New addition and some help please. - Page 2

**lady_bug87** · 10-20-11, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Rev

1. Nothing runny, but it does stink.
2. I dust their food with calcium dust and gut load their crickets. The male however seems to only want to eat meal worms and greens whereas the female will not touch them at all and only nibbles a bit at her greens. Should I be using Calcium with D3 or without. I have been using plain calc dust at the moment but I have both.
3. I am using a 10% UVB but I have been considering switching them over to a mercury vapor bulb, what are your thoughts on those?
4. Hopefully I have not spammed you to death with my questions.

I don't know if its been mentioned but mealworms can cause impaction in beardies which really sucks for both animal and handler so keep an eye on it

Uncle_Rev · 10-20-11, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

I don't know if its been mentioned but mealworms can cause impaction in beardies which really sucks for both animal and handler so keep an eye on it

Ok, noted and changed. I have tank full of crickets so he will have to adjust. How are the zoo meds etc brand of dried crickets for beardies?

Lankyrob · 10-20-11, 04:42 PM

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

Uncle_Rev · 10-20-11, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

I was under that impression, but here is where I talk brass cannon balls, is there a place any of you would recommend for ordering crickets as I really hate dealing with the pet shop so often.

They are the only pet shop in my town and it is like entering a used car lot trying to deal with them.

Gungirl · 10-20-11, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Rev

I was under that impression, but here is where I talk brass cannon balls, is there a place any of you would recommend for ordering crickets as I really hate dealing with the pet shop so often.

They are the only pet shop in my town and it is like entering a used car lot trying to deal with them.

Why dont you start a roach colony? They are simple to keep. Dont make noise and are great for your little guys...

Uncle_Rev · 10-20-11, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Why dont you start a roach colony? They are simple to keep. Dont make noise and are great for your little guys...

That is something I am bouncing around in my head, after seeing the ease of which the dubias can be kept. Every sheet I read touts the virtues of crickets but every board I read says Dubs are way better and easier to maintain. Soooo I am really really tempted. I just have to convince my wife of the idea.

Keeping lizards for me is way more intensive than my snakes. There is so much to learn whereas snakes are pretty much temps, enclosure, hides, humidity. Lizards are light, temp, basking, bugs, enclosures, calcium, gut loading, etc.

If it were not for the awesome people on this forum I would have thrown my hands up in total confusion on the first day.

Gungirl · 10-20-11, 05:29 PM

I actually think i want a roach colony more than a lizard ... well almost ..... lol

Lankyrob · 10-20-11, 05:58 PM

Cant go wrong with dubs, they will feed most lizards well and are SOOOOOOOO easy to maintain.

**lady_bug87** · 10-20-11, 08:41 PM

definitely feed live, I'm sure dub would be fine as well as crickets but still try and keep crickets a staple in their diet as well as veggies and some fruit, when beardies are little they will eat mostly crickets (nothing larger than the space between their eyes) you can offer as much as they will eat in 10 minutes again this is while they are quite young

as they get older they will go from eating 80-90% meat to closer to a 60/40 veggie to meat split

Im not 100% familiar with dubias but if they have a hard shell again just watch for impaction

ZARADOZIA · 10-22-11, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

You are 100% correct and I can back this up for you.

Vitamins and minerals in canned/jarred/frozen foods degrade over time.

Processed foods are the worst offenders because heating it breaks down many of the vitamins as does boiling foods, e.g., veggies, because B-complex vitamins are water soluble. The process of boiling food breaks down the water soluble vitamins and they are absorbed into the water. (Steamed is MUCH healthier)

This is the main reason many foods are reinforced with vitamins now days.

For in depth info do a search of "vitamins and minerals degradation rate in processed foods" and it will provide a wealth of info.

ZARADOZIA · 10-22-11, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Rev

That is something I am bouncing around in my head, after seeing the ease of which the dubias can be kept. Every sheet I read touts the virtues of crickets but every board I read says Dubs are way better and easier to maintain. Soooo I am really really tempted. I just have to convince my wife of the idea.

We have a thread about Dubias and their care: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/food-...1-roaches.html (Click Roaches and the link wil pop up)

I was going to do this as well but my husband didn't just say no, he said H* NO! lol