Older Beardie Care

[Sadona]

I may be adopting an older bearded dragon who is about 3 years old. I have experience with baby beardies, but not older ones.
Here are some general care questions:
How often should they be bathed?
How often should they be feed insects?
How often should they be given calcium and vitamins?
What are the ideal basking/cool side temps?
What would a good light schedule look like?
Is handling any different...more or less?

Thanks for answering in advance, this helps a lot!

 

[MALIBUSMOM]

Malibu is 3 years.....she likes it a little cool 100-102.....eats 15-25 supers when gravid...slows down in the winter...i just give her a bowl full and she will eat some or not eat some....salad dailey 2 when gravid.......lights on 8am lights out 8pm...baths dailey....she likes to be cuddled before bed relaxes when held loves to go out and eat clover w/ her harness on .....runs crazy once amonth from april to sept. lays 23 infertile eggs once a month from april to oct.
I guess it all depends on personality and male or female...some lay some do not.

 

[Freeie]

How often should they be bathed? 3 days a week 20 min soaks Its hot here so i like to make sure.

How often should they be feed insects? I think everyone has a diffrent idea on this. They dont need tons of bugs like the babies do. I do the 30 to 50 rule depending on the beardie. Rather they need to gain weight or if they are laying/finished laying eggs.

How often should they be given calcium and vitamins? I still do the 5 days calcium/ 2 days vits. I have 3 laying females and 1 male who has a hard time absorbing calcium. i have 1 who only gets 3 days calcium and 2 days vits he has no issues at all.

What are the ideal basking/cool side temps? All of mine switched to 100f to 102f basking. At a yr old.

What would a good light schedule look like? i still do the 14 hr a day lights on and 10 hours off.
Is handling any different...more or less? Like a dog with scales. After mine bask/eat/bask to digest i let em run free for hours a day. You can get a leash and take them everywhere. They need way less than a baby beardie does.

 

[Sadona]

Thanks for all the good info...however, I have another question about feeding: 30-50 a day, or every few days?
I heard that around 20 every few days was enough, but a lot of other info conflicts with this! Its quite confusing.

 

[Jess]

30-50 a week, depending on what feeder you are using. I give Dudley salad every day, and about 7 supers every other day.

 

[Sadona]

Wow, my budget is happy to hear that. :lol: Thanks.

 

[Jess]

After raising a baby, my budget is totally lovin' it! LOL