I just don't agree with feeding 50-100 crix a day as I believe it is too much for them making them grow too quickly to adult size in 7 months. like with turtles which also have a high metabolism, feed it too much it grows too fast reducing life span. I believe with beardies not to "give in" and feed them as much as they want as they pretty much want to eat all the time like tutles.
how would a smaller appetite have somthing wrong with care if the tank was fine temps?they are all different
how do you define a healthy beardie?how big and fat they are could mean they are unhealthy with too much body fat on them
1. bearded dragons do not have shells that restrict their growth
2. turtles are different to beardies
as dragon_lady said, in the wild if they have food they will eat it. your theory on shortenign life span is rubbish in a factual world. you have no proof or evidence to say the least. a animal with more food, and the ability to make the best fo this in the wild will be stronger, healthier and bigger increasing it risks of survival.
3. you said your self, they have hgih metabolisms, you are harming them with small diets. they use up the energy and nutriants quickely, ultimately slowing their growth due to lack of.
4. if the cage temps were fine, along withthe rest of the care, apetite would rise to a normal level as would a wild beardie having optomistic feedings, having large stomaches to fill.
- i define a healthy beardie as one who is growign fast, has good spongy fat stores, on tail base, legs and cranium. a full stomache, less baggy skin along the back, ribs, bones or spine not showing. an active (as active as they can get) daily play. and upright or erect head, movement during the day, good solid faeces,
clear eyes, nostils and ears. clean and clear teeth, non droopy eyelids. healthy shedding, and good diet.
- looking 'fat' with a plump stomache is VERY different than being 'obese.' often fatty liver disease and kidney, can only be foudn be a trained veterinarian via tests, but this is usually due to an adult diet too high in protein foods, and mis use of fatty foods such as mealworms or waxworms. plump fat stores are good, in the event of treatment or brumation.
blakeblake, you have as of yet no support for your claims. got any?
dragonlady, thanks. you are right on alot of things, the only thing i disagree on is mealworms. they are not needed as part of the diet, to build up fat stores or growth into adulthood. roaches and crix as well as silkworms. do an optimum job with providing energy and protein as well as apropriate fats to suppliment stores. during growth the protein is used to grow. this is why they eat less protein feeders as they become adult. this lesser amount still supplies them with energy and fat they may have lost during energy spurts or burnt off. mealworms will only increase un-needed amoutns of fat. IMO
