Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im supposed to give my animal a varied diet, but im confused as to how varied it can get.

Ive already decided on a mealworm/superworm staple, but im kinda stumped as to what else to provide besides maybre crix and phoenix worms.

What should i give and where do you think i could get those supplies?

My varied diet consists of a staple of crickets, once or twice a month of waxworms or superworms. Ive given up mealworms since there so hard to find. About once a month I also give each of my geckos a pinkie mouse for extra fat and protien. During the breeding season I stock up on waxworms and I make sure my crickets are gutloaded to the max. I also give my females pinkies about twice a month for extra fat and calcium. Hope that helps.
-Cheyenne

My reptilian specialist told me to offer mine earthworms and critters from my yard. I don't know why people are so bound to what is commercially available.

And no, I do not treat my property with pesticides. I've put my bearded dragon and my red footed tortoise outside to get natural sunlight for years. They love munching on house crickets, garden spiders, Japanese beetles, even the occasional fly and everything else they can catch. They are healthy and thriving.

So go ahead and offer them more than what you have available commercially!

Wanda

Oh the reason id be scared of doing that is because i dont know if there are any parasites inside those feeders.

Besides, being in texas, the insects that i have crawling around in my backyard range from high chitin crickets to roly polies. All of which are presumably hard.

But earthworms.. hmm i do have those sometimes i just dont know when to catch them before they fry in the sun

A common chatter online states that wild bugs will spread parasites.

When you consult with a trained, reptilian specialist or a professional entomologist they will tell you that it is not correct. They are often misbeliefs spread by people who have not consulted with a professionals beforehand. That's how the rumor that crickets spread pinworm infections started.

My animals who need sun are out in it as often as I can leave them out, instead of under lights. They eat all sort of unfortunate critters walking their way. Trust me, if more people consulted with professionals in the fields of reptilian and entomology biology they would not be so afraid of offering their animals new and different feeders.

Most infections and health problems of reptiles in captivity are brought on by lack of adequate care, and higiene practices. That is where the bulk of the precautions should go.

Wanda

hmm thats a useful peice of info there. ill keep that in mind.

since you seem to use a huge diet range id like to ask: have you ever tried feeding fish/frogs/lizards to your leo?

i know this sounds wierd but it was jsut a question out of curiosity.

I tried fish, they didn't seem interested. Only as a once in a great while thing though. because fish carry high levels of mercury and that can be dangerous to for any animal in high quantities.

lol it just sounded as an odd thing to try out. never thought i would though

anyways: id liek to know if there is a link between calcium and taste. i tried this out by offereing a mealworm with no dusting to my animal and it was chasing it down. before it could eat it, i took the mealie and dipped it in calcium. then i offered it again. it took a bite and just left it.

any clues?

btw im using jurassical/jurassivite