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complete MHG newbie

skippy Aug 04, 2003 02:30 AM

I bought one about a month and a half ago, and am quickly realizing that I don't know what I'm doing. I think he is a Crucigera, and is probably about 3 inches.

Mostly my problem is with feeding. I have been feeding him crickets and mealworms, but he doesn't seem too excited about either (in fact, he quickly tired of the mealworms). I have never had him eat on his own. Instead I have to wait for him to open his mouth and pop them in (he really seems to hate when I try to force his mouth open).

After reading what you all have to say on this forum I realize that I should probably try earthworms or another kind of worm. The problem with that is... I have no clue about that sort of stuff. Where are they sold? How do you store them? How many do you buy at a time?

What feeding recomendations do you have?

Replies (5)

FroggieB Aug 04, 2003 07:25 PM

I have to ask, is that 3" total or 3" nose to vent? If it is 3" total that is really a small dragon. Size will be a factor in what food items you can offer. If you offer food that is too large the MHD may try to eat it but it is best with all reptiles to offer food of appropriate size.

I have some babies and the one that is 2 months old is about 3 1/2" long so at 3" you are looking at a very small dragon. I feed them 3/8" to 1/2" baby mealworms, 1/4" crickets, very small red wigglers, or 1/2" silk worms.

If, however, you dragon is 3" snout to vent then that is a different story altogether and it could then eat small nightcrawlers, full-grown mealworms, 1/2" crickets, 1" silkworms, you get the idea.

As for the "where do I get them", you can find several places that sell red wigglers for aquarium fish food or you can raise your own in a tub. I raise all of my own mealworms, am starting to breed orange head roaches, and mice for occasional pinks. Of course the pinks only go to full grown dragons. I rarely mess with crickets anymore as they just don't seem to be a favorite and I hate the smell. I order silkworms from www.mulberryfarms.com and get my wigglers from Kazarie worm farm at www.kazarie.com/ and you can also feed nightcrawlers that are raised as fish bait. Be aware however that fishing worm bait is usually raised in manure and poses a risk of introducing parasites thus increasing the need to have your dragon checked regularly for parasites.

You can find an abundance of worm information at www.happydranch.com/.

You will find a more information on my web site as well at www.froggieb.com/MHDshortcare.html.

Hope this helps.

Keep us posted and let me know on the size issue.

Marcia

skippy Aug 05, 2003 02:31 AM

I got out the ruler and his body is pretty much exactly 3". That's not the total length. I didn't count the tail... I *think* that's what you mean by nose to vent.

I want to find something that he'll actually like eating, so I'm gonna take a shot at this whole worm thing. (I'll probably get used to it)

I was also wondering if an MHD will eat any type of fruits or veggies. Probably not, or I would have seen everyone talking about it on this forum somewhere.

-S

skippy Aug 05, 2003 02:59 AM

Nevermind about the non-insect food. I missed the "Mountain Horned Dragons are completely insectivorous" part the first time I read your caresheet.

About the silkworms. Only eggs are available right now, and it's the same price for 200, 500, and 1000. Even 200 seems like a lot for this little guy. Is it?

Another thing is:
eggs ($10) chow ($10) = less than the minimum order.

maybe I'll stop being a pest now. If you're lucky.

-s

ecb Aug 05, 2003 10:51 AM

Skippy, I M a mom, if U become a pest I promise to let U know

does anyone in your area go fishing?

I find it is much cheeper to buy my red Wrigglers at a bait shop, and they seem to be healthyer than the ones I get from the petstores (I had one tub actually start breeding for a while)
Urs is a bit smaller than my Erowen

U will find that s/he fills out when they start eating well.
I M also just learning it is a lot easier to feed her out of a food dish in the tank, than hand feeding her (see my other post with the link, U can see a pic of the submerged food dish)

Good luck with Ur dragon, they are VERY cool pets
Link

-----
Elizabeth (ecb)

'Goodness gracious'
my grandma used to say
'the worlds a scarey place now
things were different in my day'
what horrors will be commonplace,
when my hair starts to grey?
-Kevin Gilbert-

FroggieB Aug 05, 2003 03:41 PM

forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=106683,110140

need to use [ instead of ( and ] instead of ) and it would read:
(url)http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=106683,110140(/url)

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