Reptile & Amphibian Forums

particularly juveniles - @ 6 months old - what is the best feeding practice - i've read and heard so many different opinions - many say - " as many crickets as they will eat in a certain period of minutes" - saturday after running out of crickets on thurs evening - he ate the last 4 thurs eve. - anyway when i came in with crickets he was "on alert' obviously hungry - he consumed 30 smalls - the first 25 or so with a vengeance - the last 5 a little slower - the next day he showed no interest whatsoever in eating other than a few bites off of a mustard green leaf from my hand - he will usually take a few bites - it must be the smell tha set him off on the greens as he will not eat them when laid in his food bowl - only from my hand - at any rate - i would like your opinion - particularly do you know of available info concerning their natural feeding habits in the wild - i just can't believe it can be good for him to take 30 and lay up for 24 hours like a fat rat - ???? - it would make more sense to me to toss in 8-10 2 or 3 times a day but that seems like you would feed a dog or cat - i hope you get my question - he's doing well - just wish all would share opinions and especially specifics by multiple owners/breeders of how you feed

Well, you know what they say opinions right, lol? My suggestion is to take in what other people say, read what you can, then make your own decision. What works for one dragon, may not work for another. If your dragon is not used to eating 30 crix at a time, and all of the sudden he does, his belly is going to be full....just like people.

Now for my opinion, I like young dragons to get fed 2-3 times a day with real tiny babies I would really try 3x a day. Adults you can do once a day, but I always try 2x, even if its 1 bug feeding, and 1 veggie feeding.

Your temps will also play a role in your feeding schedule. Lower temps will mean longer to digest....

You're teaching your dragon that food is not readily available and he must gorge himself when it is. You should be feeding him all the dusted and gutloaded crickets he will eat at least twice daily every day.

I took in an 8" rescue a few years back. She was over 6 months old and very thin. The first day she ate 60 crickets. I was afraid to feed her more in one sitting. The next day she ate none. I continued to offer her crix. twice daily. within a week she started to eat at every meal offering. Suddenly she started growing at almost an inch a week. She is now my largest dragon. I suspect that she was fed live food infrequently which caused her initial slow growth.

Dragons hatch in the spring early summer when food is most plentiful. Bugs are available 24/7 all they have to do is look for them and catch them.

Bdvlr gave you good insight on why you will see this kind of reaction from your dragon. Just make sure if you put crickets in the cage and the dragon does not eat them within 20mins that you take them back out. This will prevent any issues with them harming your dragon. Also if you feed your dragon greens by hand then he will think that is how they will be given to him. This becomes a feeding issue when you try to put them in a bowl. I had the same problem because it was fun when my dragon was small and now i don't wan to sit there and hold food for 5 mins while he thinks about if it wants to eat it or not. So what i have done is offer him greens before crickets. So he is more hungry and then i put them in the bowl and spray water on them. The water will start to gather and then run off the greens. Your dragon will see the movement and be more likly to eat them. I found this was a great way to get him to see the bowl and react as if it is food. I also take the bowl away and any extra greens after 20mins. This helps him know that he only has so much time for feeding time. 2-3 times a day feeding for young dragons. 1 once a day for adults but i like to offer greens and crickets at different times. This works for me may not work for you. Every dragon is differnt. Enjoy finding the right way for you.

"saturday after running out of crickets on thurs evening - he ate the last 4 thurs eve. - anyway when i came in with crickets he was "on alert' obviously hungry"

I'm not sure if I read this correctly. Did this 6 month old dragon go 4 days without live prey?

no he ate my last 4 un thurs evening - then a healthy portion of greens on friday then crickets on saturday

A 6-month old dragon would do best eating live prey twice day in addition to fresh greens as others have suggested. The quantity of crickets is really no matter as long as they are full. Try some other feeders too. A variety will keep their interest and belly's full.