Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been thinking of getting a new reptile, and although I looked at bearded dragons, the idea of constantly going to the store to buy live food turned me away from them. However I was just looking at the Petsmart website and saw that there are actually pre-packaged beardie diets, as well as freeze-dried crickets, for sale. Would buying these be a safe alternative to live foods, or would there not be enough nutritional value?
-----
1.0 Okeetee "Spyro"

technically yes, they are ok... will your beardie actually eat them? that's a whole different story. they kind of like to hunt. if you have the space you can get like 500 crickets at a time and that'll last you for a month, although then you basically have two pets, since that many crickets take some care.

The only pre-packaged diet that I found any good are Dragon Bites.....The rest are total crap and the dragons hate them.
If you don't want to constantly drive to get live feeders you can always order crickets in bulk online....It will save you alot of time and money.

Shaun

Bearded dragons are omnivorous, they eat both vegetation and insects...more vegetation than insects as adults and crickets are not the only good feeder you can give adult dragons..they will happily eat supperworms, silkworms etc.

Baby bearded dragons up to their first 12-14 months, will eat plenty of insects, as much as 90% of their diet for the first 2-4 months then gradually decreasing as they get older..

For the first 12 months ordering crickets or other insect foods in bulk is the best choice...but if you dont' want to keep any insects in the house, then bearded dragons are not the reptile for you.

Perhaps you should consider some of the alternatives below:

Crested geckos, gargoyle geckos (easy to keep small geckos (grow about 7-9" head to tail) though both do like insects, both can thrive well on powdered complete meal replacements (just add water)

Uromastyx (various subspecies, common being mali uromastyxs). These re about the same size as a bearded dragon and have similar care but are completely vegetarian (though some debate on whether some insects can be given when they are babies)

Blue tongue skinks (yes they do like insects but do well on a all vegetarian diet mixed with quality cat food, pinky mice or pinky rats)
-----
PHLdyPayne

Ah, thanks. I kinda figured the beardies wouldn't go for the idea, but thought I'd check.

I've been looking at gargoyle geckos too, cute little guys. They look like little crocodiles. And I like that I wouldn't have to worry about special lighting. Might just get one of them, instead..
-----
1.0 Okeetee "Spyro"