bearded dragon

ashleynbob · 08-11-11, 09:28 PM

Can anyone give us an idea of how to tell how old our bearded dragon may be. We got her from a younger fellow and he said he had her 9 months and the person before him who stated he was a breeder of them had him for 2 months. He falsely told this young boy to feed this little dragon 45 crickets a day which is wrong so we heard tonight when we went to buy a suplply of them at our local pet store in brampton. Everything this young guy was doing was over the top and he would of ended up killing her because he was not completely educated the right way, he was given all the wrong details.She appears to look alot older than 11 months old. Is there anyway to tell the age??? Help me please.

Thanks

Ashley n Bob

NennaMeerkat · 08-11-11, 09:52 PM

What is wrong with feeding crickets to your dragon daily?

As for aging...not entirely sure.

stephanbakir · 08-11-11, 10:00 PM

Careful with reptiles in Brampton, they tend to crack down on it pretty hard.
I know all snakes and arachnids are banned, not 100% on lizards.

ashleynbob · 08-12-11, 07:18 AM

There is nothing wrong with feeding crickets to my dragon daily but the boy who had him before we got him was feeding him way to many the pet store said he was feeding her 45 a day plus her veggies, shes only small yet.
She is not the first liazard we have owned here in brampton. we had an iguana before her. I just want to know if there is a way to check her age as all the info the boy gave us about her with what he did was wrong.

Valvaren · 08-12-11, 08:33 AM

When my dragon was one month old she was eating 60 crickets a day they eat a lot when they are babies and the general rule for feeding is as much as they will eat in a 10-15 min period twice a day. They need their protein. I don't know how everyone else feels on this forum but in my experience and opinion pet stores do more harm then good, if you want to know where I learn what I know you should go to beardeddragon.org its tesT forum with lots of breeders and people who've owned dragons for 20+ years.

It's hard to tell age without a general hatch date so much effects their growth, food, Uvb, calcium intake, even cage size so their are a lot of factors.

NennaMeerkat · 08-12-11, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valvaren

When my dragon was one month old she was eating 60 crickets a day they eat a lot when they are babies and the general rule for feeding is as much as they will eat in a 10-15 min period twice a day. They need their protein. I don't know how everyone else feels on this forum but in my experience and opinion pet stores do more harm then good, if you want to know where I learn what I know you should go to beardeddragon.org its tesT forum with lots of breeders and people who've owned dragons for 20+ years.

Exactly! It has been my experience that unless you are feeding your dragon those really fatty worms (can't remember their name) that it is hard to overfeed. When dragons are young they are RAVENOUS it seems, unable to keep up with their need for food to some extent. If you dragon is eating 45 crickets a day + veggies keep going. Heck feed more crickets and see what you get.

Also pictures of the dragon would help to say if it is being overfed, underfed, ect.

And what veggies are you feeding it? Most people think lettuce is the way to go but honestly it is AWFUL stuff to give. Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Alfalfa (fresh), and just about any kind of squash. That is the best.

SpOoKy · 08-12-11, 04:32 PM

Quote:

I know all snakes and arachnids are banned, not 100% on lizards.

Not all snakes are banned in Brampton.

SpOoKy · 08-12-11, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Careful with reptiles in Brampton, they tend to crack down on it pretty hard.
I know all snakes and arachnids are banned, not 100% on lizards.

Not all snakes are banned in Brampton only snakes from the Pythonidae and Boidae families.

SpOoKy · 08-12-11, 07:10 PM

Quote:

fatty worms (can't remember their name)

I think it is meal worms that are really fatty

Quote:

If you dragon is eating 45 crickets a day + veggies keep going.

Agreed, especially younger beardies they eat like tanks!

Quote:

Also pictures of the dragon would help to say if it is being overfed, underfed, ect.

+1

NennaMeerkat · 08-12-11, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpOoKy

I think it is meal worms that are really fatty

No they aren't what I was thinking of. There is a type of worm that is supposed to be "addictive" to dragons and other lizards.

Valvaren · 08-12-11, 07:21 PM

Silkworms are fine as feeders as well as butter worms, superworms are fatty and also wax worms (which are contain more fat) but wax worms are a treat while superworms can be a staple if monitored correctly.

NennaMeerkat · 08-12-11, 07:35 PM

Yeah there we go

Waxworms. That is what I was thinking of...though I have never even seen them in any stores in my area.

Valvaren · 08-12-11, 07:40 PM

Usually you can only get them from feeder breeders and not pet stores, there are also horn worms, as a treat, and also meal worms have very little nutritional value and can be hard on beardies due to the chitin. Also supers should only be fed when you dragon reaches about 16 inchs, any less can pose a serious risk of Impaction due to a kink in their intestines.

NennaMeerkat · 08-12-11, 07:47 PM

Yup I don't feed any of my lizards mealworms or really any kind of worms. Though one of my leopards would much rather have them rather than the crickets which to me seems silly. But I figured the thin little mealworms never would have been as good as crickets. I know roaches are supposed to be even better than crickets...but durn roaches creep me out.

Valvaren · 08-12-11, 07:52 PM

Used to feed crickets then switch to supers then to dubia I love them so much better then crickets in everyway, no noise, no smell, easy to breed, healthier, I wish they didnt creep you out