Trying to Build a Feeding Schedule

[tdude294]

Hi all,
I am getting a baby beardie at some point in the next few weeks. I was planning on waiting until my winter break which starts on dec 12th but I am getting a little anxious and I just want to get it already!! lol. There is just one problem I can't seem to figure out. I will have to make a feeding schedule to work around my classes and work. I can post my school schedule and *usual* work schedule(i'm a host at chili's so it can change weekly) if anyone wants to take a crack at it

Thanks for looking!
-Tyler

P.S. I will definately be posting pics when I do finally get it!

 

[tdude294]

Ok, i did some figuring and came up with this:
Lights on at 730am
Feeding at 8am
Feeding at 3pm
Feeding at 8pm
Lights out at 930pm

Is that ok? It will probably improve when this semester is over on dec 12th.

 

[bumblebee]

Hi Tyler, welcome to the site!

That schedule really wouldn't work too well if you're planning to feed crickets. Your beardie will need about 2 hours to warm up in the morning, so you need to wait until 2 hours after lights on to feed him/her, and he/she will need 2 hours after the last feeding to digest. With that schedule, you'll have the lights on for 14 hours, which is the most they should be on per day. To help with the 2 hours before the first feeding and 2 hours after the second feeding, you can leave bugs like dubia or phoenix worms (no meal worms!) in a dish in the tank before you leave so that your baby can eat when he/she is hungry. This way you can leave bugs in a dish before you leave in the morning, you can still do your 3pm feeding with say crickets, and you can leave some bugs in the dish for the evening feeding, you just have to be sure that you remove any uneaten bugs at least 2 hours before lights out so your beardie has time to digest.

I don't want to discourage you from getting a baby, but have you considered a slightly older beardie that won't require 3 feedings per day? You could definitely make it work with a baby, just something to think about

I'm really glad that you're doing your research before you get your beardie! Hope that helps!