Bearded dragon questions

[rrcoolj]

I am considering getting a bearded dragon as my next herp but I don't want to have to deal with all the crickets the babys eat im just not a cricket person. Anyway I was wondering at what age can beardies eat superworms as a staple insect? I will probably get a subadult beardie. And can I keep him in a 20L or should I go ahead and build his permanent cage? It will be 4x2 cage.

[snakeguy101]

bearidies can eat mealworms (smaller version of superworms) at a pretty young age so I would not worry about what size you get. also, if I were you. I would just go ahead and put them in its permanent cage now so that you dont have to worry about it but it could go in a 20L for a while.

[rrcoolj]

I was told mealworms were bad for beardies because of the higher amount of chitin. But baby leopard geckos do just fine so IDK. If i can get a young one and it will eat mealworms tht would be great becasue I have a breeding colony of mealworms for my two leopard geckos. I would prefer to start with a very young one in a 20L because im working on building a 36x18inch cage for my leos this december.

[Daeorn]

Mealworms are good for beardies, but sometimes giving them too much can cause digestive issues - I assume because of their carapace.

Unfortunately I think, as far as babies go, crickets really are ideal.

When they get a body length of about 4 inches (not including head or tail) you could probably switch them over to mealworms, super mealworms and wax worms.

Pheonix worms too if you can get hold of them are terrific.

Usually with good feeding takes a couple months to get them there. With a proper diet they can grow quick.

[Arthur]

My beardie won't even eat crickets anymore, he's ate mostly super worms for the last 7 years or so. I don't see any problems with meal worms

[rrcoolj]

Well I don't plan on getting a hatchling so he will probably be atleast 5inches in length. Of coarse I would be feeding crickets too just mostly mealworms. They are so much easier to work with.

[smijeha]

why waste money setting up a 20 long? beardies grow fairly quick. they are full grown in a year-year and a half! at 8 months you are looking a 12-14 inch lizard. build your 4x2 then get the bearded. you also forget that beardeds will eat a lot of greens. i would give greens every other day and then use mealworms with crickets as a diet. dont forget to use a calcium powder with your feeder insects.

[smijeha]

If i can get a young one and it will eat mealworms tht would be great becasue I have a breeding colony of mealworms for my two leopard geckos.

dubias would be easier

[rrcoolj]

Im not looking at starting a new colony considering I already have supers and mealworms. Plus adult beardies don't even eat that much protien(and yes I am aware of the veggie part of thier diet). This is mostly for a young dragon. The reason why I ask about the 20L is I akready have most of the supplies for it and I don't like to put a little lizard in a big cage because it's harder for me to "monitor" them. ALmost like a grow-out tank.

[bitteraspects]

it usually recommended you keep juvies in smaller tanks for just that reason.

[smijeha]

with some species of lizards i can understand a grow out tank. for a bearded dragon thats ridiculous. they are pigs. he is also talking about starting off with a well started juvi. beardies dont have probs like other lizards finding food. they dont stress out either by having a larger tank. give them a good uv/heat bulb and food and watch them grow like weeds.

[rrcoolj]

look I have my black and white Tegu in a 40B and they can reach 3ft in under a year. Yeah I could have just built his permanent cage but I like to "get to know" my lizard before then because working with a brand new lizard in a big cage might be a bit challenging. Also If a small lizard gets sick or I have to get him quickly in a big cage might be a bit of a problem. There is also the feeding thing but Im a little less conscerned about that. IF you look at it almost every common lizard anything from leopard geckos to savannah monitors reach around full size in a year or so.

[coura]

Why insted of a young one, dont you adopt a adult?;) On kingsnake there are adult beardys for adoption very often, you skip the cricket thing all together and you give a nice home to a animal that needs it.

[rrcoolj]

Well that might be a good Idea I mean a baby is way more likely to be adopted than an adult anyway.