Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have 14 dragons, age 6 to 11 months.

their old diet was veggies daily, dusted crickets daily (dusted with vitamins weekly),,superworms replacing crickets for the bigger (dragons 200 grams ) every other day.

pellets twice a month

Everyone seemed healthy and growing,,,,

Now the new diet,,,,

vegies everyday,,with occasional squash and red razberries...new fruits and berries to be tried in the future. (red razberries were a BIG hit,,they love em)

dusted cricket about 2 times a week,,,superworms of appropriate size and quantity 2 times a week

pellets twice a month...(we are not crazy for pellets, but in case of emergancy, i want the dragons to know what they are and eat them)

the idea here is to reduce live food and increase veggie foods as the dragons age

ideas?
suggestions?
mistakes?

Thanx!
TAZ

Yup that's the best thing to do. I've heard from numerous breeders and hoobyists that the best way to go about it is:

Get them on the veggies early and slowly get rid of the crickets all together. It's healthier as long as you dust the veggies with calcium. The rasberries are good as long as they are considered a "treat". Too many fruits could give them the runs.

Stay away from spinich and iceberg lettuce too, they can take calcium away from your dragon's diet.

Hope that helps.

-----
Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

Seems like a descent diet, and proper change for larger older dragons. You just want to offer a wide variety in greens/veggies daily. When my dragons hit a certain age & size the amounts of live feeders drop a bit, and they get fed the live foods later in the day so they eat more and fill up on the healthy greens/veggies. When my dragons are babies, and juvies and growing huge amounts week to week they receive a high protein diet (more live feeders). Seems as young dragons all the protein turns into more dragon, and I personally feel live feeders at this age is important, and crucial to maximize growth.. Once they are done with those huge growth spurts I change the diets to more greens daily, and protein later in the day a few times a week. Once they hit their max length and size if they are still eating the large amounts of feeders and low greens they ate as a young growing dragon they will get overweight, and it could hurt their liver function, and other organs. Many dragons fed to much live feeders or only live feeders throughout life might get fatty liver disease cutting their life short, and compromise their overall health. Many dragons in the past have succumbed to the fatty liver disease, and I think with the diets they are receiving nowadays, with more knowledge of their needs and diets more dragons will be living longer healthier lives.
-----
Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
Mystical-Dragons Website