Separate tank for feeding?

[neecie]

Yes, beardies do have personalities and opinions. For me, when I read that the crickets that hide can come out and nibble on the beardie while he sleeps - that made my decision. Luckily my baby enjoys going "out to eat" - crickets.
Everything else is in his big viv.

 

[ElliotTheBeardie]

Hi, im just wondering if any one can help. I have just bought a BD and at the min have nothing in the Viv so I can feed him without his food hiding, but I think the Viv is to big for feeding because he doesn’t seem to be eating a lot although he seems lively and healthy. I am going to buy a 20 gallon tank to feed him in, what I would like to know is do I need a heat lamp in there? How long should I leave him to eat? How many crickets each sitting and how many times a day? Up until now he has just been grazing throughout the day.

Please help, Many thanks
Gerry

 

[neecie]

Hi Gerry. You just need a small tank - mine is 10 gal and got it used. She's only in there for about 15-20 min. I have a flat top stove with 2 lights shooting down, put down a towel then set the small tank on there. It's warm from the lights and I go get some crickets, put in vitamins or calcium all in a plastic bag and shake it around. Then as she watches me, I shake down one cricket at a time. She starts off catching them fast, after about 8-10 she may let them run around the tank. After 15 minutes I take her out - put her in big viv and then if any crickets are left in the little feeder tank, I shake them back into the container they stay in.
Hope this isn't too much detail - but it works great and most days I do this lunch and dinner. If I'm out, then it's only once. She has her veggies in her big viv all day till I take left-overs out around 6pm. Not that I expect you to have a stove like mine - but others have said beardies don't like a cold tank..........however don't need any real light set up. Sandy gets worms from time to time, and I just put them in a little dish and hold it at her face in her enclosure - not the feeder tank. If I were to be away, the reptile supply or pet stores have a cute dish for worms, so they can't crawl out. Then I would have one and leave it in for the day.

Getting into the routine lessens the anxiety. I was so worried when I first got her. But - like babies, you get into the swing of diapers, feeding, sleeping and it becomes part of your life and isn't a bother.

 

[therese30]

My two "go out" to eat too. I found it best to have a routine. I also have a ten gallon for feeding. I don't want the babies to get bit either.

 

[neecie]

RIGHT...............the crickets nibbling at night creeped me out and started my feeder tank routine. thank you all for the suggestion.

 

[smilieone]

I atend to agree with everyone my beardie also eats out, well sort of.. I take a rubbermaid bin a bit bigger then a shoe box . add crickets beardie and put back in tank for fifteen minutes whallla your done... Cricket dinner is over ha ha

I also added a piece of carpet on the bottom of the rubbermaid i hot glued for some beardie traction !