I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right spot, but I haven't found anything that could help me yet. I had 4 babies hatch yesterday and 4 more are in the process as we speak. 6 are very close but not for a couple days I'm guessing. Anyway, I have crickets being delivered tomorrow and the 4 that are already out are running around like crazy. Since they are not all hatching at the same time when do I feed them their crickets. Also, when do I put in the veggies? I have read on one site to give veggies before the crickets and another says not until 2 months?! I know that they are still being fed off of the sac on their stomaches from the eggs, but a couple of them have already lost it.
Introduce greens to them first before crickets/feeders because if they are offered greens and they are hungry they will most likely go for the greens. An hour later offer them some small crickets (no bigger than the space between their eyes). Offer them in small numbers so they get used to the idea and then add the numbers as the days goes by and their appetite kicks in. If they are eating consistantly offer them as much as they can eat in 10 mins. Babies need to be fed live feeders 3 times daily (no later than 2 hours before lights off at night). Always make sure they have greens/squash/veggies available to them so that they can eat inbetween meals and to avoid nipping.
-some babies mag hog the food or be aggresive towards other, make sure you seperate them out. Or if there is one that isnt getting enough food, make sure he has his own area so he can eat.
Make sure temps are correct as well as the proper bulbs. Give them 4-5 soaks per week to keep them hydrated.
also- calcium and multivitamins are important- calcium dusted crickets should be given almost everyday 5-7 days a week and vitamins should be given 3 times a week. If you have a uvb tube make sure the calcium has D3 in it, MVB without D3.
Example feeding for a calcium feeding for your babies:
morning offer greens and veggies
hour later offer calcium dusted crickets all you can eat for 10 mins
several hours later plain crickets
several hours later plain crickets (no later than 2 hours before lights out)
**calcium can be during any feeding, i just chose the first one**
congrats for the babies, whatever one you choose it won't be a big effect on the health of the lil dragons. so do your gut feeling or listen to the successful breeders on this site. Good luck
I would agree that offering them greens from the start is the best way to go. Misting the greens also provides an additional water source, personally I do not bath babies. ¼ inch crickets a few at a time is also another good idea, remember though some may not eat for 1-3 days and is normal. We supplement once a day 5x /week with Calcium with no D3 once a week with Calcium with D3 and once a week with Herptitive vitamin supplement. As long as your UVB is properly set and effective the D3 once a week is more than enough and we use it only as a boost. Remember too much oral D3 can cause problems, how much exactly isn’t really known so why take a chance on it, as with proper UVB lighting it is not really necessary.
Sorry it has taken so long to respond, I feel like I've been taking care of newborn babies x14 for days!! They are all doing great, except for 2 that were stuck in the eggs I have been trying to offer greens (very finley chopped) for days and they do nothing but kick them all around the cage. Should I just keep putting them in there? Seems like such a waste. They are eating crickets 3 times a day but they have not really been eating many for the last feeding of the night. Also, I mist the little guys everyday and put them in water in the morning (very shallow, for a couple seconds). They are all so cute though, they go over and drink out of the bowl by themselves!
I Dont personally give greens till they are eating good on crickets, i worry first about getting them to eat and bugs is what gets them going, give them a week or 2 to get eating great then in the morning i will tear and drop the greens in so they look like there moving normally with in a day or 2 of that at least one will come over to the greens and eat and once one dose normally a few more will 2 and you just repeat that each morning and then sit back and be happy.