reptile to eat. This killing and freezing isn't just for reptile safety from being attacked by a rodent - freezing kills parasites.

A frozen thawed pinkie does no have parasites if bought from a reliable supplier, much like any feeder.

Aside from that, pinkies are like waxworms for larger reptiles. Good as a treat, good to add some weight after breeding. A pinkie one a month is too many. A pinkie the odd once or twice a year will lead to no harm. Feeding in moderation is all. My female beardie received a pinkie after laying 26 infertile eggs.

Bottom line - safe in moderation and from the right source.