can i wait till pm to feed dragons

My baby beardies are comming along very well, we have only had them (2) a few days and one of them allready scratches at the glass when he sees us walk past ( so cute ). due to work I cant feed my dragons (6 weeks old ) any crickets until I get home at 2 pm ,I can give them water and greens at 6am but it is still dark so no crickets.
Will they be allright or should I try to get my 8 yr daughter old to do it?
I would rather wait if possible as I make sure both dragons eat and the crickets dont escape all over the house.
Cheers Billy

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject:

Hi Billy,

I have the same issue although I am home even later, around 5:30 - 6:00 for me.

I put the greens in the enclosure before I leave for work and feed the roaches when I get home.

As long as you still have the lights on for at least an hour after they feed so as the little guys can diggest then there is no problem.

Cheers,
Shane

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:05 am Post subject:

A point to be aware of - with 2 babies you will almost certainly have to separate them by the time they're 5~6 months old. Dominance is a major issue as they are normally solitary creatures and, although you may not notice it bullying can go on with just a look from one dragon being enough to stop the other from feeding/basking. Additionally 2 adult males will almost certainly fight (possibly to the death), a male and female WILL breed continually, whilst 2 females may get on if they can sort out a pecking order. Given this you need to be prepared to provide an alternate enclosure fairly soon. With my last batch of babies we had to separate some at 10 weeks!

Rick

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:38 am Post subject:

Hi Billy

you might get more of a chance of your babies eating their veggies too, if they have only them until 2pm and they're hungry. Our 3 month old dragon Spike still won't touch his veggies although he does like to sit in them Smile

so we leave his first cricket feed until 12pm. I'm sure 2pm is fine. Keep an eye on digits and tail ends judging by what Rick says though!

Best of luck, Dawn

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:50 am Post subject:

Have you thought about using a timer to turn their light/heat on at say 5am and having it go off earlier in the afternoon?

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:01 am Post subject:

How would that help? Wouldn't it be better to leave them with lights, heat and veggies at 6am, crix at 2pm and lights/heat off at 8pm? Or am I missing something? D

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:26 am Post subject:

Shane how old is your Beardy?
Have you always had the same routine?

Hi Dawn . I cought my guys eating Alfafa and cos lettus it looks like they will be good little eaters. Spike may be a bit like me ,not keen on the green,lol.

Mark thanks for the tip, I was aware there may be issues and am keeping an eye on them.It seems ,depending on who you talk to, some people keep a couple of dragons together and have no probs while some have to seperate.

cheers.

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject:

Hi Billy

have a look at this great link to a forum Rick put me onto when I asked him the same question, then see what you think about pairs ...
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizards/457432-myths.html

Cos? Alfalfa? Amazing! I'll have to try it - maybe Spike has a more discerning palate than capsicum, pumpkin and brocolli!

Dawn

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:31 pm Post subject:

Hi Billy,

The little guys I have at the moment are around 10 weeks old I have four of them.

I have just got back into the hobby so these guys are new but I have used the same routine for around 8 - 10 years with babies and adults.

Dawn - Spike would love the cos lettuce, it will be alot easier for him to eat then the others. Squash is also a good one, all the dragons I've had love the stuff.

Cheers,
Shane

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:18 am Post subject:

Thanks Shane I'll try it this arvo Smile

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:46 am Post subject:

I went to Bunnings last weekend and bought seeds for Cos lettus,squash(mixed seeds) and Alfalfa.I got the kids to sew them and hopefully my little garden will keep the Dragons in fresh greens in the future.

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:18 am Post subject:

What a super idea! Hope it works ... let me know Smile

I'd be forever fighting snails. Gave Spike cos lettuce (only the green part) and alfalfa this morning and as yet he hasn't touched it. Hmmn.

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:38 am Post subject:

Yeah I have the same Billy, My veggie patch is almost more for my lizards then me Smile

I luckily haven't had too many snails altough I think that is to do with the lack of rain fall Sad

Octoberg - You can try adding strawberries or grated carrot, I have noticed some dragons will be more enticed by different colours.

Cheers,
Shane