Feeding tips and suggestions needed please! :)

[Meeshull242]

Hello everyone!

I just recently got my baby beardie Cedric from A-1 reptiles, he is a Leatherback Orange German Giant. 2 Months old, 6 1/2 inches. In the care sheet he came with it says he cannot eat any food item bigger then the size of his eye until he is 13 inches long. This is making it almost impossible for me to find insects the right size for him and he won't eat his greens and veggies chopped up that thin. Any advice on what I can feed him?

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. You can feed him Reptiworms.

 

[Meeshull242]

Where are they sold?

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....you just Google Reptiworms or Phoenix worms. They are both soldier fly larva, the sites where you can buy them will pop up. For now, check your pet stores to see who is selling 1/4 inch crickets [ some stores call them pinheads ] or they might sell Repti or Phoenix worms. Be sure not to let the store tell you that larger crickets or mealworms are O.K. , they aren't. And by the way, the insects are to be no longer than the SPACE in between the dragon's eyes .Very small mealworms or waxworms can be used in an emergency, but only 2-3 at a time, but if they are too large they can cause impaction VERY easily. Best to wait on the other prey I mentioned.

 

[Meeshull242]

Thank you! No larger than the space between the eyes is what I have read most places...the breeder I got him from said that that is too large and will kill him so I was just worried. Thank you for the info on the phoenix and reptiworms! I have never heard of them before and will definitely be buying some and feeding. Any suggestions for his I can get him to start eating his greens?

 

[CountofCasualty]

Large soft bodied worms are okay, but yes, Reptis/Pheonix are great for babies, and the largest is 3/4 of an inch. But for a 6 inch long baby I would feed the medium, which I think is 1/2 an inch. Because they are soft bodied you don't have to worry about impaction with them.

 

[destiny1998]

As for salads most babies won't eat it, but keep offering every day. Also you can put the worms in the salad and see if he will eat it that way.

 

[shawnmatthew]

I was having trouble with cricket size because both my local pet shop and the local Petsmart's smallest crickets were sometimes too large (my beardie is same size as yours). So every time I get a batch I literally sort through and get rid of the ones too large (which is a hassle). Just now I ordered some Phoenix Worms. The price was about the same I've been paying for crickets (even with shipping). And I think it's a plus that they are soft for my beardie's digestion. I'll let you know how it goes! Can't wait until he grows a bit and I don't have to worry as much.

 

[Meeshull242]

Please do! I am going to order some as well. I totally know what you mean though, I can't wait for Cedric to be big enough for his feeding to be less of a worry.

 

[disturb3d0n3]

I started feeding reptiworms last month and have had success. However, I still feed crickets because my baby girl loves to hunt. You should see her chase the black soldier flies that do hatch, she catches them mid-air with no problem

 

[Meeshull242]

That is so adorable, you should try to catch that on camera, I would LOVE to see that! Ced is a lazy bum when it comes to eating, sometimes he chases but most of the time he waits for for his food to get right underneath him and then snatches it up. It's kind of funny how he turns into a statue while he waits though. :lol:

 

[disturb3d0n3]

Lol my girl went through her phase of that as well! It's funny how far they'll try to stick their tongues out so they won't have to move. I'll definitely try to get a recording of the BSF

Edit:
It's not as epic as some of her other attacks but you can see her excitement and enthusiasm
http://youtu.be/8ETbmhCNybI

 

[Meeshull242]

That is so adorable! How old is your girl?

 

[disturb3d0n3]

She'll be 4 months Sept 3rd

 

[Meeshull242]

What a cutie! What kind is she and where did you get her?