When does a beardie get parasites?

[Dragon4Me]

Hi, if you get a beardie with a clean bill of health, do they still get parasites (or high levels anyway as I know low levels of coccidia is manageable) from the worms and crickets that you feed them over time? Is there any need to get a fecal test done if their poops look the same & normal each day? If they do get them over time, than are certain worms more prone than others to give them or crickets vs worms? Any thoughts, thanks
Jennifer

 

[brittani299]

Hello My beardie got parasites from crickets that I got at petsmart. I no longer get them from there because of this and the fact that they are super expensive. You should get a fecal done once a year like a yearly check up. It is just to make sure that nothing is wrong. I think that crickets probably have more bacteria then any other feeder.

 

[Dragon4Me]

Thanks, Brittani, that's what I was afraid of. The temps in CT will be in the 40's this week so I was going to try switching him to Phoenix Worms with all the good I've read about them. He is a little over 5 months and doesn't love hunting crickets down (he was not raised on crickets the first 4 months). Now with the calcium in Phoenix worms, I don't need to dust them with calcium, correct? But still use the multi-vitamin a couple days a week (1x a day)? And as long as I get the right size, I'm ok using as a staple for a beardie his age?
Thanks!
Jennifer

 

[brittani299]

Pheniox worms are great! I wouldn't dust them they are already full of calcium.

 

[Dragon4Me]

Thanks, ordered them last night, can't wait, he def loves worms over crickets
Jen