Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I've had my Bearded Dragon for about one week now. As far as I can see, everything is going well with him, I just want to ask a few questions to make sure.

One concern I had was his eating. I was told to expect anywhere from 25-100 crickets a day. For the first couple of days, he ate about 20 1/4" crickets and no greens. Then, I noticed some shed skin in his cage, so I figured that had been hindering his appetite along with the acclimation period. Since then, he's been eating more (he's still scratching like his shed isn't complete). I would estimate about 30 1/4" crickets a day, and I did notice him nibbling at his greens. For the first four days or so, I covered the crickets with the calcium and D3 suppliment powder, but then I grew worried that I might be giving him too much. He has a UV light, so he's getting some from that. I stopped putting the powder on the crickets and started sprinkling it on his greens every other day. He's been relieving himself every day and seems to be adjusting fine... except for the occasions where he falls off his basking area because he's scratching his head. I have noticed him growing though, he seems almost an inch longer than he did last week. I need to start taking length pictures so I can document his growth.

His enclosure is between 80-90 degrees during the day with a basking spot at 105. Night time temp is between 70-80. I'm keeping him on paper towels and move him to a separate container to feed, which I do twice daily: 7:30 am and 6:00 pm.

Does anyone see anything I'm doing wrong? Is there anything I could be doing better? As far as I can see, he's doing great and the routine I've set up for him works very well. I just want to make sure he's okay.

Thanks!

It looks like most of what you are doing is fine. Some adjustments I might suggest. I would go back to dusting the crickets with his supplements. You know he is eating crickets and very little greens. I would reccomend calcium 3-4 times per week. and the vitamins maybe twice. Make sure the crickets are properly gutloaded for extra nutrition. Feed the salad within an hour or so of the lights going on. Let him get hungry for a few hours (noon?) before you feed the crickets. You can feed less crickets at a time more frequently during the day, like 10 3X a day instead of 30 1X. That will encourage it to eat greens more readily. You can also try changing up your salad. A lot of people have success with endives when it comes to getting babies to eat greens. You can also out other things in the salad to add color to it like carrot slivers, yellow squash etc. It usually takes a few weeks to properly train your dragons to eat salads but will save you money in the long run if they will eat larger quantities of greens over live prey. I have some dragons who eat 2 full salads every day while others may eat only 1/2. Either way they all eat it and then you can start dusting the salads. I use T-Rex dragon dust and dust bot salads and crickets for added nutrition. Good luck.

Mike
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

theres a difference in the dragon dust and the crix dust. The crix dust will help ballance the phosphorus:calcium ratio in the crix.
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Bennett

Home Of The Florida Orange
www.beardiedragon.com

Your doing a great job!. I keep may basking temp between 110 and 115. 105 is fine also. They do like it warmmer. I use zero UVA and UVB and use repcal suplement every day. Ive done 3 generatons like this. It is a vet approved process. The way you are doing it is also fine. Just watch out for D3 overdose. If your using UVA and UVB, only use the supplement every other day. Overdose symptoms areas follows. The dragon will get tremors. this is small twiching of the limbs. Also if the dragon suddenly has a siezure. this is a symptom. If you see any of this. Cut down on the supplement. Feel free to call me a discuss any problems you may have or if you just want to chat. Im always avalible.
Mike Nagy
None Fatter Herps
www.nonefatterherps.com
610 517 3406