freeze-dried crickets? food questions (:

[wolfiemorph]

Hi! I'm new here. I don't have a bearded dragon yet; but hopefully soon. I've been doing what I feel like is a good amount of research, I'm just curious about the food and such. (I also have other questions, but they're not about food. I guess I'll post those in a different forum.)

(Also, if these questions and such have already been answered, do you mind letting me know? Thanks!)

So. When it comes to crickets, I'm not allowed to have live ones. No live insects and such are allowed.

I was wondering, is it safe to have a staple of freeze dried crickets, pellets, canned fruit/veggies and some fresh greens & carrots or something? If the canned fruit/veggies aren't good, then I can get normal fruit and regular veggies. (then that would be freeze dried crickets, food pellets, fresh fruit/fresh veggies and greens and carrots.)

Are freeze-dried crickets too big for juvenile beardies to eat?

I've also heard about feeding beardies baby food; when is that needed?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[CooperDragon]

I wouldn't use freeze dried food as a staple. Fresh food and live bugs provide proper nutrients and hydration for a dragon and chasing bugs allows them to hone their hunting instinct. If live insects aren't allowed then a bearded dragon may not be the right choice for you, especially a young dragon who requires a lot of protein in their diet. An adult will eat mostly fresh veges but still needs some protein in their diet as well. You might be able to go on silk worms, hornworms, and black soldier fly larvae instead of crickets or roaches for an adult if you can have them in the house. The fresh veges are easier to come by. I usually just pick up what's fresh at the store or farmers market each week and reference this list for ideas http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Baby food is sometimes used to nurse sick dragons back to health but it's something that is done in emergency and rescue situations rather than something that is offered to healthy dragons or on a regular basis.

 

[wolfiemorph]

Okay, thank you very much!

 

[kingofnobbys]

For a baby beardie , it Is necessary that they get three feeds of lots of live insects per day (they need the insect protein and fats to grow and develop) ..

The options are :

Blowfly gents
BSF maggots (phoenix worms)
silkworms (small --> 1.5 inches long)
crickets
roaches
locusts
and as a back up GrubPie.

No freeze dried or canned insects , no nutrition in them and hatchling is unlikely to show any interest in eating them.
No pellets - these are only good as insect food.
No Bites - these are totally worthless (96% water).

No mealworms or superworms until beardie reaches 1 year old , and then only as treats.

AND NO CAT OR DOG FOOD.

 

[wolfiemorph]

ah okay, thanks!