We have a young beardie (about 5" long) that is a real chow hound. We just got her yesterday and I've been trying to follow the "10 minute rule" as far as let her eat as much as she wants in 10 minutes, but this little one will eat almost non-stop if you let her. This morning she ate greens, a few little pieces of strawberry (I know that should be more of a treat) and nailed 4 small/pinhead crickets before I started getting worried. I plan on feeding her three times a day and for her second feeding I offered greens with some mealworms...she picked out the mealworms (three)and is considering the greens & mashed carrots but I gotta ask, for her health, should I hold back or just let her chow? I don't want her to develop health issues from being such a little piggie...btw all the food was dusted with a calcium/mineral supplement.
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How much food is to much for a baby?
Replies (3)
i have never heard of a baby with health issues from eating too much. as adults than can be what a vet would consider "obese" but to me dragons can and will be all different sizes and weights. shes just a hungry baby, she will eventually slow down a bit with age. most of my hatchlins eat like crazy, just not stop, until about 4 weeks then they slow down a bit. i would stop on the mealworms right since she is a baby. they have a hard shell/skin whatever it is, that is very hard for a baby dragon to digest. this can cause impaction. stick to crickets, greens, and some pellet food if youd like. when she gets older you can start giving her mealworms and superworms again but only as an occasional treat. strawberrys, blackberrys, blueberrys are very good for dragons. you dont have to make those occassional.
good luck
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Beach Beardies
3.3.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)
Just keep offering appropriate insects (crickets, small/baby roaches, small silkworms) till either 5-10 minutes pass or she stops eating insects. Greens can be offered all day. Feed insects 2-3 times a day.
Remember baby dragons need most of their diet insects, (about 90%) but as they get older, they need less insects and more greens. Typically by the time they are about 6-8 months old, a single feeding of insects a day is fine, with greens available all day. At 12-14 months, insects every other day, greens every day. After 14 months, just a few insects a day (about 1-6 adult crickets, 1-3 silkworms etc) or only 2-3 feedings of insects a week and greens available all day or at least fed once a day.
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PHLdyPayne
FWIW, she's eating a lot less today...just one or two insects each feeding and a couple bites of greens & strawberries...guess she's more full. I WISH she'd eat crickets out of a can but she doesn't want them.
