Dietary Assisstance

[Barking Deer]

I don't have a Bearded Dragon yet. I'm doing my research first, and when I feel confident I will be getting one. I will most likely be purchasing a juvenile.

I have a leopard gecko, and she and I have long since abandoned crickets.
But, since I'm getting a Bearded Dragon, does it have to eat crickets or can I just feed it super worms? I mean, yeah, when we go to the pet store I'll get crickets now and then, but can I use Supers instead of crickets? I understand that supers are probably suicidal to a juvenile, so I will most likely be feeding it crickets and small meal worms / super worms until it reaches a size I feel it can handle the worms better.
If not, please explain why. I understand that meal-worms are harder to digest than supers, but supers have more meat than meal worms, so I'll just stick with supers. Or, is that a no no too?

Also, I know the juvenile vs adult animal/plant ratio is different, and how they need a different amount in their life stages, but how do I know when I have achieved that ratio per meal? I've heard that a good schedule is animal protein two days a week, plant protein three days a week, and pellet two days a week. But, is it really a good schedule? What are ya'lls schedules and ratios, and how to you know you're achieving the proper ratio?

If you need any clarification please tell me!

 

[PatsyB]

It's good to give your dragon a variety of live food, not just one staple but switch up a few different things. As long as they are well hydrated, super worms won't cause any issues. Meal worms just don't offer anything. Mine have given up on crickets as their main feeder for awhile now. I feed mostly supers and horn worms, and I throw in crickets every now and then. You want to offer a salad everyday no matter how old they are. That is where they are going to get a good part of their water from. Luci, is my 1 year old and I've been feeding him large supers for months now. Beardies have strong jaws and are able to chew the worms up pretty good. In fact a lot of times he bites into a super worm and it breaks into pieces and he goes back and picks up the pieces.

As far as how many times a week to feed them live food...I let them decide on their own what they want. I offer my 2 year old live food every day. Sometimes she eats it and sometimes she doesn't. One day she may eat one worm and the next 8. I leave it up to her. Luci on the other hand, usually eats everything that I put in front of him (along with crumbs he can find on the floor) but he has also has started to slow down on the amount he eats every day. He used to easily eat 10 large super worms at once and now he will maybe have 4 and be done. I let them do what they want.


What do you feed your leopard gecko?

 

[Barking Deer]

Thank you for replying to my thread!
I feed my leopard gecko meal worms, and since I breed them, she snacks on the occasional pupae.

 

[PatsyB]

I never thought of feeding them the pupae. I bet that probably has a lot of nutrients in it. I (try to) raise horn worms. It's a very similar process only the pupae turns into moths.

 

[Barking Deer]

She seems to love them. I'm pretty sure they're high in nutrients. How's the horn worm breeding going?

 

[PatsyB]

My first attempt was successful. I managed to get about 35 eggs to hatch out of 100. It's a bit harder this time around because it's gotten colder out and my basement doesn't have the best electrical outlets so keeping them warm is a bit of a challenge. Tonight we rigged up a dome fixture with a 50 watt basking light so we will see what happens. I would love for this to work because I'm not sure I'm going to be able to have them shipped in the next month and Dexter LOVES them.

 

[Barking Deer]

I keep mine separated in cricket keepers, one for mealworms, one for darkling beetles, and one for pupae. I've recently started breeding and I've got baby mealworms and they're so small and adorable. I mostly keep them warm by keeping them near the heat lamp I use for my leopard gecko. I think what you're doing will work out pretty well.

 

[NickG1987]

You could always feed your beardie some nice crunchy dubias. They are packed with protein. I usually give Gojira phoenix worms for his first meal, give him that nice jolt of calcium to start off his day. He usually finishes his first salad of collards and cactus before I come home from work. Then he pigs out on dubias, and usually eats another salad before he goes to bed around 10. Yes, he loves this diet, and yes, he is fat for his age. lol.

 

[Barking Deer]

I live in the majestic state of Florida, where driving with ducks on your head is illegal, as are dubias.

 

[NickG1987]

I live in Georgia, I might be able to supply you with some dubias on the DL...

 

[Barking Deer]

I ain't even legal yet. I think I'll be fine gut loading supers and crickets.

 

[NickG1987]

http://www.georgiacrickets.com/

Awesome place to buy feeders from if you're looking for a place. I know the manager personally as his store is only 2 minutes from my house. I've seen his set-ups for raising feeders, and wouldn't trust anyone else anymore.

 

[Barking Deer]

Cool! I'll check it out.

 

[Heather1979]

You have so much more variety over the other side of the globe . Some if these posts make me smile .