Feeding question ( new beardie owner)

[Garrett86]

Hey so long story short. I rescued a new beardie from a client at work . His tail and one hind leg were chewed off. His body is 4-5 inches and he has no tail. I read that they should be allowed to ear as many crickets as they can in 10-15 minutes each day then offer salad for the rest of the day. Well I fed mealworms ( i now know they can cause impaction) , as many as he would eat in 10-15 minutes and he would consume upwards of 20. After a few days of this he began looking lethargic and refused food. I would give him warm baths and only offer salad. The next day same thing...until the afternoon when he puked a bunch of worms up. I didnt offer any salad and gave him a second bath that day. This whole time he has been deficating normal. This morning offered his salad again, mid day it had looked like he picked at it . Tonight I brought home some small crickets. He was very intersted and ate. I only let him eat five then got him to eat some collards and mustard greens. Now that the long story short part is out of the way my question is now that i got him on crickets how much should I be feeding him?

Thanks for any insight and help

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Let him eat as many as he wants. Good thing you got rid of those mealworms. If you want to try worms Phoenix, horn, silk and butter worms are all good and easy for him to digest. Glad he's feeling better

 

[Garrett86]

so at his size 4-5 inches body only its okay to let him eat as many crickets as he wants in a 15 minute period once a day then offer salad for the rest? Oh also after "lights out" I wrap him in a towel. I do put him on my lap and chest while wrapped then put him back in the terrarium wrapped up for the night and unwrap him in the morning when "lights on " start. Is that a good tactic or do you advise a "night heat" lamp?

 

[destiny1998]

The young ones need lost of protein. So they should be fed 2x to 3x a day for 10 to 15 mins and have their feeders dusted with calcium 5x a week one feeding a day. The only time they need heat at night is if your house gets below 65. If it does then a che is recommended as it gives off heat and no light. What your doing at night is just fine . I snuggle with mine at night then they have their own blankets on the back of the couch and I cover them up until morning. They're a little spoiled :wink:

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Feeding

 

[Garrett86]

Okay. So I can feed unlimited crickets with in a 10 to 15 min period twice a day with a salad mid day? Im just worried cause I did this with mealworms and it was an issue. Impaction,vomiting and over feeding aren't an issue with crickets as long as they are smaller then the space between his eyes?

 

[destiny1998]

Yes, beardies stop when they are full. Little ones just eat a ton until a year or so then you can feed them once a day with salad and crickets. The rule of thumb for diet is 80% protein 20% veggies for babies and juveniles adults need 20% protein and 80% veggies.