How To?

[LParkey]

Anyone know a good HEALTHY way to fatten up beardies? My current diet consists of red and green leaf lettuces, a wide variety of vegetables, occasional fruit, crickets and RARELY a super worm or two. Is there anything specific that I'd high in fat content that I could feed occasionally? They eat about 1/2 cup veggies each every day and about 25-50 crickets each every other day. They aren't loosing weight and are in excellent health, but I would like to fatten them up just a little. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[drgnfly2265]

How old are your beardies? When they get to be adults is when they normally start getting wider. If you need something with a lot of fat in it, check out waxworms. Just be careful about feeding to many. You don't want to give your beardie a bad diet just to fatten it up and plus they are like beardie crack. Some beardies will only want to eat those and nothing else.

 

[LParkey]

She's range from 6 months to 5 years. It's more my older ones (the breeders) that I'd like to put some fat on. There are no pet stores anywhere close to me that sell wax worms, is there anything else you'd suggest?

 

[Daeyang]

How old are your beardies? When they get to be adults is when they normally start getting wider. If you need something with a lot of fat in it, check out waxworms. Just be careful about feeding to many. You don't want to give your beardie a bad diet just to fatten it up and plus they are like beardie crack. Some beardies will only want to eat those and nothing else.

Yeah I've fed mine waxworms and it took mine a week to go back to her old diet; And I only fed her 8 in total!! I know mealworms are a bit fatty but they have no nutrients.. And aren't very good for digesting.

 

[LParkey]

No, I don't feed meal worms at all! I feed super worms like maybe twice a month, only a couple at a time

 

[Aleena]

No, I don't feed meal worms at all! I feed super worms like maybe twice a month, only a couple at a time

Super worms in higher quantities might do it for you. There really aren't very many ways to healthily fatten a beardie up, unfortunately. I hear horn worms are amazing!

 

[Germ]

I know mealworms have no nutrients.

This is so untrue, maybe you should check out the following nutrition charts ... And the thread that they came from. Along with the attached article & scientific study.

Two months & no one can come up with anything to 'Back Up' these unfounded claims. I have posted this thread or similar, on many Forums over the years, with exactly the same results, or lack there of. I have searched, researched & can not find anything either. Yet, keep seeing so many posts\threads that claim them to be an unsafe fatty feeder, with little to no nutrition, compared to other feeder worms. Again to all those in this group, the 'Challenge' is there .........

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Ghann's Cricket Farm​

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http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk​

http://www.floridaherps.com/live-phoenix-worms/​

http://www.georgiacrickets.com/​

http://www.phoenixworm.com​

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http://www.silkwormshop.com​

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http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm​

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Also, the majority of the feeders that we feed are only as good as the 'Gutload' we put into them.

 

[Daeyang]

I didn't mean to say they didn't have ANY.. I know they did, but compared to all the others there are better feeders then them.....

 

[Aleena]

I didn't mean to say they didn't have ANY.. I know they did, but compared to all the others there are better feeders then them.....

He has an issue with the meal worm thingy, don't take it too personal. Course, with so much misinformation out there who can blame him?

 

[Germ]

I didn't mean to say they didn't have ANY.. I know they did, but compared to all the others there are better feeders then them.....

We can only go by what is said in the post. Nothing personal, no matter what we feed, there is always a better feeder out there, depending on exactly what you are looking for in a feeder. Some keepers prefer to feed fattier foods, others not, personal preference doesn't make other things bad. Personally, in all the years I have been in the hobby, I have only fed one container of mealies & that was only because they were given to me free by the breeder, when I purchased Demon. I have my own reasons for not using them & that simply is that I prefer to use larger feeders.

My point was only an attempt to dissipate the Myth, that is repeated so often, that they are a seriously bad feeder, when they are in fact, not. Have been used successfully since the start of the hobby. Are they the Best feeder? 'No'. Are they a Bad feeder? 'No'.

 

[Pat B]

Interesting post. I feed my BD mealies all the time along with crickets and greens if he will eat them. He loves the mealies and doesn't have to run around the enclosure chasing those dang expensive crickets. Is this a bad diet? He looks good and is growing.