Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone,

I guess I am still quite new to this hobby, but I was just wondering for you breeders out there that have more than 15 beardies, how do you guys about maintaining the feeding supplies for them (i.e. crickets, worms, salad, etc.)? Do you guys just buy them constantly or do you guys breed them? Any tip would help. Thanks.

Though I don't own 13 dragons or breed them..been around long enough to know what most do. Most breeders mail order in bulk their crickets then feed them a quality gut load, either something the make themselves or buy in bulk as well.

Some do breed their own insects but I find those who do don't have huge amounts of dragons.

Where it comes down to is time and space. It takes some time and amount of work to raise your own feeders. Even if the feeders are easy to breed (and most are) they still have to be maintained...tubs cleaned, insects feed, care to prevent escapes,etc.

In many cases it is far easier to buy 1000's of crickets every week, dump them into tubs or large garbage cans and rotating them every so often so one can be cleaned out. Then they can be fed, watered and fed to dragons as needed.

Just decide what you want to do, breeding your own feeders does safe a little money but often, the time and effort needed doesn't make it worth while...if you don't' have a place to keep noisy adult crickets, like an outdoor shed...or basement, you may find the chirping of several hundred males rather annoying. And they can be loud indoors. Silkworms, hornworms and superworms, far more silent but have their own care requirements...same with roaches. You also have to ensure you have enough to feed your colony all the time, especially if you are breeding and have different ages to feed. If you have all adults, its not as difficult as you just need one size.
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PHLdyPayne

I have 28 Beardies right now from hatchlings to juves to sub's to adults. All requiring differnt size crickets. I dont think I will ever try to breed my own insects. I have a friend who bred roaches but they ate them fdaster than he could breed them so he stopped. I order now from fluker farms once a month and am very satisfied with thier service. Its prob not the cheapest way to go but is the easiest. its nice to try to cut costs here and there but I always tell people Herp keeping is a luxury not a necessity so dont do it if you cant afford it. the only ones that suffer are your animals. I seriously have to cut down my collection. Probaly end up trading for some frillies. I would love to start working with them again(unfortunately the require the same amount of care,feeding and maintenece,hehe)

I have 23 dragons. I buy crickets and supers. I hatch silks from eggs as my main source of food. It's a lot of work taking care of feeders. Just not enough savings to justify the time of breeding them anymore.