Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Morelia · #1 01-Jun-04, 06:18 PM

just aquired some vitticepts and was wondering how often i should feed them i've had them a few days now and they still haven't feed yet temps are all good basking spot at 35 cool spots at 29 and the cage gets to about 27 at night using a 40 watt red light at night and 24 inch fluro for during the day. i've only tried crickets and bok choy the crickets are about 10mm long. should i wait or try force feeding ??

Pyror · #2 01-Jun-04, 06:35 PM

My experiences with vitti's isn't terribly vast, but i have raised a couple from hatchies without any problems. I have read and followed, that as a general rule you shouldn't try to feed any insect that's longer than the gap is between the beardies eyes. My advice to you would be to try smaller sized crickets.

As for vegies, beardies won't usually start eating them until they're 2 or 3 months old. There's a good care sheet somewhere around for raising beardie hatchies... i'll see if i can dig it up.

Pyror · #3 01-Jun-04, 06:44 PM

Heres a decent one.

But there are heaps out there, just do a yahoo search for "bearded dragon care sheets", and you should find enough to confuse the hell outta you

earthmother · #4 01-Jun-04, 07:21 PM

http://www.kingsnake.com/gladescs/bearded/

Morelia- I know they're hungry when young, and need to be fed up alot in the 1st 6 months.
Try, small crickets, soft mealworms and supplement with bearded dragon pellets. Give them veges (just some from the long list of choices: red lettuce, squash, celery, carrot, dandelion greens and flowers, alfalfa, milk thistle, clover leaves and flowers - and more) every day. If you put the small and soft mealies in the veggies the beardies will get the taste of the veggies while going for the mealies.
They like some fruit - grapes, strawberries, apple, banana.

And spray them with water to encourage drinking droplets.

Muddy

instar · #5 01-Jun-04, 07:25 PM

Submit your beardy caresheet earthmum. ?

Springherp · #6 01-Jun-04, 08:02 PM

Don't worry about them not feeding just yet. My beardies took a week to settle in before eating more than two crickets and an extra week before eating vegies. Soon you won't be able to stop them eating. Also try some snow peas and carrot. They love the taste of snow peas and the carrot is a good source of Vitamin A which aids in the development of good colouration.

earthmother · #7 01-Jun-04, 09:10 PM

Inny! Hi!

I did write a Care Sheet. I'm not sure it's complete but - go to the link under my signature then go to ABOUT PAGE - I hope it's got something useful on it.

Er - It was written out for Primary school aged Kids, because I saw an interest and a need.
lol, I'll finish it, after I get some feedback .
Em

instar · #8 01-Jun-04, 09:17 PM

Earthmother, its a great sheet for kids, you really should add it here. not sure about this bit though

"Don't sweat the petty things and NEVER pet the sweaty things " lol

is that a warning so little boys dont go blind?

Already_Gone · #9 01-Jun-04, 10:26 PM

carrot is also an oxalate which removes calcium from the body... I dont give mine carrot... broccoli leaves are high in calcium as with any mustards

Ricko · #10 01-Jun-04, 11:45 PM

use pinhead crickets.

danielsan · #11 02-Jun-04, 09:34 AM

The basking spot could go up to 40 degrees C with younguns

junglesrus · #12 02-Jun-04, 10:30 AM

celery is not a good thing to feed beardies,
Also as stated a hot spot of 40 degrees is right on.
mist the sides of the enclosure an furniture daily so they can lick the droplets as they will not drink from a water bowl at this age,
Avoid handling them in the first few weeks,
we have breed them the last 3 years.
we sell them at the age of 2 weeks old feeding on veges,small crickets and woodies, meal worm offer no value and cause blockages, any large items will do the same resulting in there back legs being extended out, the gap between there eyes is a great way to measure as previously stated.
substrates at this age should be avoided, leaving the bottom of the tank bare offers no hiding spots for crickets that will eat your hatchling beardie during the night, so remove them.

Morelia · #13 03-Jun-04, 08:56 AM

thanx guyz for all your replys my dragons have just started feeding on crickets. I offered them some this morning and they we not interested then wheni got home from work i was watching them and a moth landed on the front glass of their tank they both went sick, i couldn't believe it. chucked a few crickets in there and they both ate 4 each. Pin head? i have read that you have to feed them crickets about as long as the distance from eye to eye in my case about 8 mm small cricket on the pisces scale.