There can be multiple reasons why your bearded dragon won’t eat their crickets. It could be a sign of a health issue, such as a parasite, bacterial/viral infection, metabolic bone disease or mouth rot.
It could also be a sign of stress, such as feeling threatened or overwhelmed in their environment. It is important to take them to a veterinarian if you suspect any health issues, as prompt treatment can make a big difference in their recovery.
Additionally, they may be uninterested in their crickets because they are not providing the proper nutrition they need. You can try providing nutrition-rich food such as collard greens, squash, and mustard greens, or switch your crickets to food-enriching activities like cricket jelly or cricket gut-loading to provide your dragon with necessary nutrients.
Additionally, you can also try providing them with different types of food such as mealworms, grasshoppers, waxworms, and superworms. Finally, if it is not a health issue, it could simply be that your bearded dragon is not used to a certain type of feeder.
Try introducing the feeder at a slower pace and in small amounts. It could be that your bearded dragon needs time to become used to it before fully eating them.
What to do if my bearded dragon won’t eat crickets?
If your bearded dragon won’t eat crickets, there could be a few different factors at play. The first and most obvious is that they simply may not like the taste or texture of crickets. If this is the case, you can try offering them other types of food items that they may enjoy more, like mealworms, waxworms, superworms, or feeder roaches.
If they still won’t eat the alternative food item, this leads us to the other two possible causes.
The second cause could be stress or fear from the environment. Make sure their habitat is set up properly, and that their temperature, humidity, and lighting are all appropriate for their species and age.
Additionally, remember that a fearful or stressed out beardie will not eat, so it is important to make sure that your dragon feels safe and secure at all times.
The third and final cause is possible health issues. If a dragon is feeling ill or does not have the energy to hunt for food, it could be causing them to lose their appetite. Have your bearded dragon checked out by a licensed vet with experience in reptiles to make sure everything is okay.
Once health issues are ruled out, try offering different food items and making sure they are adequately stimulated and not feeling stressed out.
Can a bearded dragon live without eating insects?
Yes, bearded dragons can live without eating insects, but they should not be their primary diet. An insect-free diet can provide all the nutrients that bearded dragons need to stay healthy and happy.
Vegetables and other plant-based foods, such as fruit, chopped greens, and high-quality pellets, can replace most insects in a bearded dragon’s diet. Supplementing a bearded dragon’s diet with calcium, vitamins, and minerals can help ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
Feeding bearded dragons food higher in fiber, such as Romaine lettuce and other leafy greens, can help minimize their risk of impaction, which can be caused by large, hard-to-digest foods, such as some insects.
As with any pet, meeting with an experienced reptile veterinarian is an important step in creating a balanced diet for your bearded dragon.
At what age do bearded dragons eat mostly vegetables?
Bearded dragons usually transition to a vegetable-based diet around 6-8 months of age. Up until that point, they should be mostly eating insects such as crickets, mealworms and fruit flies. At 6-8 months of age, their diet should consist of dark leafy greens and legumes that are high in fiber and nutrients.
Feeding your bearded dragon vegetables and greens not only provides them with the vitamins and minerals they need, it also helps keep their weight in check. Common vegetables and greens to offer your bearded dragon include mustard greens, collard greens, spring mix, parsley, cilantro, kale, endive, turnip greens, escarole, alfalfa, snap peas, green beans, bell peppers, carrots, squash, and peas.
It is important to look up the nutritional requirements of the specific vegetables you are offering to make sure they meet the dietary needs of your dragon. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of your bearded dragon’s diet should be composed of vegetables and greens.
Fruits can be offered in small quantities as treats, but should never make up more than 10–20% of the diet.
Can bearded dragons just eat greens?
No, bearded dragons cannot just eat greens. This type of lizard requires a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a small amount of insects and animal protein. A combination of dark leafy greens, like collard, mustard, and turnip greens, are the mainstay of their diet.
These greens should be supplemented with occasional treats of carrots, apples, pears, and melons. In addition to fresh produce, bearded dragons should have access to a commercial insectivore diet, as well as live insects, like crickets, mealworms, and wax worms, for a complete and balanced diet.
Insects should be dusted with a vitamin and mineral supplement prior to feeding. Bearded dragons also require calcium supplements, particularly for juveniles and young dragons.
Is it OK to leave crickets in with my bearded dragon?
No, it is not okay to leave crickets in with your bearded dragon. Crickets can be dangerous for them as they can easily escape and hide in places your dragon cannot get to, causing potential harm. Additionally, crickets can be quite noisy, and can easily become a disturbance in your dragon’s cage.
Crickets can also be carriers of disease and parasites, which can be very harmful to your bearded dragon. It’s best to feed them to your dragon and then remove them as quickly as possible.
Should I feed My bearded dragon crickets everyday?
No, you should not feed your bearded dragon crickets every day. A healthy diet for your bearded dragon should consist of a variety of insects and veggies. Crickets should not be the main source of food for your bearded dragon, as too much of a protein-rich diet can lead to a number of health problems.
For example, overfeeding your bearded dragon can cause obesity and other health issues, as well as nutritional deficiencies. Instead, a good diet should consist of a variety of insects, such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, and phoenix worms, as well as occasional fresh fruits, veggies, and leafy greens like collard greens or dandelion greens.
Additionally, you should add in appropriate amounts of calcium and vitamin D3 powder to your bearded dragon’s diet to make sure it gets the necessary nutrients for it to remain healthy. Finally, you should make sure that your dragon gets an appropriate amount of light and heat each day to regulate its metabolism.
Where do you keep crickets for bearded dragons?
When it comes to keeping crickets for bearded dragons, it is important to ensure they are kept in a suitable container with adequate ventilation. The container should be at least 2-3 times the size of the adults crickets, as they need room to move around.
