dusting questions

[jrv4babies]

Hello,

My set up currently has a 26W UVB 10.0

I am still rather confused on the dusting routine that is best and when you use the D3 and when not to. I currently have just one powder, Fluker's Repta Calcium with D3 and Phosphorus Free.

My beardie is still very small (about 11 weeks) and eating mainly small crickets. I directly dust the crickets.

My questions are:

**Is this one fine to use and for how many days? I understand I should switch at least one day up to dusting with a reptile vitamin supplement instead. But am confused on when to use the D3 vs when not to in relation to what UVB source I am using.

**I am just learning about gut-loading the crickets. If I start doing this does that affect how much I dust the crickets. I started yesterday when I first learned about it by just throwing some greens in with the crickets (instead of the potato previously suggested to me by the pet store). However the gut loading cricket foods that are sold etc seem to suggest you do that instead of dusting the crickets. I just want to make sure I am not overdoing something if I start feeding the crickets with gut loading food and then also still dust them...

Thank you for all the continued patience with my million newbie questions!

 

[PatsyB]

Here's a link to a dusting schedule, it also contains the food list. http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html you'll want to pick up calcium w/o D3, it's hard to find I think I got mine on Amazon. They should get enough D3 from their lights and as this article states, they don't us D3 in supplement form.

As far as your crickets go, gut load them and also dust them. Crickets and other bugs poop all the time, so we never really know how much of the nutrients they are still holding in their bodies when our beardie eats them.

 

[Hdrydr31]

And you'll also find that some bugs have longer gi tracts so you can really gut load them for example dubia roaches are very meaty/full of moisture and have long gi tracts. But offering a variety is always best.

 

[firehawk0285]

The guy that mentioned Dubai's long GI tracts is absolutely right. You can gut load the heck out of them. Check out discountdubias.com for great prices.