Where and how to feed crickets?

[FlashNChester]

Trying to get opinions on the best and easiest way to feed crickets... Just got a new baby this week (our first one didn't make it, but seeing the difference in behavior with the new one confirms my belief that the first was unhealthy from the start), and this one is much more interested in eating. I'm tired of recapturing crickets from her viv before bed.

I also have an adult who usually eats in his enclosure but he doesn't like crickets (too lazy I think ) so he just gets supers fed with tongs...

Do most of you fellow beardie owners put your beardie right in with the feeders/crickets? It seems like that would be the most efficient thing, but I don't want to stress out a new baby... Any ideas are welcome and appreciated!

 

[getgab92]

I have a 5 month old and I have tried feeding him in a separate cage but he gets stressed out and doesn't even notice that the feeders are there with him. He is much more comfortable eating in his own cage.

U should not leave the crickets in with him all day cause they tend to bite the dragons and it could cause a problem. 10-15 minutes should be the longest they should be in there. After that you can take them out. I also noticed that you said you took them out before bed. If you feed your dragon at night, always make sure you feed him at least 2 hours before lights out. This way it gives them time to digest the food that they just ate.

Another thing you could do, if you have the time to do it, is put them in one at a time and wait until he eats them before putting another one in. That way when he is done you will only have to remove one cricket/feeder.

Hope that helps!

 

[FlashNChester]

The baby usually scarfs up whatever I put in there, so there usually aren't too many left. Nothing is hanging around during the day that would bite him/her, and I feed dinner right before my family eats around 5-5:30. The lights go off at around 8 p.m., and if there's anything left I catch them and put them back. It's just a pain to re-catch the crickets if the dragon wasn't as hungry as I thought LOL. It's nice to see a dragon with an interest in hunting!

 

[getgab92]

Well like I said you can try to do one at a time and if he is not hungry you don't have to worry about taking all of them out you would just have to remove one

 

[CGuzmanReptiles]

You can put a piece of carrot in one side of the enclosure so if any uneaten cricket gets hungry, they will eat that instead of nipping off your dragon.

 

[getgab92]

That's a very good idea as well. They love carrots!