Reptile newbies!

[Ryansdragon]

Hi all,

So we are about to embark on our first reptile journey. We have had many pets, cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, fish, but never anything exotic. We are having our vivarium built for us by a reputable reptile specialist, and we are picking up our new beardie from a breeder on Tuesday. he/she is not a baby, but a juvinile at 5 months old, we felt this was better for us, as he/she is a bit bigger for us to learn to handle!

I have read your care sheets which are very informative! It's a little scary to be jumping into this, even with all the research, until you have the experience it's very daunting!

I do have one question for you pros. Roughly How many crickets do you feed a juvinile in each sitting? And how do you feed them without the crickets ending up everywhere? Are tinned crickets/dry food a no no? And I keep reading different things with regards to dusting, I've read crickets should be dusted for juvi's 3 times a week, is that right or should they all be dusted? I know for babies it's 80% crickets and 20% veg, is this he same for a 5 nearly 6 month old, or should we be moving him to a 60/40 diet?

Thank you! I have a picture of him, but can't upload using my iPad :-( look forward to getting to know you all and your beardies!

 

[Germ]

A few good links to help get you started ...

Basic BD Care Sheet - A Place To Start This one has a good feeding & supplementation schedule & also a good explanation for the need for calcium & the need for more protein than fat. Along with the majority of the basic info that you will need to know ...

Bearded Dragon --- Exclusive Care Info Library This has a wealth of info, including TOO LITTLE? TOO MUCH? --- FOOD

Beautiful Dragons Nutrition Chart

Is Bearded Dragon Co-habitation a good plan?

As for how many crickets to feed, that is a toughie, too many variables, size of the crickets, different BDs have different appetites, how well it takes to it's greens, if at all, etc. The best explanation is the old rule of thumb, feed as much as it will eat in a 10-15 minute period.

As for feeding & keeping the Crickets contained, the best way I have found is a large Kricket Keeper, the crix will hide in the dark in the tubes, so you just have to pull out the tubes & tap the trapped crix into a dusting bag, then feed them in the enclosure which should be escape proof. All live prey should be dusted.

That Percentage ratio is pretty much a crock, that gets repeated over & over again, but no one knows what it means. I have been in the hobby for over 10 years & have still not figured it out. Just how are we to figure a percentage ratio between crickets\prey & greens? By weight? By Volume? What? Just always have fresh greens available to them. Feed prey at the intervals for their age. They will regulate themselves, as they get older, their needs for protein will lessen, they will not eat as much & will eat more greens, all on their own. They know better than we do what they need at any given time. We just have to make sure that the choices are there for them to make.

 

[Pat B]

Welcome to BDF....listen to Germ. He is a moderator and he really know his stuff!! Good luck and ask away with your questions as there is no such thing as a 'stupid' question when taking care of a beardie!!

 

[Ryansdragon]

Thanks! With regards the the crickets, I didnt want to put too many in, and then have to try and fish them out again when the dragon couldn't eat them! Maybe I'll put in one at a time until he seams to have no more interest in them. I'm sure the breeder can tell me what his appetite is like! I'm so excited! My son is naming the dragon. So far he has picked out Sidney, Patrick, Percy, Charlie, Peter (as in Peter Parker from spiderman lol)

 

[Germ]

I'd suggest putting in at least 5 or 6 at a time, it doesn't hurt to leave a few uneaten crix during the day for a later snack, just please take any uneaten ones out before lights out. Feeding one at a time might not be a good plan, there are a number of BDs that in the beginning may not eat while we are watching, too much of a distraction, but if we walk out of the room & peek back in a couple minutes later, they are munching away until we re-enter the room. This is not characteristic of all BDs, but is something to watch for & do if it doesn't seem to be eating.

Good Luck

 

[Asia Lorraine]

I was terrified when I first started but thanks to Germ and the others I am much more comfortable then when I started. I hope you find all you need!!!