Additionally, for sub-adults and juveniles, the container should be around five to six times the size of the crickets to ensure they have plenty of space to move.
In regards to substrate, a few inches of kept in the container should suffice. This can include peatmoss, cocofiber, or any number of reptile substrates. The substrate should be kept relatively dry and sprayed lightly with a water bottle a few times a week to provide moisture.
As for food, a commercial cricket diet should be offered. Additionally, fruit and vegetables can also be provided, such as carrots and apples.
Finally, it is important to note that to provide the crickets with an increasing level of calcium, they should be dusted with a calcium supplement like calcium carbonate. This should be done two to three times a week.
Keeping the cricket’s container in a warm, dark area with proper ventilation is also important to providing an environment that is suitable for the crickets.
Do crickets need to be kept in the dark?
No, crickets do not need to be kept in the dark, although the temperature and amount of light in the environment can have an effect on their activity patterns and behavior. While keeping crickets in darkness may prevent stress associated with bright lights, it’s not necessary for them to live a healthy and happy life.
Any enclosure provided for crickets should allow natural or artificial light to enter during the day while they stay active. With that in mind, the amount of light crickets receive should be regulated and could involve the use of blackout curtains or other environmental manipulation.
Most species of crickets are nocturnal, typically coming out to feed at night, and require 12-14 hours of total darkness every day when in captivity. Crickets also need regulated temperatures for optimal activity, which require adjustments to the light cycle in their environment.
What is the insect to feed a bearded dragon daily?
Bearded dragons need a well-rounded insect diet, with about 80% of their daily food consisting of an assortment of feeder insects. Feeder insects should include dubia roaches, crickets, waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, and superworms.
Bearded dragons also need to be supplemented with calcium and vitamins designed for reptiles. The calcium and vitamins should be added to the feeder insects before offering them to the bearded dragon.
Gut-loading the feeder insects provides additional nutrition for your dragon. Gut-loading should involve feeding the insects fresh vegetables, a little bit of high-quality commercial insect food, and a small amount of fruit.
If the bearded dragon is over 6 months old, they can eat some fruits, especially those that provide vitamin A such as mango, papaya, and cantaloupe. Small portions should be offered to ensure they receive a balanced diet.
It is also important to provide a variety of foods to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need. Offer the insects twice a day in smaller amounts, instead of providing them all at once. Adult bearded dragons should also be offered a few pinky mice or a live rat or two during the week.
Do bearded dragons have to eat bugs everyday?
No, bearded dragons do not have to eat bugs every day. In fact, it is not recommended to feed a bearded dragon insects every day. The best diet for a bearded dragon is a combination of live and/or dried insects, as well as lots of vegetables and some fruit.
Insects should only make up about 15-20% of the diet. The rest should be made up of nutritious and vitamin-packed vegetables and some fruit as an occasional treat. Insects can be fed 1-2 times per week, while vegetables and fruit should be given daily.
It is also important to research which vegetables and fruit are safe for bearded dragons to eat, as some can be potentially toxic. Keeping a balanced diet with the right amount of insects and vegetables is essential for the health of a bearded dragon.
What are the signs of Brumation?
Brumation is a semi-hibernation state experienced by reptiles during winter. Though not all reptiles will brumate, certain species are known to do so. The signs of brumation in reptiles include a decrease in activity and a decrease in appetite.
Reptiles may begin to seek out cooler, darker places for them to rest, and at times this will even include hiding beneath the substrate of their enclosure. A reptile might also begin to shed more often, as the cooler temperatures can cause their skin to dry out faster.
During brumation reptiles’ metabolic processes will slow down, meaning they may be sluggish and unresponsive to stimuli. Additionally, they may go several weeks without eating, as they will use stored energy reserves in order to survive.
If you suspect that your reptile is brumating, it is important to monitor them to ensure they don’t become dehydrated.
How long does brumation last?
Brumation, which is similar to hibernation and is a common behavior among some reptiles, can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the species and environmental factors. Brumation usually occurs during cooler months as a way for reptiles to conserve energy, just as mammals do with hibernation.
However, brumation is not a deep sleep like hibernation and does not require extreme drops in temperature or total inactivity. Typically during brumation, reptiles will go for extended periods without eating and will become inactive, sleeping for most of the day.
They will still move around periodically, usually to find a sunnier and warmer spot in their enclosure. The end of brumation comes around February or March, with some species lasting even into the summer months.
What months do bearded dragons Brumate?
Brumation typically occurs in bearded dragons between October and March. During this time, it is natural for them to experience decreased appetite, less activity, and perhaps even a little bit of weight loss.
For most bearded dragons, it is best to monitor their temperatures and humidity levels during brumation. Additionally, extra attention should be paid to their diet, providing them with the necessary nutrients their body needs even during this period of inactivity.
To aid in brumation, a few key factors can be put in place to make it a successful process. These include: reducing the dragon’s activity, setting up heating and lighting accordingly, providing appropriate substrate, reducing and monitoring their food intake, and ensuring that the dragon has proper filtration and water to stay hydrated.
What triggers brumation?
The main trigger of brumation in reptiles is the onset of cooler temperatures and shorter days that naturally occur during the fall and winter time. For those in captivity, there are a few other components that can trigger the onset of brumation in reptiles, such as reducing temperatures in the cage or enclosure, changing the light cycle to one that is longer or shorter than usual and even reducing the food and water intake of the animal to induce the body’s natural physiology and behavior that it would go through during brumation.
Reptiles kept in captivity typically are not able to brumate fully as in the wild, and during the brumation period the reptile’s body will still require some care and attention, such as ensuring the enclosure environment does not get too cold and that their water and food intake remain consistent.