Fireside,
Please refer to Wade Sherbrookes article in Reptiles Magazine and the article Phrynosoma solare raised on crickets and without UVB.

Now I'll ask you what scientific evedince do you have to support the idea they require formic acid or ants for that matter?


In keeping HLs for many years I have found prey size is the most important aspect in feeding HLs.

Since you missed the point with the dogs and cats I'll make it simple for you. Bearded dragons do very well and have been successfully bred through multiple generations in captivity yet they do not eat vegetation and insects from the wilds of Australia. Most people feed them crickets, mealworms and romaine lettuce. It would be impossible for most anybody to replicate the insects a reptile consumes in the wild even HLs. It has been proven that during certain times of the year when say beetles and grasshoppers are more abundant they will make up the majority of a HLs diet. Many scientists believe this is a way to build up fat reserves. Most species of HL actually have a highly variable natural diet. Only a few are truley ant specialists. Please refer to Montanuccis article on phrynosoma jaw structure.

The reason HLs have to eat so many ants each day to stay healthy is because they are of little nutritional value. In captivity I personally find they stay much healthier on an a varied diet so I'll continue to feed my HLs a varied diet.

If RK has successfully raised and bred HLs on an antless diet good for him. I would like to ask both you and reptomen to post some of pics of your captive bred HLs. Since you have their husbandry down you should have no problems breeding them right?

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