Suggestions?

[WaywardChild]

Hello there. I just recently bought a pair of bearded dragons, and the female is gravid. The kid who sold them to me didn't have a uvb light for them, only a basking light, and he housed both in a 50gal tank up until now. The female is 8 years old and the male is 2. So my question is: What else do I feed her? This is hopefully going to be her last fertile litter. I've been feeding her collard greens, kale, shredded carrots, celery, fruits, and then on Saturday I fed her a pinkie since a lot of websites and information I went through said it would be okay for a gravid female. However, I think that's going to be her only one since I'd rather be on the safe side. As well, I've been dusting everything she's eaten with calcium powder, except for the crickets that I feed her. Would waxworms and superworms be an okay thing to ad to her diet? And I also read baby food is okay as well to feed her. I've had beardies before, but it was always just one and I could usually have a handle during their infertile periods. I would also like help on the eggs matter. Would it be better to just humanely freeze the eggs, or possibly incubate them? For me, I feel freezing them would be the best bet since I only have the time and care for the two, plus the one I already had before them. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Are they housed together right now?
If you are unable to care for a lot of babies, freezing them if they are fertile is the most humane way to dispose of them. They wont even develop. They are a lot of time, attention & money to care for & raise, plus finding families to adopt them is challenging. Of course, you can always incubate if you would like, just be sure you are well prepared with feeders, etc & housing for temporary needs.
I normally don't recommend pinkies either, they aren't worth the risk I agree. She definitely needs calcium daily, just to help support her system.
Adding a few waxworms weekly would be fine, to give a little bit of fat to her diet while she is gravid. Superworms are a good addition, as they have a good mix of protein & fats, too. Crickets, roaches, silkworms & or hornworms are all good, too. Is she good at eating greens & veggies?
If you feel you would like to supplement her a little bit as needed, baby food would be fine to use during this period.
Do you have any pictures of her?

Tracie

 

[WaywardChild]

At the moment, no. I separated them because I didn't want that added stress for her. And freezing them sounds like a much better option right now. I can financially take care of the 3, but not for the eggs she'd have. She was only given one pinkie, but I think the greens and veggies with calcium dust seem to be working for the meantime. The crickets, waxworms, and superworms have also helped! Trying to invest in some dubias at the moment. But other then that, she's been eating fine. I take her a bath every night in warm water, but I keep her elevated on a dish so that the water doesn't go in her nose. I can already feel the eggs, so it will be soon. I have everything ready for her to lay in. I should be able to take pics tomorrow, (phone died) and so far she may not look like she's okay, but she is. She's got an okay bill of health and has been getting plenty of UVB. It's the least I've been able to do for her after a number of years in bad conditions.

 

[kingofnobbys]

You will need TWO full sized enclosures , both 4 ft x 2 ft footprint.

Both require a good quality 10% UVB globe or tube (UVB200 26W , or T8 10% UVB , or T5 10% UVB or a good quality MVB EACH).

Both require a suitable wattage basking (colourless) par38 or equivalent globe if you aren't using a MVB.

Easy to build a double decker style enclosure , 2 enclosures stacked from plywood .



Dust the crickets with calcium powder (esp the female's), wax worms are junk food. I gut load all my crickets with carrot, repcal adult beardie pellets and buk choi or puk choi greens (rich in Ca).

wax worms are treats only, little nutrition in them.

Superworms , ok for treats.