What to do with Elvis while away...

[Mutinebullfrog]

Hi all, We have a 9 inch bearded dragon (Elvis). We feed him 3 times a day. He eats about 30 crickets a day and we also leave a small cup of veggies out (doesn't eat that much of the greens). We're going way for the weekend and was going to have a friend come by and feed Elvis. I would like it if I could have my friend feed him once a day instead of coming by 3 times a day to feed him. Do you guys think that would work and if so could I maybe have them feed him 15 live crickets and maybe have a dish of something else to supplement that? Any thoughts?

 

[beardiefanclubof6]

Hi,

I asked the same questions when I left my baby a few weeks ago. Usually I feed Rex crickets twice a day and I leave a bowl of his salad throughout the day. Since my beardie-sitter was coming once a a day I had her give as many crickets that Rex could eat in 20 minutes (this is normal time period for him.) He would eat around 25, 4 week old crickets which is about 3/8" to 1/2" long - the perfect size for my beardie according to the width between his eyes. I was a little nervous, but he did very well. My sitter came for 2 days and by then we came home and he was back to his regular routine.

Rex's viv is set up with timers for his lights so she didn't have to mess with that. I did instruct the sitter to make sure to dust the crickets with the calcium and to clean his cage after he went to the bathroom.

I had the sitter come over the day before and we did a dry run through with written directions and left my phone number where I could be reached if she had questions or needed help.

It's doable! I hope you have a fun weekend!

 

[pclay1]

When I had to go away for 5 days I had my friend throw some wax worms in her bowl once a day and I don't feed her them often because they are fatty but she did fine.

 

[dom02]

If you feed him wax worms or reptiworm/phoenix worms then you can just have your friend give him extra. He'll eat what he wants to at first, then eat the rest later in the day. Along with leaving a dish of veggies as well.

It's also safer too, you don't have to worry about the worms nibbling on him like crickets would(if there are any left that he doesn't eat).

I do that occasionally when I know I won't make it home in time to feed mine.