Six-month-old beardie - when to start reducing insects?

**Renenet** · 29-May-12, 12:10 PM

Hi,

I have a central beardie who is approximately six to seven months old. Watching her grow has become an extreme sport - she's gone from 66 to 238 grams in the last two months.

She gets two serves of medium-sized wood cockroaches daily, morning and evening, and nothing longer than the gap between her eyes. Every second or third day, one of those serves is dusted with calcium. Every week she gets a vitamin supplement. I put a salad in with her all day, consisting of bok choy or baby endives with grated yellow button squash and butternut pumpkin. She loves the greens, will eat the squash and tries to avoid the pumpkin. How much she eats altogether per day depends on her mood. She seems to be strong and healthy, and poops regularly.

I'm a bit unsure about how to proceed from here. I want her to be eating all her salad when she's older, and not to be a fat beardie. At what point do I begin to taper off the insects?

Thanks,
R

**Flaviruthless** · 29-May-12, 01:05 PM

She's still a young animal but at 238 grams her growth should begin to taper off (unless you are breeding some super beardies the size of cats) so I would begin to reduce her insects now.

Sounds like you're doing a great job with her though

**Renenet** · 30-May-12, 10:53 AM

Thanks, Flaviruthless. Super beardies the size of cats... the idea brings a big smile to my face!

I've been wanting to post some pictures of Kirby (my beardie) since I got her, but uni has been keeping me too busy.

What would you say is the best way to start reducing her insects? Is it better to start with an insect-free day or give her only one serve of insects a couple of days a week?

Out of curiosity, roughly how much do healthy adult beardies weigh?

**Flaviruthless** · 30-May-12, 12:37 PM

I've seen them vary in weight - from 350 odd to 430 grams but that's only a generalisation and they are highly variable in my experience. I would just throw in an insect free day every now and then, it won't hurt.

**Bel03** · 30-May-12, 01:31 PM

Sorry to cut in on ur thread Renenet, but this got me wondering.....what age are beardies actually classed as adults?? Muppet is about the same age as your girl, 6-7mnths, & he is pushing the 300gram mark now........he doesnt look overweight at all, he looks very healthy, but im wondering how much longer does he actually have left of growing.......because 350grams doesnt seem all that far away for my big boy!! He eats all his vegies daily, usually a cup to a cup & a half, & i have in the last few weeks started skipping a day of live feeding each week. Maybe he should go 2 days without the bugs!!

**Chris1** · 30-May-12, 01:47 PM

wow, what a grower!
what did she weigh when u first got her??

start cutting down on the insects now, with the goal of having her eating close to 80% veg by the time shes 12 months old.

they do vary greatly in size, my dragons weigh between 219 and 440g, all adults at a healthy weight, the smallest is about 12 years old, so shes definately finished growing, lol,...!!!

**samiam** · 30-May-12, 01:52 PM

Mine are around the same age but I don't have scales to weigh them!
Post some pics of your beardies so I can compare the size?

**Flaviruthless** · 30-May-12, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bel711

Maybe he should go 2 days without the bugs!!

Glad to hear your baby is doing well! It certainly wouldn't hurt to cut the bugs down a bit more

**Bel03** · 30-May-12, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Flaviruthless

Glad to hear your baby is doing well! It certainly wouldn't hurt to cut the bugs down a bit more

He is doing brilliantly!! He has made loving dragons SOOOOOO easy, he has the friendliest nature & he is always looking for some 'cuddles'!! I will cut back his bugs to 3days a week i think, i dont want him to get fat, he is so gorgeous!! His 'girlfriend' on the other hand.......she is 4mnths old & a complete physco!! She is housed & kept the same way as Muppet, but just doesnt like me!!

Well.....she does 'like' my fingers!!

I cant count how many times she has latched on & fought like a bulldog!! Ok, not that bad, but she is def very different to muppet!!

Oh & P.S- Rylee is doing super well also, doesnt stop talking & now has the complete ring around his neck!! He also has a girlfriend named Miami now aswell!!

Originally Posted by samiam

Mine are around the same age but I don't have scales to weigh them!
Post some pics of your beardies so I can compare the size?

If u look in the thread about posting pics from hatchy's to now u will see my boy.

[hide][top]Post pics of your hatchys to now,

**Renenet** · 30-May-12, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Bel711

Muppet is about the same age as your girl, 6-7mnths, & he is pushing the 300gram mark now.

Wow, Bel, I thought my girl was big! But at the rate Kirby is growing, I'm pretty sure she'll reach that mark in another month. I'm giving her an insect-free day today. She's glaring at me, as only a beardie can.

**Bel03** · 31-May-12, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Renenet

Wow, Bel, I thought my girl was big! But at the rate Kirby is growing, I'm pretty sure she'll reach that mark in another month. I'm giving her an insect-free day today. She's glaring at me, as only a beardie can.

Yeah he is a big boy. When my dad came to visit the other week he wouldnt believe me when i told him it was the same lizard he seen only a few mnths ago. He just kept saying 'no way, u cant fool me'

ummmm well dad i obviously can, without even trying cause that is the same boy!!

He has always been such a good eater though, has loved his vegies right from day one, & of course, loves his live food.......& THAT face when they 'want' but are not getting.......yes def only a look a beardie can manage!!

**Renenet** · 07-Jun-12, 10:31 PM

Today was my young beardie's second insect-free day. I'm very pleased to report that she was inspired to eat a lot of salad.

Bel, I can't believe my girl is the same lizard. I'm only certain she is because there's no way anyone could have replaced her. I suspect she's had a growth spurt in the last week - I was watching her today and thought, "Wow, she's mature now."

**Flaviruthless** · 07-Jun-12, 10:35 PM

Good news

Glad to hear she is eating her veggies

**Bel03** · 08-Jun-12, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Renenet

Bel, I can't believe my girl is the same lizard. I'm only certain she is because there's no way anyone could have replaced her. I suspect she's had a growth spurt in the last week - I was watching her today and thought, "Wow, she's mature now."

It is amazing to watch isnt it!! My dad is still trying to make me 'confess' to purchasing a new boy, he just cant get over how fast he has grown.

I wish i could say Muppet was 'enjoying' the insect free days......while he does love his vegies, whenever i am near his enclosure he gives me this look of 'yay, is it time is it time'

He is just so funny!! He 'blackbearded' me for the first time yesterday.......it was quite funny, he pranced around the couch like he owns the place!!

**Renenet** · 08-Jun-12, 02:03 PM

Muppet sounds like a character. Kirby is still a bit skittish - she's shown me her black beard a few times before - but I think we're slowly making progress. The most impressive display had nothing to do with me. A few days ago, she was outside in the bird cage, sitting in a water tray in the sun. A willie wagtail perched on top of the cage, twitching back and forth, chattering loudly. In response, Kirby puffed out her beard, which went charcoal black, and opened her mouth wide.

UPDATE: I weighed her again today (Saturday, 9 June). Despite the two insect-free days she's had since I first posted this thread (and a couple of insect-free half days) she's up to 276 grams! I might need to add a second insect-free day per week sooner than I thought.