Wont chase crix?

[Kloster]

Ive had my beardie for around 1 1/2 months.
I use UVB reptisun 10, 1 month old.
Basking spot: 105-108, Cool side: ~80-85
Shes around 6 inches, maybe 7.
Enclosure: around 36'', getting her a larger more permanent tank next month. I also hope shell be comfortable in the old tank for feeding only enclosure.

So I tried crickets the first few weeks and she wouldnt eat many of them... she started getting skinny and I panicked so I ordered a few phoenix worms (200) and same amount of silkworms. She loved the phoenix worms but not the silkworms so much, anyways her appetite slowly worked up and now shes at a point in which she eats 100 worms in 2 days. Through out this whole time she has been eating crickets every now and then. Usually I toss them in and she'll eat them eventually but definitely not the 50+ cricket-a-meal buffets that I keep reading about.

Im going to the next reptile show (april 19 soo excited ) and I hope to buy some B. Dubia there and try those cause those worms are bleeding my wallet.

Is it possible that she just doesnt like the crickets? Or is my enclosure too small for her to "run around" and chase them?

Thanks

 

[Embee]

Is it possible that she just doesnt like the crickets? Or is my enclosure too small for her to "run around" and chase them?

Yes it's possible she doesn't have much taste for them. With regard to enclosure size, perhaps it's too large? Our beardie is 9 inches, and since we moved her into her 40 breeder (36 inches long) at 6+ inches, we've been using her starter tank for cricket feedings, which is a small, empty (save for some repti-carpet) 15 gallon tank, 2 feet in length, maybe 10 inches wide. She seems to appreciate this very much. Thing is, like a lot of beardies, she prefers the crickets to come to her. We feed PWs as well, and recently (after a love affair with phoenix worms for the last 2 months) she is finally back to LOVING crickets dare I say, even more than her worms. :?

I hear ya on the wallet gouging. It's tough! At present, the PWs (about 4 cents per) I find are cheaper than crickets (about 7 cents per) by way of online order. But when a beardie eats upwards of 80 bugs a day, it doesn't come cheap! :shock:

The best,
Em

 

[Kloster]

Thanks for the late night reply.

Where do you order from? I started ordering from mulberryfarms and then I switched to phoenixworms.com cause theyre the original providers.

BTW the tank is around 36'' long. It does seem to me that shes alright in a tank this size cause she runs around and glass dances a lot, that is when shes not hiding. I dont like to let her hide right after a meal so I wake her up. She hates it but I cant let her get an impaction. I let her have a few naps during the day though, I wouldnt say shes lethargic as she can run really fast and be active if she wants to i think shes just a baby wanting to get some sleep although im not very experienced at all and I could be waaay off.

 

[Embee]

Thanks for the late night reply.

Where do you order from? I started ordering from mulberryfarms and then I switched to phoenixworms.com cause theyre the original providers.

BTW the tank is around 36'' long. It does seem to me that shes alright in a tank this size cause she runs around and glass dances a lot, that is when shes not hiding. I dont like to let her hide right after a meal so I wake her up. She hates it but I cant let her get an impaction. I let her have a few naps during the day though, I wouldnt say shes lethargic as she can run really fast and be active if she wants to i think shes just a baby wanting to get some sleep although im not very experienced at all and I could be waaay off.

I order from PW.com as well... went for the 1000 order this time (2 bigger containers of 500 each for around $48). I'm still ordering mediums, but switching to large next time, as they are the same price and she is starting to gobble them too quickly, and she's not always digesting them all as a result. :roll: Maybe the slightly larger ones will last a day longer? LOL

Hm, that's interesting about your beardie's behavior in the tank. You are using the ReptiSun 10.0, is it a TUBE type (as in not compact light)? Most beardies will instinctively bask after a meal, but I know ours will sometimes get irked or spooked about something and go off and hide, and yes... I coax her back out again as we can't be having digestive issues, indeed! Babies do need their sleep, but needing a "few naps a day" might be something to look into further. I ask about the UVB light for this reason... that said, she obviously has a large appetite for the worms, so it perhaps it's just her way.

What are you using as a basking light, btw? And are you gauging temps with a digital with probe or temp gun?

Em

 

[Kloster]

UVB tube is correct.
I use a Zoo Med basking lamp and a digital thermometer to check temps.

I have a feeling that she hides cause its there. Her basking rock is also her hide and it gets nice and toasty under it, I put some comfy towel under it too so I cant blame her for loving it in there .

Since your beardie is eating around the same amount as mine im guessing its no big deal, maybe she just doesnt like the crickets or her previous owner fed her ONLY those and she doesnt want to know about them after the worms. Picky eater hah!

I hope she loves Dubias though, cant blame her for hating the crickets ewww.

 

[Embee]

UVB tube is correct. I use a Zoo Med basking lamp and a digital thermometer to check temps.

I figured as much (given her appetite), but thought I'd ask just them same, in case there was something there that would explain wanting to hide/sleep rather than bask. And only because it's an obligatory question when a beardie is avoiding the basking area, are you leaving the digital probe on the basking area for 45 minutes when gauging temps? I know you're going to say yes, but again, I hate to leave stones unturned as it were. :wink:

I have a feeling that she hides cause its there. Her basking rock is also her hide and it gets nice and toasty under it, I put some comfy towel under it too so I cant blame her for loving it in there

And there is my answer then, yes? LOL Sounds cushy... who would want to snuggle down as often as possible? :mrgreen:

Since your beardie is eating around the same amount as mine im guessing its no big deal, maybe she just doesnt like the crickets or her previous owner fed her ONLY those and she doesnt want to know about them after the worms. Picky eater hah!

Indeed, her appetite is excellent, just an apparent dislike of crickets... or not finding them worth running after! :mrgreen:

I hope she loves Dubias though, cant blame her for hating the crickets ewww.

Yes, good luck with this! We are considering dubias as well. Hope it works out for you!

The best,
Em

 

[chancellor91]

well even though she isnt haveing a "cricket buffet" she is haveing a pw bufffet, so at least she eating, and ya they lil piggies and drain my wallet too o well they worth every penny of it