Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a pair of bearded dragon babies a week ago. They are doing well in their 10 gallon and thriving on crickets. However, im out alot and can't feed them on weekends. I don't want to leave a load of crickets, so i bought the small pellets for juveniles. They don't go near it. Have any of you had success with pellets and if so how?

It takes some time to get them used to pellets. My adults get a rotation of Crickets, Pellets, and Greens regularly. I feed crickets every other day and feed either greens or moisted Repcal pellets on the opposite day. It took some time for them to get a taste for them, but now most of my dragons run over the food dish when I put the pellets in.

Don't try to switch an animal that is not very fat and healthy. What I did is a form of force feeding the pellets, I only feed pellets on Pellet day to the adults. After a while they know that is all they get today so they had better eat them.

Babies are a different story, I offer moistened Juvenile Repcal bearded dragon food in the morning and they can nibble on them throught the day when they get hungry again after their cricket breakfast. I give either greens or pellets daily to supplement the crickts they love to eat. If you start this process young by the time they are adults they should be freely eating the moistened repcal. I soak the repcal in warm water for a few minutes, just cover the pellets with water, if you put in too much water they turn into mush.

Anyway good luck with the pellets! Call or email if you need more help, or of course you can post here

Regards,

Jason Couch
509-985-6510
jason@beardeddragons.biz
www.beardeddragons.biz

Thank you so much for the recommendations. I bought some juvenile pellets i'm not sure what brand though. I am going to offer them after their cricked breakfast and offer them soaked. I hope they get used to them or have at least tasted them within a few days. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again

If you know that you are not going to be home to take care of your pets then you should not have any. Proccesed food should NEVER be fed to reptiles. Insects, worms, and greens for beardies.

are you saying you have never gone away for the weekend or had to put in some extra time at work, no pellets should not be a main food source but can help supliment and add variety, also there alot better then starving your pets or feeding perishable food over a weekend

I have a house sitter. And meal worms can be kept in a bowl with a slice of apple if you need to be gone for a weekend.

Now, I have read about a half dozen caresheets and read the Bearded Dragon Manual. All pretty much agree that pellets are a healthy and viable supplement to live crickets and fresh greens. I have all lights and heaters set on timers but, yes sometimes I cannot be there everyday. I am confident these dragons will thrive and would appreciate any helpful adive and recommendations.

It is scientifically proven that fresh is better for all things. Why give your pets second best? If you do need to be away for a few days, a bowl with super meal worms and a slice of apple for them to eat will last until all the worms are eaten. Good luck.

worms arent good for babies they can digest them properly,but they do love them so they will overeat and either throw them up or get impactedi only give 1 or 2 worms a day hand fed as a treat to my babies, superworms for adults are fine but not babies

i also started with the pellets moist butmixed them in with the salad aftethey started eating them i gavethem more in the salads and nowthey will eat them dry whenever i am gonna be working alot or away they get dry pellets and a water dish they always finish them
just be persistant beardys tast everything and when hungry will eat anything eatable
good luck
Tony

Hmm... My Beardie is about 6 months old and after turning up his nose to pellets at first, now he loves them. I mix them in with his chopped fruit n' veggie mix then spritz them with juice (low-sodium V-8) and then give the pellets a few minutes to soak up the V-8 before serving them.
Hope this helps,
RubyWitch