Sea roaches for dragon food ?

[Rambow]

I live in South Florida, and the rocks at Jupiter inlet are covered with these critters, they look like great dragon food. I was going to put a harness and leash on Layla ( my first dragon, apprx 7 months old ) and let her hunt them down and feast on them. Has anyone ever fed these Isopods to their Dragon ?
Trying to see if they are safe for her or not ? Any input would be greatly appreciated, I'm new to bear dies, but like mine very much, she goes a lot of places clinging to my chest with me

 

[Taterbug]

I've not heard of them before?
As with any wild caught prey items without knowing what they eat and what possible contaminants they are exposed to its difficult to judge if they are safe or not. For such reasons many people do not use or advise wild caught prey insects. I'm not sure about aquatic ones, but terrestrial isopods can also accumulate heavy metals like lead which could also be a problem when used as food.

 

[Rambow]

Ok thanks for your reply, I goggled them if you want to read up on them. Being near the inlet, they look like a great potential occasional change of diet, they are scavengers that eat decaying vegetable matter it says, they should not be subject to pesticide contamination I wouldn't think .

 

[wuke]

I would be concerned about parasites living in anything caught "in the wild."

 

[Taterbug]

Looking at the google photos of the area you mention... it looks like its a rather busy area for boating? (very pretty though~!) I would be concerned about water contamination (fuel, waste water, runoff from the marina/yards that sort of thing) as well.

While its unlikely they would have any parasites that your dragon could contract (like coccida or pinworms) they could have something otherwise that may make her ill.

I might try to culture some terrestrial isopods (they are pretty easy raise in a small terrarium) or shop around for captive raised insects for some variety instead.

 

[Rambow]

Thanks again for your input the inlet is away from any boatyards, etc, and water is always flowing thru there and very clean. Shouldn't be any contaminants but I guess you never know . Layla is on my chest as I type this, she sits with me very morning and we start our day together, very fond of her