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 #2087549


BEACHLIZARD
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 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?

Hi everyone long time reader, new to the forum world. I have had a frilled dragon for about 2 years. He was an import. I got him in horrible shape as a baby, mites, super thin and hardly opening he’s eyes. After a few weeks he came around, now i have a monster. I MEAN MONSTER!!!!! He is roughly 27 inches maybe a little longer and really really fat. I’m almost positive he’s Aussie, big white checks, with a red frill and bright orange underbelly. My question is feeding. The little guy can eat 2 giant horn worms( full grown all 4 inches) sometimes three, that’s in one day. (Or 20-30 Dubai roaches)one day, or (50 butter-worms.)one day, Or (30-45 giant rainbow meal worms). And if i let him 4 hopper mice. (i mix my feeders). I just think its a lot, but if i don’t feed him. He will scratch at the glass all night, and stare at me.

you guys think this is normal?

should i cut back on feeding him?

(general info, he lives in a 5x5x3 cage, two hot zones one at 105 and the other 110. I also use a cal. powder and vitamin powder. He also poops daily. He’s a very spoiled and happy lizard, hes my buddy)

thank you guys for any response.



10/22/09  04:41pm

 #2087584


Chippychop
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   Message To: BEACHLIZARD   In reference to Message Id: 2087549


 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?

well a lizard can become obiese ;however I would rather have a fat lizard rather than a skinny one.so i say feed as much as you think is healthy ///I think a male can handle every bit of three horn worms a day my lizard gets one grass hopper a day and sometimes gets a mix of other bugs and goodies!!!and my frilly is female and much smaller at seventeen inches and she can still handle it . also lets see some pics !!!!



10/22/09  06:17pm

 #2087594


87rx7chick
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   Message To: Chippychop   In reference to Message Id: 2087584


 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?


you can see here my ausi water dragon. he’s very round!!!

this is a good weight. some pix would help show if he is to fat or just healthy!

in my opinion i would not feed him that much every day. they have slow metabolism and typically dont use all those calories just like humans get fat from eating more calories then then burn each day. i only feed that quantity to growing lizards, but once they reach adult hood they dont need to eat as much daily, often every other day or every 3rd day . mine dont eat every day by choice.


also if you feed to much protein there could be a risk of gout. there are other causes for gout but... to much of one thing is never a good thing!
10/22/09  06:44pm

 #2087909


BEACHLIZARD
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   Message To: 87rx7chick   In reference to Message Id: 2087594


 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?

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10/23/09  12:48pm

 #2087943


BEACHLIZARD
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   Message To: BEACHLIZARD   In reference to Message Id: 2087909


 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?

Gout is the result of high Uric acid level, when the kidneys can no longer remove uric acid from the blood. Crystals form in joints, leading to stiff, swollen, and painful areas. I understand the diet and protein level are the leading reason. (sometimes bacteria) Silkworms and Horn worms are naturally the healthiest insect you can get to feed your pet. Silkworms and Horn worms have low-fat content and are high source of Calcium, Protein, Iron, Magnesium, Sodium, and Vitamins B1, B2, and B3, also having enzymes that breakdown the calcium. Letting the Reptile absorb more into there system.

I switch feeders daily what should i do then.

87rx7chick your freaking me out a little, can you explain your think
(not being an A$$hole, I’m a med student; just like to talk this stuff out and your the one to talk to:)

Thank You



10/23/09  02:41pm

 #2087974


87rx7chick
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   Message To: BEACHLIZARD   In reference to Message Id: 2087943


 "I’m new" Overwieght frilled dragon?

oh sorry i dump all my thoughts out , its up to you guys to ask me "WTF?" :)


i had an imported frill who suffered dehydration. she then developed gout, she was extremely round in the belly and her joints were swollen and her fingers started to fall off eventualy. she had limited movement in her hands and stopped being able to climb well.



i have said this before. i feed my dubia (orange spotted) roaches with bearded dragon food. the bearded dragon food has all that bearded dragons need so they have the same nutrition as greens and stuff. if that is eaten by the roaches then it is transfered to the dragon when the roach is eaten. thus gut loading further then some normal feeder foods like chicken feed or flukers cricket feed.

i feed dubias, i’m going to stop using crickets since they are to small for my ausi water dragons and a pain to keep inside the custom enclosures, also they smell and die off to fast =X


when its cool like it has been, i feed silk worms and horn worms. silk worms are difficult cuz they do not have an imune system. you need to wash your hands before handleing them. i used petri dishes 6 inch wide and smeared food filling up the dish, and that lasted 2-3 days and they all had enough room to eat. not enough room on the food will result in dehydration of the silkies and they will start dieing off=X

i could go more in detail about caring for silk worms if you’d like. just ask.

horn worms are easier to care for. they dont die off as easy.


but i dont recommend feeding soooooooooooo much at one time. that seems like way to much to me... gorging himself each day on feeders.

i would reduce to 15 crickets, or something equal to that. instead of 45... =X

make sure your humidity is up you want to make sure the frill stays hydrated.



10/23/09  04:46pm

 #2092114


1 Justizn
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   Message To: 87rx7chick   In reference to Message Id: 2087974


 "I’m new" Overweight frilled dragon?

Hey 87rx7chick, how did you get your frillies to eat roaches? I have a Discoid Roach colony growing and have tried to get Mugen to eat some but he just didn’t seem interested. He loves hornworm and even wax worms. But I cant seen to ween him onto roaches =/
11/04/09  09:51pm

 #2092120


87rx7chick
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   Message To: 1 Justizn   In reference to Message Id: 2092114


 "I’m new" Overweight frilled dragon?

does your frill eat out of your hand. can you offer him something and him eat it while your holding it?


try finding a roach that is fresh molted. bright white. those are often yummy treats!!

it took a while for me to get my frills on roaches but once i was hand feeding they would then take roaches from my hand

i just acquired a sail fin dragon who is really really skittish. but when i have him held in my hand. and hold a roach in front of him he’s like a lil puppy trying to eat a treat. he’ll wiggle and fight out of my hand with his mouth open tong out trying to eat the roach haha.. roaches are great as long as you feed them plenty so the roaches are fat and soft.

my ausi water dragon Godzilla will eat anything i offer him from my hand. he’ll even take greens from me but often spits them back out cuz he doesnt like em.



11/04/09  10:16pm

 #2092289


Jm4372
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   Message To: 87rx7chick   In reference to Message Id: 2092120


 "I’m new" Overweight frilled dragon?

hey rxchick, where did you get your sail fin? lets see some pics!
11/05/09  12:14pm


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