Feeding your reptile is one of the most enjoyable experiences in having a pet reptile. It is one of the main ways- sometimes the only way- you can connect with your reptile. Of course various reptiles require various diets, however there are some commonalities in the requirements of most of them. Some of these include:
- FEEDING THE FOOD- your reptile is not merely eating the food you are giving him. He is also eating whatever you are feeding the food you are giving him. This is why it is very important to feed the bugs a good diet before feeding them to your pet. A good diet for crickets and most of the worms consists of some whole wheat germ, oats, bran and various fruits and vegetables. Stick to fresh leafy greens and other vegetables and the dry foods listed previously and you should be fine. Or you could do it more conveniently by ordering the Repashy Bug Burger All-in-one bug food with your bugs. It contains most of the essential vitamins and minerals your reptile needs to get from his food.
- DUSTING THE BUGS- it is important to provide your reptile with supplementary vitamins and minerals he may not be getting from the bugs alone. To help with this, dust your bugs with a calcium and/or vitamin powder before feeding them to your pet. Simply put the bugs in a plastic bag or container and add a small amount of powder- just enough to coat them- and shake the container gently. Do this once a week if your reptile is fully grown and two/three times per week if he is still growing.
- FEEDING THE RIGHT AMOUNT AND SIZE- the right amount of bugs for your reptile is whatever he will eat in about 10-15 minutes. This ensures that the bugs keep whatever you were feeding them in their system rather than pooping it out and it ensures that the bugs don’t bite your reptile while roaming around his enclosure. The right size of bug depends on the size of your reptile’s head. The bugs you feed should generally not be bigger than the width of your reptile’s head, otherwise he may choke.
- If you are feeding greens to your reptile, ensure they are as fresh as possible, and that they are washed thoroughly. It is probably a good idea to offer organic food, but that is a personal preference. Usually the best greens to offer are dandelion, collards and mustard greens. These are also great to feed to the bugs before you feed them to your pet. Avoid feeding too much spinach as the oxalates within it have been known to bind with calcium.
- Some reptiles enjoy an occasional treat of fruit. Berries, banana, apple, mango, prickly and normal pear are some you have to choose from. Avoid citrus fruits.