Lessons Learned #2 - Feeding Crickets

Since Norbert was sort of picked up on a whim, we didn't get to do much research on taking care of bearded dragons before we got him. I spent more hours the first week we got him researching and compiling information for a comprehensive care guide than I spent in class and doing homework that week.

Ever since we got him he hasn't been a big eater. We were told he should be able to eat about a dozen crickets a day but many online resources state you should continue to feed him as much as he wants to eat in a 5-10 minute time period. Our first couple days we figured he wouldn't want to eat because of the stress of being in a new environment, but we also dumped the whole dozen or two (we bought a few dozen crickets since the store we bought them from is 30 miles away) in his terrarium all at once. Up until recently, he has basically been rooming with all these crickets the whole time because when the feeding time is up, whatever crickets he didn't eat should be removed, they could cause added stress hopping around in there all the time. But they are very difficult to catch by hand. Last night we removed all the sand to replace the flooring so that has been the first time since we got him that he won't be surrounded by crickets all the time.

Norbert and all his "roommates" coated in calcium dust (that's why they are white)

Lesson Learned? Take out the crickets your bearded dragon doesn't eat!