Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi im feeding crickets and superworms right now and veggies is there anything else i can feed. my one dragon seems alittle skinny. also is it alright to feed silversides to them they seemed interested when i showed them i just dont know if it is safe or not. thanks

I would suggest a pinkie mouse every 3 or 4 weeks, at the most, if they're up to weight, and if they're a little skinny then try 2, maybe 3 pinkies a month, but not for too long. Beardies tend to be very easy to get over weight really fast. Once they're full grown, the best diet for them is mostly veggies and a little fruit and some proteins. Though once in a while our big beardie gets in a mood and won't eat anything but crickets and mealworms for a few days and then she'll go back to her veggies. you should still be able to feel their hip bones a little, padded but feelable. when she was younger we tried feeding her feeder fish, she decided they were just an exciting source of water, she wouldn't eat them since her tongue wouldn't stick to them. I wouldn't take to much of a chance with to many kinds of fish as they're not too common in their natural environment. roaches are also an amazing source of protein to put on some weight, if you can handle the mess.

what type of roaches can i feed

http://www.blattodea.net/showthread.php?t=236

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Roaches?sc=2&category=39

the first link is a good place to look up info and the second link is a good list of good types of roaches that aren't the "pest" breeds of roaches.

Feeding too many pinky mice is not good..at most..as a treat a pinky can be given...once a month, though it is far better to feed good healthy meals daily than rely on high fat foods.

Dragons usually are underweight for a few reasons. They are not getting enough food, either because they have a lack of appetite, or just are not fed enough. They are eating plenty of food but either having troubles digesting or have parasites which are sapping all the nutrients from their systems before their body can use them.

Finding out why your dragon appears 'thin' is much more important than just tossing high fat and unnecessary foods at them. For us to help guide you, we need far more information about your dragon:

Age, weight, length, basking temps, setup details, presence of UVB, substrate, are they eating regularly? How much do you feed daily and what do you feed? Substrate? When was the last fecal done, or vet visit? Is it a female dragon? Is it being bred or laying eggs?

A picture of your dragon that is recent is also beneficial, especially if its a good clear picture showing your dragon lying down on a flat surface or basking area. Though knowing his weight and length (nose to tail tip or if the tail has been nipped or tip loss for whatever reason, then a nose to vent length can be used)
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PHLdyPayne