New diet plan, need advice.

[StaceysBuddy]

I've done a little research and I think I already know my problem.. but I'd like advice anyway.

Buddy is 1.5 years old and she's a chub. I think she is on the verge of overweight. I want her to be healthy and I want to make her diet healthier for her.
My plan is to cut way back on the insects and increase the veggies.

I'm currently doing superworms with an assortment of veggies. (I know superworms are fatty but I'm not allowed to do crickets or dubias until I get my own place)
My issue is that Buddy has already laid one clutch of infertile eggs this year and I know after she lays I have to replace all the calcium and stuff back to her. I don't want to deprive her of any food when she needs it. It's been 2-3 weeks since she's laid the eggs. I want to start this better diet but I don't know if she is going to lay again, and if she is going to, I want to be feeding her protein.

I watched that California bearded dragon breeders video on how they feed their beardies veggies 6 days a week, insects 2 days a week, and one day without feeding them. I don't think I can do that but I would like to slowly get somewhere close to there. I always offer veggies, everyday, no matter what. Should I just start doing superworms every other day for now?
Any advice would be great? Or if anyone has a better diet plan or the same issue?

(My setup is fine, she's not sick or anything, just a bit on the heavy side.)

Thanks,
Stacey and Miss Buddy

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi, I remember Miss Buddy very well, followed your thread.

Here is the greatests list of beardie food I've ever come across, if you use the daily list for veggies, greens, she'll have a great diet. www.beautifuldragons.com. And 35-50 bugs a week is recommended for an adult beardie, maybe a bit more protein after she lays eggs and extra calcium, too. What I used to do after Sweetie laid eggs was add calcium to her bugs and then give her liquid calcium daily for about a month afterwards, to make sure the calcium losswas made up.

The list I've mentioned tells you the calcium that's in the veggies or greens. I feed my 5 boys (Sweetie passed away Dec/11 from pneumonia) butternut sqaush and collard greens, that's all they'll eat, but there are alot of other greens & veggies that are good for her.

How long is she and how much does she weigh? If she's 18" up to 600g is acceptable for beardies. They need to have good fat stores, in their tails, abdomens and heads and some have extra fat stores in their beards. Fat stores are necessary for beardies for good health.

Superworms are my main bugs for all my beardies. I feed them up to 50 worms a week and they're all really healthy. I know alot of people say supers should only be fed as treats, but I've been feeding my beardies supers as their main bug for almost 7 years, my oldest is Lonzo, he's 10 yrs old & just had a great checkup at the vet Feb 1, he's been eating supers all his life. Just wanted to let you know.
Take care
Deb

 

[StaceysBuddy]

You've just made my day!
Buddy is about 17-18 inches and 550 grams.

I already use that link, it's awesome. Buddy isn't a fan of much but her daily veggie is collard greens and I add different stuff to it, squash, carrots, strawberries, whatever is in my house basically. She eats it plain even.
I've bumped up the calcium due to her eggs and on my last thread you recommended liquids and that's what I got. I have powder for supers and liquid that I mix in her water. That's how I get her to drink her vitamins too. I also got that bee pollen someone recommended as well. I dust that on the greens every now and then, also bought that gutloading mix.
(I had a shopping trip on beardeddragon.co the other day)

She seems healthy to me and very alert. I just worry that since I spoil her so much I might be over feeding her. I feel fine now =]

Thanks SweetiePie!

 

[sweetiepie9]

You're welcome she's a great weight for her length. Just remember it's hard to over feed a dragon, especially if they're active duirng the day. I have a dragon that the same weight and length as Miss Buddy, he hardly moves around at all, just loves to pancake out and be lazy, yet he's not fat either!

Glad I was able to reassure you, she's a beautiful beardie, I'm just hoping she'll quit with the egg laying already :lol: