ReptiWorms only?

[Evergreen]

I'm trying to decide which food staple to go with, the roaches appear easy to keep and are healthy but as much as I'm sure I'll love my future dragon I'm far to squeamish to feed them. I'm just as jumpy around crickets although they were my daily feeders for my leopard gecko so I've made myself a system where I don't have to touch them (and my dog attacks and eats any that escape, such a loyal boy!)

I am fine around worms though so I was wondering if I could skip the crickets and roaches and just feed the silk and/or phoenix worms. I would have to order them online which isn't a problem.

*This is of course in addition to their salads

 

[Cnochur]

Most would recommend some kind of variety in their protein, meaning to not stick strictly to one bug. My only prob with reptiworms is that they often get passed whole through the dragon's system. They're just too small. Roaches are apparently the best possible protein (provided the dragon likes them, which mine unfortunately doesn't).

I can tell you that roaches are WAY more easily handled than crickets. Crickets are a pain in the vent compared to dubia roaches. They're clean, they don't jump, don't bite, easy to handle.

 

[Evergreen]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'd defiantly have some variety for their live feeders, I'm just trying to decide on my main one.

I did notice the worms were pretty small, about the length of a penny at the most from the pictures on their website. If they pass through whole I wouldn't think they'd get much nutrition from them... Anyone else have problems with them?

I'll go ahead and check out the care sheets/breeding for roaches again, maybe I'll be able to convince myself their not so bad *shudders*

 

[ayiaskepi]

Definitely agree with the first reply. My dragon loves reptis and I have been using them more frequently until my dubia colony is ready. However, I have seen some come through whole. In addition, it is always better to keep feeders varied. Though a dragon may love this or that feeder, it may also get "bored" of them. I have seen it happen. I had a dragon refuse to touch hormworms after I invested in a whole bunch. For the record, I could never stand the thought of touching a roach. I must admit that dubies are not bad at all. They dont smell, they are slow moving, and they are real easy to breed.

 

[Evergreen]

Seems like the only real con to the roaches is just my own personal problem then! I'll defiantly keep the feeders varied regardless though. I think I'll go ahead and get some worms and see what I can do about starting my own little colony of roaches (after I invest in a heavy duty triple locking container!) If they turn out to be to much I'll just have to come back to you guys for some moral support :lol:

But another question pertaining to the worms. Do you think/know if young dragons could thoroughly digest them better? The worms are still small but in comparison to the lizard itself they'd be about the same size as their cricket feeders.

*edit: I think I posted this on the wrong board, looks like it falls under feeding. Sorry about that, I'll see what I can do to switch it over*