Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to use a different live food source, I was thinking mealies, (he's 2 months, I think superworms would be too big) something I can put in the bowl, so he starts to go for the bowl for food, then maybe eventually he'll start eating the pellets and greens... plus I hate crickets.

Mine are about the same age as yours. I feel them small mealworms from a tupperware container I place in thier cage. They can get in to the container but the mealies can't get out. I like this because I don't have to search for uneaten mealworms and the beardies always know when it is time to eat.
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1.1.0 bearded dragons
1.1.0 ball pythons
1.1.0 veiled chameleons
0.0.1 spotted pythons
0.3.0 dogs

aren't good for young beardies.
Their shell/skin is hard to digest and may cause impaction or other problems.

As for a cricket substitute, some people here use silk worms, roaches, and locusts (grasshoppers).

Others that wanted to get away from live food altogether have managed to switch their dragons over to Rep-Cal pellets.

Hope this helps.
D.A.

You're right, superworms are too big, but mealworms have too much chitlin for babies that age - I have 4 month olds I won't give mealworms to except as an occasional treat.
Your babies should be eating healthy greens by now, and to get them to take pellets you can soak the pellets then shake them gently into the tank so they roll. The babies think they're alive then, and will "chase" them and eat. But I think they'll still need crickets for awhile during the switch - maybe someone else has more ideas?

you can use medium freshly molted mealies.
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

mealies are much too hard to digest and you are running the risk of impaction. silkworms are softbodied, high in calcium and very yummy so my dragons tell me they are an excellent daily feeder.
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reiko
photos

over the summer at my local shop, and those suckers were like three inches or more long...and are they just a seasonal insect?

sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

You can get them smaller also. The onyl thing though is that they are more expensive. Pellets would be your best bet. Ask around, test the different techniques to get them to eat pellets. You'll find it one day.
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Julie

their soft bodied so the size isnt a problem, it just takes them a few, very messy, bites
my beardy loved them, i live in the uk and had some trouble getting them, i also thought they were more hassle than the crickets, ie having to cook up their food etc

well yah, of course pellets would be my best bet, that's what I'm trying to get him on, I have 3 meal worms in the dish with greens and pelets, he just runs over it or ignores it, I also gave him crickets, and he won't eat much of those, he only had 1. I wonder if it has anything to do with him being the smallest baby, is it possible he's used to being less dominant and not eating? If so that totally sucks.