Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just aquired a full grown breeding pair of bearded's with thirteen eggs. Due to the circumstances I wasn't able to speak to the owner and get any care taking tips. The eggs are all being incubated and doing great. I have had herps all my life, almost exclusively snakes, and a few random things here and there. So lizards are not really my forte'. My question is about feeding and watering the dragons. What do you guys feed your lizards (fruit, veggies, insects, rodents, all the above) and what kind of schedule? Also, do you use a water bowl, or mist them, or both? Any help is appreciated! Thanks, Tom Magers
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1.0 Albino Bumese
1.0 Columbian Boa
1.0 Mexican King
1.1 Alterna Gray Bands
2.1 Speckled Kings (1 albino pair)
1.0 Melanistic? California King
1.1 Bull Snakes
1.1 Red Milks
1.1 Black Pines
1.0 Red Northern Pine
0.1 Mexican Black King
1.1 Bearded Dragon (13 eggs)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko

>>What do you guys feed your lizards (fruit, veggies, insects, rodents, all the above) and what kind of schedule?

For adults, the majority of the diet should be dark leafy greens such as collards, turnip, and mustard greens. They should get those, along with a few veggies or fruits such as green bean or various types of squash, daily. Insects should be given 2-4 times a week. They can be crickets, silkworms, or, for adults, superworms. Rodents should not be offered as they just provide an unnecessary risk of impaction...

For babies, insects such as *small* (the space between the eyes) crickets or silk worms should be offered several times daily. The greens can be once a day just as for the adults.

>>Also, do you use a water bowl, or mist them, or both?

Some people provide a water bowl, but most (not all) dragons refuse to use them... Generally misting, several times a day for hatchlings, and several times a week for adults, along with the greens and a weekly bath will give them the water they need.

Here are some links for you to look at for further reading
(copy and paste them into the address bar):
http://home.comcast.net/%7Eholachapulin/Nutrition.html
http://www.reptilerooms.com/Section...es-secid-1.html
http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/caresheet/
http://www.kakadudragons.com/caresheet/
http://blackninjakitty.com/herps/dragons.php
http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html
http://www.dragonsbynature.com/care.htm

I hope that helps you out!
-Drew
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Owned by:
1.2 bearded dragons - Legolas, Rosy, Miss Scarlet
0.1 Indonesian blue tongue skink - Sarah
1.0 reverse oketee corn snake - Bernard
1.0 ball python - Patrick
2.0 guinea pigs (I know, they're not herps!) - Punky, Jeepers

If the female just laid eggs special care should be provided to her as its quite a drain on the system. Lots of extra calcium, some pinkie mice or other fattening treats such as wax worms would be appreciated by her right now.

Since you got them from someone else you want to make sure their husbandry was correct before you got them....www.beautifuldragons.com has awesome info, but a quick overview:

temps: 100-110degrees in the basking spot

substrate: ideally something they cannot injest such as paper towels, newspaper, tile, linelium, indoor/outdoor carpetting, or shelf liner. Sand is not a good idea because it harbors bacteria, which makes it very tough to clean unless you do complete cleans and steralizations about once a week. If you do use sand make sure its the fine grain screened playsand.

Water: a small water dish can be provided to keep the humidty around 30%. Occasional warm water soaks, rinsing the veggies before feeding, and spraying the dragons occasionally is usually enough to keep them well hydrated

Supplements: A multivitimin supplement containing D3, and a straight calcium supplement are needed. The multivitimin can be used once ever 2-3weeks and the calcium once every week to once every other week. Of course, the female will need more right now

Lighting: A UVB light in addition to the heat bulb is critical for these guys. If they came with one i would replace it anyway as you dont know how old it is and they are only good for 6months. Make surethe dragons can get within 6-12inches of it.

Good luck!

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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

>>If the female just laid eggs special care should be provided to her as its quite a drain on the system. Lots of extra calcium, some pinkie mice or other fattening treats such as wax worms would be appreciated by her right now.

I agree that some extra fat and protein wouldn't hurt, but pinkies are just an unnecessary risk of impaction... When there are so many other options (such as wax worms like you mentioned), why would you bother with something that could potentially cause harm to your dragon? Vertebrates are just not healthy "dragon food". People legitimize their argument by saying that they eat vertebrates in the "wild"... But people seem to forget that these are no longer "wild" animals... They have weaker digestive systems due to poor genetics. For this reason I would NOT feed rodents, or any vertebrates to a bearded dragon in any instance. Don't get me wrong, people do it all the time without problems, but there IS a risk, and it is a totally unnecessary one.
-Drew
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Owned by:
1.2 bearded dragons - Legolas, Rosy, Miss Scarlet
0.1 Indonesian blue tongue skink - Sarah
1.0 reverse oketee corn snake - Bernard
1.0 ball python - Patrick
2.0 guinea pigs (I know, they're not herps!) - Punky, Jeepers

Hmm. Funny you should mention that, I have only recently (within the last three weeks) heard anyone say that, but now i believe you are the second person to tell me that. Im definately not doubting you, but now im really interested and i think its time to do a bit more poking around to see if i can get more info on that. I had no idea pinkies could cause impactions. Thanks for the info though.

~Mim
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

That was very informative info. I appreciate the help. Tom
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1.0 Albino Bumese
1.0 Columbian Boa
1.0 Mexican King
1.1 Alterna Gray Bands
2.1 Speckled Kings (1 albino pair)
1.0 Melanistic? California King
1.1 Bull Snakes
1.1 Red Milks
1.1 Black Pines
1.0 Red Northern Pine
0.1 Mexican Black King
1.1 Bearded Dragon (13 eggs)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko