Newbie feeding question

[MeatHead]

I'm sorry guys, but I got to ask. I have two books about bearded dragons that say I should let the beardie eat all she can eat with in a 10 min. period. I don't know about you guys but my beardie can put away 100 large crickets in about 4 mins and polish off a whole container of 100 large phoenix worms in about 2 mins. She makes normal poops so I know she is digesting it just fine. (no whole worms or anything) She continues to act as though she is constantly starving. She gets a steady diet of greens which include cactus leaves, green and orange bell paper, mustard greens, and a variety of squash. She eats all of the bell pepper and cactus on almost every feeding and picks around the squash and such. For feeders we give her a variety of cricks, phoenix worms, dubias, silkworms, and grasshoppers and wax worms for treats. We buy her a new 10.0 UVB and a MVB bulb every 6 months (which we just got the other day), her food is always calcium dusted (unless its phoenix worms) and she gets a bath almost everyday but ALWAYS ever other day.

I don't know what to do or think at this point. She is 7 months old and almost 18 inches long. The vet says she is growing at a pretty rapid rate on her last wellness check (she was only 12 inches and 5 months) so I feel we are doing something right but at the same time I feel like I may be over feeding her. What do you guys think? Or what are some of your feeding habits that might help me? I'm worried if I let her eat as much as she can in 10 mins she will end up paralyzed or worse!

 

[zebraflavencs]

Babies and juvies should be offered 3 meals a day of insects as much as they will eat in 10-15 minutes.

It looks like your salad is Scumptious !

I do have a question for you though. You said you have a tube UVB AND A MVB ?
If so, that is waaaaay to much UVB. Choose one or the other. The Tube needs replacing every 6 months, the MVB every 11-13 months.
Is the Tube a ReptiSun 10.0 ? If it isn't, then just stick with your MVB.

Hope this helps out !
Janie.

 

[MeatHead]

Hey Janie,

Re-reading that, its a bit misleading. That "was" our old setup, the new bulb we received in the mail replaces everything. Its the Zoo Med Powersun UV bulb. Its UVA, UVB, and heat all in one bulb and came highly recommend in the meet Meathead thread when we first started posting. At night she has a 75w zoo med black moon light.

So I guess I will continue with the her diet as scheduled 3X a day. Hehe she's a hungry little critter. At what point in her age is she considered to be an adult? Thanks!

 

[zebraflavencs]

Around 18 months she will be an adult, but most likely she will start eating more salad and less insects close to that age. At that point, it HUGE salad, and around 45-50 insects a week, 4-5 a day. Also at that point, you can back off on the calcium on a daily basis, and only offer every other day, vitamins you can keep 1-2 days a week.
Hope this helps !
Janie.
That MVB is awesome, by the way !