Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,

I had an odd question. Mostly about how many crickets to dust per feeding.

I have the Herptivite and I was told to only dust the crickets once a week. Well, how many do I dust that one feeding? If I dust 50 crickets and my beardie eats 50 dusted crickets in that one day is it the same as feeding him 10 dusted crickets with the Herptivite for 5 days?

And if he eats 50 dusted crickets at one time, can he O.D. from it?

And which Calcium should I get? He doesn't get natural sunlight, only UVA and UVB from the lights. I have the Rep-Cal with no phosperus(spell?) and it says only for dragons who get natural sunlight, so I'm guessing I have the wrong one?

Thanks,

P.S.- How many times should I dust the crickets with the calcium also for a 4-5month beardie?

The calcium you have is the kind that does not contain vitamin d3. I suggest getting the pink labeled one it contains the d3. Vitamin d3 in needed for dragons that don't get natural sunlight to help absorb the calcium. The calcium can be dusted 1 feeding for 6 days a week for young dragons. Adults can be dusted less every other day is fine, as they are past the massive growth spurts. Whatever he eats in one feeding daily if it's 15-25 that's how many get dusted. The multi vit heptivite should be given 1 feeding a week. Use this on the day you don't dust with the calcium. Dust one feeding that day with it.
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Mystical Dragons

Thanks for the help.

Homer started eating more and more crickets each day lately. He still has some coccidia in him, and since the treatment and the constant cleaning of the cage, he seems to be doing better.

Thanks again for the help.

That's really good to hear that he is eating while on those meds. Some times those meds can be a little harsh on the digestive track and they slow up on eating. Are you by any chance giving him any probiotics to help even out his gut flora? This is a good idea while on the meds. Acidophaliz is a probiotic liquid that can be purchased at petsmart that would be a good idea right now since he's on meds.
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Mystical Dragons

I'll try some of that stuff. Getting up early tomorrow to buy some stuff for my RES. Beardie ate about 15 more crickets today and some mealworms. Hungry hungry hippo!