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rubyred

Bearded Dragon Egg
3 Year Member
Messages
14
my son is 6 and just bought a beardie with his birthday money (we bought the starter kit for him) we just picked ruby up yesterday and the reptile store said to feed her crickets and greens, but I have no idea how many crickets to but in, and do I put a few in at a time throughout the day, what feeding schedules do other people have. I feel like I have a new born child again and I don't want to starve her but I don't want to over feed her cause i read that is not good for them either.... Help us Please this site has been very informative any other tips are appreciated as well

Dawn ( and Elliot my son)
 

ladyknite

Bearded Dragon Egg
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
1,757
Offer her as many crickets as she can eat in 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times per day. Remove what she doesn't eat after that 15 minutes.

What's her cage like?
Tell us about her temps, how you measure them, her uvb and what's on the floor of the tank.
 

renich

Juvenile Dragon
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
3,001
If you don't feel like chasing crickets around, start out slow. Drop 5 crickets in and see what happens. If your beardie gobbles them up, add 5 more. It varies per dragon with food, but a baby can eat as many as 50 - 75 crickets per day.

On a side note, make sure no food is larger than the space between your baby's eyes. This is needed to properly digest the food. This goes for proteins (crickets) and salad (greens & veggies).
 

rubyred

Bearded Dragon Egg
3 Year Member
Messages
14
thanks ladyknite and Renne, I couldn't find where I had posted this, lol still getting used to the forum :)

Ok I think we are slowly getting the hang of this :) she is in a tank about 3 ft long, very thin sand on the bottom and two wood thingies inside with her. I don't have a temp thing yet, we have a heat lamp 75 w and a uvb lamp. today I have only given abou 15 crickets but she doesn't seem to be gobbling them up as you say. I have put a spring mixture of greens and tiny pieces of grapes and cucumbers all cut up pretty tiny.
 

renich

Juvenile Dragon
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
3,001
You can get to your posts a couple of ways -
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Couple of things -

With beardies and their digestive process, the temps and lights are very important. You will want to get something to measure the temps relatively soon. I recommend a digital probe thermometer. You can get them cheap just about anywhere. If you have a WalMart, they should have it.

The temp under the basking light for beardies under 1 year should be between 105-110F. The temp on the cool side should be around 85F. Night temps should not drop below 65F.

Lights should be on for 12-14 hours and off for 12-10 hours.

UV is important for beardies to produce vitamin D, which is necessary for their digestive process. I like the ReptiSun 10.0 tube. Others have had success with mercury vapor bulbs. Do you know the make and model of your UV light?

Sand is controversial. I've used it, but not for a beardie as young as yours. Consider replacing it with papertowels, shelf liner or reptile carpet. Younguns poops a lot, so you'll want something easy clean and replace. For the long run, you may consider getting a larger viv and putting tile down.
 

rubyred

Bearded Dragon Egg
3 Year Member
Messages
14
well yesterday Ruby ate about 14 crickets (in total) that has been the most she has eaten since we got her (this is our forth day she has been with us) We were out most of the day yesterday and my husband wanted to leave the crickets in with her all day. I told him that is not what they recommend on the forum, lol he looked me like I was crazy. He said I am more worried about Ruby then I worried about any of our other pets, but come on a dragon is way different then a dog and budgies. So should we really be taking out what she doesn't eat? (I did leave them in yesterday just to avoid an argument lol) I just don't want to starve her. When I have put 5 in most times she doesn't eat any in 15 min (it is a huge pain trying to then catch them to remove them)

Thanks again :) it really is a great forum :)
 

TheWolfmanTom

Dragon Breeder
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
1,538
Location
Philadelphia, Pa
Keep the amounts small for the time being and leaving them in shouldnt be a problem. I feed in my tanks, and I simply watch the amount I put in. If I get a day I put Wayyyy to many I just use a hand vac to get the bulk of them out. When you cant find any up the amount you put in slightly.
 

renich

Juvenile Dragon
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
3,001
That's great that her appetite is starting to pick up.

Just want to reiterate that leaving a few behind has been said not to be a big issue. I wouldn't leave large quantities in all day. I'll admit that I tend to be on the cautious side and don't like to leave any in after feeding time. So, if you ask me my opinion, I personally don't leave any crickets in the viv.

And lol....I was obsessed with Bernie when we first got him. I got the same comments. They are intriguing little guys and captivating.
 

rubyred

Bearded Dragon Egg
3 Year Member
Messages
14
thanks again Tom and Renee, today when we went out I left 3 in and when we got back they were gone and she had two big poops ( so we must be doing something right) ;D so tonight when I put more in she started eating a few as soon as I put them in (she has never done that before) that was exciting I again left a few in and now I removed the 3 that were left as it is almost lights out. So today she ate 11. I think she prefers to each when it is quiet. My 3 kids are always standing in front watching, moving around and pretty loud, she better get used to the chaos ;)

lol, it is pretty funny how i have become so attached to her, a pet I never thought I would own. Not to mention the fact that the first few nights I kept walking up dreaming that crickets had gotten out, last night my son Elliot did not close the cricket keeper properly and this morning we found 8 around the house, i was not impressed but we got them ( i think) and now are more diligent about checking the crickets ... all for Ruby ;D
 

renich

Juvenile Dragon
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
3,001
Great news! It sounds like relocation stress is coming to an end.

Lol...I have found crickets on the basement steps, jumping down the hallway, etc. I think we have contributed to our outdoors cricket population. My hubby would catch the ones not eaten and chuck them out the slider. I can't walk in the front yard without crickets jumping all around!
 

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