navigating juvenile diet

[jrv4babies]

As I am sure you have heard a million times before, I think the directions I was sent home from the pet store with need to be improved.

I was told to feed a juvenile pellet food and give 6 small crickets per day. I was told that when she was older to give veggies and at that time.

As I have been reading, I have already increased her to more insects per day. I have also come to learn that while she should have 80% insects, I should be already introducing veggies now, correct?

Lastly, what is gut loading? I have read several posts that have mentioned this. It sounds like this is an order of feeding the salad first and the crickets after...
however I am not sure if it means more than that?

Thank you!

 

[PatsyB]

The rule is usually to let them eat as much as they want in 15 min. My cut off is 30 maybe 40 small crickets a feeding! I just rescued a dragon and she will eat the whole day if I let her so I cut her off. 30 crickets for breakfast and 8-10 supers for lunch. I always offer a salad in the morning and leave it in the whole day. Babies may or may not eat a salad but it's good to still offer it. If you are feeding enough live protein and fruits and veggies, then there is no need for pellet food. If you do use the pellet food make sure you let it soak in some water for a bit so that it expands BEFORE the beardie eats it and not while it's in their belly.

Gut loading is what you do with your bugs before you feed them to your beardie. It makes your bugs a bit more nutritious. My crickets get a powered cricket diet and water crystals along with salad items I would feed my beardies. My super worms just get the salad greens.