Questions about food before buying a beardie. HELP!

[khaleesithedragon]

Hi everyone :study: :study: :study:

I currently live in Cuzco and I have been wanting a dragon for a verrrryyyyy long time! I would have already gotten one, except there is one slight problem and I need to know if there is any solution.

I would like to start off with Juvi beardie so I can see it grow and have it bond with me, however, I know that beardies at a young age need a lot of protein. Where I live, there aren´t too many insects, or at least the ones eaten by beardies.

If they just rely on vegetation, I would need to get calcium and protein powder for it, correct? If they can eat ANY type of insect, then I can find that here, but so far, the types I´ve seen your beardies eat, it is only available in the capital city of Lima (which would mean buying it and having it shipped = more expensive than it should be).

If it always need insects, then would it be best I start off with an adult, as I read they eat more vegetation than insects. If so, how young of an adult should I get? How big would they be by this time?

Are there any other solutions out there?

I would really appreciate it any answers you have for me.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there.....yes, babies need lots of protein every day. Have you checked with the places that you say the insects could be shipped from to see if it's affordable and what types they have ? If it's out of the question, then you can go with an adult, but they still need some protein. A dragon can be near adult size at 10-12 months old,[ 17-20 inches ] but that depends on the genetics and how well it was fed during those months. Otherwise they are pretty much done growing by 18 -20 months. Calcium powder is needed for both babies and adults, but less of it for the adults.

 

[dobosininja]

You also may be able to breed insects like superworms, meal worms, or crickets so you don't have to rely on getting food from outside sources.