Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering if anyone knows what i should do about feeding my bearded dragon if i go away every weekend. I have a 6-7 month year old beardie juvenile about 16 inches in lenghth. I was told to shut the lights off on the tank. Is this the right thing to do or will this mess up his food absorbtion. I have been keeping an UTH on for him when i shut the lights off for the weekend.

Thanks!!

Of course it is best to be at home to monitor your dragons closely, but I understand going away on the weekends too! Have you tried using a timer?? That is what I use all the time to ensure that my dragons get a good light/dark cycle each day. You can set the timer to turn the lights on at a certain time as well as off at a certain time. I think this might be the best way to go, but others may have better suggestions! I found that timers work the best!

I agree with GirlieTegRacer. Timers are the best way to go, because they are on a constant day/night cycle (like humans). I believe that using timers help keep dragons comfortable, because they are not stressed out if you forget to turn the lights on in the morning or get home late to turn the lights off at night. It also makes life easier for the owner(you). So I would suggest to use timers and feed them well right before you leave.

itd probably help if you could get them eating pellets. that way you could leave a supply in for the weekend.
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python (mr snake),0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake (CK),1.1.0 leopard gecko (sebastian and vilma),0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa (luce),1.1.1 bearded dragon (kaipo, dulce, and kellen), 1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (adam and eve)

Timers are the best thing to use to turn on lights and turn them off.

Undertank heaters are unnecessary for dragons and can be potentially harmful. I wouldn't use it at all except on belly warming reptiles like snakes. Basking overhead lights are better for dragons.

It would be best to arrange for a reliable friend to come in and feed your dragon once a day at least, twice a day at best giving the age of your dragon. Getting them to eat pellets is also a great alternative. Getting silkworms to use as food wouldn't be a bad ideal as you can leave a dish of silkworms in the cool part of the cage with silkworm food. The dragon will eat the silkworms when he is hungry (I don't think he will eat them all as mine will leave one or two if he isnt' hungry when I toss in 4 or so before his regular feeding time if I know i won't be there to feed him). Since silkworms are not big wonderers like crickets, they won't go very far or hide.

Leaving a large quantity of greens and pellets near or in the cool section of the tank should last for a weekend (assuming you feed them friday, come back on Sunday, they may only miss two to four meals). The fact this is ever weekend best to use pellets or a friend to ensure he eats regularly.