THAT MANY CRICKETS A DAY?

[wildbill78]

From what I have read on this site it seem the norm is to feed crickets 2-3 times a day and as many as he can eat in 10-15 minutes. My question is does he have to eat that much to be healthy or so he will grow faster because I am assuming in the wild they don’t eat that much a day.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

No, but still offer it! If they eat them then great!! Good luck... :wink:

 

[gearbox1001]

Jodie when hungry goes grey and she start's sticking her tongue out at me, very odd behaviour i think, but i know its her way of saying hey food now mr. Soon as she has eaten, she will go a lovely light colour, and go play. She eat's at least 20 cricket's a day and on a mad moment, then its 40-50 small/medium.

I recommend learning how to keep cricket's healthy and bulk buy online, £10 including postage for 500 cricket's is a bargain from Live food's if your from the state's they have similar site's with similar great prices.

Hope this help's
John

ps. You can also bulk buy roaches and other wonderful staple's depending on what your beardie enjoy's and your willing to put up with hee hee

 

[Charmcitydragons]

Just keep offering them crickets and usually the dragons will eat. Don't forget to offer your dragons also. I prefer to offer them in the morning so that they will be more hungry and eat their greens because as they get older they eat more greens and less crickets.

 

[wildbill78]

he has no problem putting down like 90 crickets a day and a salad but is that necessary and why? He is young and needs the protein i know but does he need to eat that munch.

 

[gearbox1001]

Joy's of captivity, i'm sure your lizard can surive on less per day, but if he/she is hungry and does not need to surive (one of the only perks of being kept by a human for an animal really) then let it eat.

If cost is an issue, then online site's are the place to go and their are afew in various thread's in which you can buy in bulk or even start your own coloney's up if your brave.

If your's is eating 90 a day (which is an awful lot) then try the next size up of cricket. Jodie can eat a full box of very tiny cricket's but now shes on the medium black's and they fill her up. The space between the eye test is the best method, if the cricket fit's in that slot, its fine

Hope this help's
John

 

[Pipandmerlin]

I have only had my beardie 2 weeks and he is 2 years and my first. I was tld to feed him crickets 3 times a week 10 at a go. But Iv been feeding him veg in morning and about 10 crickets lunch time everyday and he eats everything up. Should I be feeding him more? Or somthing else live? He wasnt feed well by is first owner and was very skinny was the rescue lady got him, but he is looking good now.

 

[citrusdragon]

Eating 90 crix a day just makes for larger poops, not a healthier dragon. If your dragon is eating more than 30 6 old week crix, or the proper size, a day, you are giving him a eating hobby, not nutrition. I know there are some who take pride in their dragons eating ability, and apparent health. I have found that you just end up running a lot of extra food and money into the poop scooper.

Like most breeders we do have a vigorous eating regiment for babies and juvies, but as they get older you don't add to their genetic ability to grow by feeding them excess food. I think it is pretty clear by watching a dragon grow, how much you should feed them.

In fact, I have seen dragons grow a couple of inches while brumating for 4 months with no food.

Just like with people it is important to eat to live, not live to eat.

Jeff

 

[wildbill78]

Thanks Jeff that was the answer i was hoping for because your right you should see the size of this guys poop and the money i spend, so i guess my juvie dragon wont fallow the rule as much as he can eat in 10 minuets 2 times a day.

 

[ABLuvsKatie]

I have only had my beardie 2 weeks and he is 2 years and my first. I was tld to feed him crickets 3 times a week 10 at a go. But Iv been feeding him veg in morning and about 10 crickets lunch time everyday and he eats everything up. Should I be feeding him more? Or somthing else live? He wasnt feed well by is first owner and was very skinny was the rescue lady got him, but he is looking good now.

Pip's question is basically the same one I'd have. Our 1 1/2 year old (we've had only a few days) isn't eating a lot at all right now...how long should I attribute that to the adjustment? But 10/day a few times/week is basically what the previous owner told me. I think I can handle 30/week because we're not close to a pet store and I can not bring myself to consider breeding these things much less roaches!

So far, since Saturday (and she may have eaten before we picked her up Saturday), she's really only had a few pieces of turnip greens and a 3 or 4 crickets. She's pooped twice (kinda runny - very much so the first time, less this last time...still not as easy to get out and discard as the guy led me to believe it would be).

Two problems I have are that I have a strip thermometer I'm suspect of. She's using one 100W bulb right now, the one they gave me, but the UV bulb they had had "just" blown - I've been all over looking for a replacement so the guy ordered one for me yesterday - hoped it might come today but it'll probably be Thursday. I guess I'll know better when I get her lighting up to par (or at least OK until I decide what to go with when I upgrade her whole tank which I think I need to do).

Learning a lot here but I'm pretty overwhelmed!

 

[gearbox1001]

I think the advice on this site is excellent, however all dragons are different. Jodie does and never has eaten the ammount in which some of the dragons on this site eat, but got a clear bill of health and is growing at the rate of not's.

The only thing i would suggest from my experience is a digital probe thermo, to test your temperature's and to get the uvb/heat lighting correct. It makes a big difference even if its a huge pain in the bottom with the ammount of lights/combo's availble with all their own good/bad and in the middle points.


Bathing is another piece of advice, hydration is always good and Jodie get's alot from that. Regular vet visits and feed what your dragon wants to eat (offer it crickets at different times of the day, see how he/she responds) Jodie will pick 4 crickets in a morning, and then finish with around 10-13 crickets in an afternoon, then salad much in an evening before the last sunning before bed.

Hope this helps
John