thoughts on rep cal pelets?

[jakejeff]

was wonderin what everyone thinks about a beardie being fed a staple diet rep cal pellets?

[Kat]

Don't do it!

[eyespy]

I like Rep Cal pellets, but just as one part of a balanced diet. Who knows what trace elements are missing from a formulated diet? Plus the moisture content even when thoroughly soaked in water is MUCH lower than greens or even crickets and superworms so chronic lowlevel dehydration is a big risk.

I offer Rep Cal pellets like croutons in a salad, they give color, flavor and a hit of nutrition but are just one item on the menu. When my adults reach a good size, I do pull them mostly off feeder insects though and give a bit more pellets to keep animal protein down. Over the years I've seen much longer lifespans on beardies fed a low protein diet as adults. Breeding females would still get their crix and other bugs though.

[jakejeff]

eyespy do you soak your pellets or just feed them dry?

[eyespy]

I soak them. Dry pellets are a major contributor to kidney disease because they are so dehydrating.

[Moose1960]

Eyespy:
When you say you soak them can you explain how you do it?
Just drop some in water or what. I have just acquired a bearded, and i bought some pellets for Bearded juvi's but he doesnt seem to eat them.

[eyespy]

Put the pellets in a dish and cover them completely with warm water or water mixed with apple or white grape juice. Let it stand until the water is absorbed and the pellets at least triple in size, about 10 to 15 minutes.

There are some brands of pellets that just are not eaten and even with favored brands like Rep Cal you have to use some trickery sometimes to convince a beardie to give them a try. Poke them with a toothpick or straw so they are moving targets. You can also stun crickets in the freezer and then let them "come to life" in a dish of pellets so the little hunters will get a taste of the pellets while going after the crickets.

If your beardie eats greens, make a "pellet burrito" by rolling a pellet or two in a leaf and handfeeding it. Or you can smear the pellets with some applesauce or baby food to sweeten them up a bit.

[Moose1960]

Thanks I will try them.