Not chasing crix?

bailey · 12-28-04, 01:45 PM

I've had my beardie 10 days now and at first he was reluctant to eat. Now he's eating well but only from my fingers and only if they are a few inches in front of him. He's also not eating the great salad I put together for him (collard,mustard,turnip,endive greens, butternut squash and mango. Got the ideas from this site.Not eating pellets either but he's eating about 15 crix a day at 2 1/2 months. Is this good or bad?? He's drinking well and anything else you need to know is below.
http://home.comcast.net/~holachapulin/Nutrition.html

He came from a breeder.
He's 2 months old.
He's 7" and 18g.
He's in a 20 long. His temps are 111 basking and 88 cool.
His basking light is a 40w incandescant. His uvb is exoterra 8.0 RetiGlo
His substrate is non-adhesive shelf liner.

I supplement with rep cal calcium with D3 on all food except pellets and rep cal herptivite 3 times a week.

I clean with peroxide and vinegar and rinse till the hot water runs out.
Thanks everyone.

Bartman · 12-28-04, 02:17 PM

If you're getting 111 F with a 40 W bulb id say thats pretty hard. Either you made a mistake with the wattage, or the thermometre you're using is inaccurate.

15 crickets a day sounds good. I personally think they only need max a dozen a day, but the more the better as they are still young and growing. Your salad sounds great, but most babies are reluctant to eat them right away. Id offer the salad before any insects, as once they see insects they usually dont bother with the salad. Id feed insects every other day and in between those days feed veggies.

Ptindy · 12-28-04, 02:20 PM

Rinse till you use up the hot water?!?! My mom would kill me.

Mike

drewlowe · 12-28-04, 02:30 PM

Most babies and juvi's don't really eat too much salads or pellets, they prefer mostly insects. That's ok because at this time they need the protein from them to grow nice and big. As time goes on around 6-9 months of age you will start to notice more and more salads are getting eaten. I do salad or pellets first thing in the morning and if i feed crix or any other insect i wait until after 12 to feed them.

That reminds me i have to go get dressed (im in my pj's still) and head on down to the reptile store and get some crixs.

Jamie

bailey · 12-29-04, 10:45 AM

I was incorrect with the wattage. I'm using a 60w on a rheostat. Is 108-111 good for basking? I use a temp gun that my husband has from work. Very high dollar. And does it take time to warm up when it first comes on? He's not really eating the pellets but we started with Jurassi Pet. The repcal juvie should be here tomarrow. Earnhardt also doesn't seem to like to eat until close to noon or after. He eats very well at 4pm and 7pm. Yesterday he ate 5 crix 3 times. Things seem to be going well. I think he may be going into shed. He's much darker and didn't really pick up his head when I walked in until I bent down in front of the cage. I dunno he seems blue. I haven't tried to feed yet. Just misted and put in fresh greens and pellets. I'm not gonna swear he ate any salad yesterday but there was tiny bits out of the bowl and it looked like a small bit was missing. Also, I've read so many contradicting things about where to keep a bearded dragon in your house. Right now he is in the spare bedroom/reptile room which is low traffic. Only go in there for him and to check temps on the rest of them. I've read that they need to be in an active area because they are social. When would be a good time to move him? Also I am looking into getting some slik worms for him. Any opinions on that? Thanks so much for all the help I think Earnhardt is going to thrive just as well as the rest of my reptiles.

Bartman · 12-29-04, 12:18 PM

Get him as much variety as you possibly can as thats always best.

As for the the traffic, keep him where he is. You want a low traffic room so he doesnt feel threatened by "predators"

The rest sounds good, so just keep us updated. Btw, 111 sounds okay although ive even heard 120 is good too, so if you CAN id say raise it, but if not then its no biggy.

bailey · 12-29-04, 12:58 PM

Oh I can raise it. I thought 120 was too high. There is so much conflicting information out there so I just tried to get it in the middle.

So he should stay in the reptile room with all of the other reptiles for the rest of his life? Or can he later be moved? I wanted him for a showpeice but if not my corn will do good.

Bartman · 12-29-04, 01:12 PM

Oh when he is an adult or just eating regularely without any problems, then he can forsure be moved to a more busy part of the house, but id say keep a close eye on him JUST incase

Good luck!

bailey · 12-29-04, 01:27 PM

YAY. I want people to see him. Thanks sooo much for your help. I think we've about got it figured out. I've learned with reptiles that no matter how much you prepare for something new you always have to just get the hang of it. It's an addiction!