I'm going away

[Ilovebeardies!]

I am going camping this weekend, but I have no one to care for my beardie and I don't know what to do. Any advise?

 

[KarrieRee]

I am going camping this weekend, but I have no one to care for my beardie and I don't know what to do. Any advise?

How old is the dragon? Do you have a timer for lights to come on and off? What are you feeding the dragon?

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

She is a juvenile beardie. Her lights come on 7:00 AM and go off at 7:30 PM. Her morning meal is veggies (different everyday) then I give her crickets or mealworms (depends on what I have at the moment) after I get home from school and and the same meal around 6:30 or 7:00.

 

[KarrieRee]

She is a juvenile beardie. Her lights come on 7:00 AM and go off at 7:30 PM. Her morning meal is veggies (different everyday) then I give her crickets or mealworms (depends on what I have at the moment) after I get home from school and and the same meal around 6:30 or 7:00.

Ok you can't leave crickets in the tank-- the salads can be left on the cool side of the tank-- you could leave bsfl in a bowl they can't get out of- they are a good staple feeder- they are also known as Phoenix worms- where do you get your feeders? I am gonna another member chime in here-
@CooperDragon

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

would I be able to leave mealworms in the enclosure?

 

[KarrieRee]

would I be able to leave mealworms in the enclosure?

Those are a treat worm-- let's see what cooperdragon says

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

would I be able to leave freeze dried crickets in there?

 

[KarrieRee]

would I be able to leave freeze dried crickets in there?

yes but they do cause dehydration -- how does the dragon get water?

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

from her veggies but I could put a water dish in for this weekend.

 

[CooperDragon]

I don't think a weekend alone will be a huge deal since her lights are automated. If you leave a nice salad and a bowl of worms that is likely to be plenty. There are curved sided dishes that are good at holding mealworms in place. Best to use one of those if you can so they don't wind up all over the enclosure. The black soldier fly larvae/phoenix worms are good too, but they tend to be good climbers, especially if they get wet, so they might scatter all over the enclosure if left alone. I would offer a good meal before you leave, set aside a salad and a small dish of worms if you'd like, and enjoy your trip.

 

[CooperDragon]

Moved by moderator from ER to Feeding.

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

Thank you so much!

 

[ChileanTaco]

Regarding the mealworms:
What also keeps them in the dish is some food. I usually use a slice of carrot. (Bonus effect: They will be "gut loaded" when they eat the e.g. carrot. I always keep some food in the insect dish as on most days I can only put in food early in the morning and come back late to very late, so no "three feedings a day" or something like that possible.)
The dishes with curved sides: What I have seen not (!) working well are those where the top part can be taken off. The worms slide in between the gap and get out. What works well, however, are similarly shaped dishes/objects. My favorite worm bowl is in fact the glass lid of a candle in a glass. Like this:

https://candlestore.com/images/products/preview/631904040702.jpg

I use the lid after cleaning it very well and remove any plastic that might be on it (some lids have a plastic part to make it seal well, I take this off). I have already saved multiple ones of these lids as I like them very much for that purpose.

What I also did when I was away a bit longer:
Giving them an extra edible potted plant. I always have one in the enclosure (a golliwog "turtle plant", a common reptile food), but when I'm away for some days and nobody can check in, I add another one or some other edible plant in a pot.

 

[Ilovebeardies!]

Thank you,y'all are so helpful!!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

As everyone has given great suggestions, he will be fine with you being gone for just a few days.
As long as his lights are on timers, that really is the most important thing so that he can regulate
his temperatures.
Even if he doesn't eat much, he will be extra hungry when you get back!

Tracie