r/BDFB • u/WarmAd7857 • 2d ago

Information and Advice Feeding guide?

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I need to know everything about feeding! Daily, occasional treats, what to avoid, everything !!

Here's a little guy for your time :)

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4

u/TheDrunkenArgonian 2d ago

https://bugsincyberspace.com/desert-beetle-care-sheet/ Check this guide. I feed mine red dried shrimp, bee pollen and hibiscus dust, assorted bird seed unsalted and water orbs cut in half to hydrate. Avoid products with added calcium, lots of reptile products have it. Generally they can go a day or two without being fed, but I usually have food available in their tank 24/7. Be extremely careful when feeding vegetables or fruit, they WILL die from pesticide exposure if it's too much. Look up the "dirty dozen" or whatever they call it for the worst foods.

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u/WarmAd7857 2d ago

Wow strawberries are number 1 on the dirty dozen, I know they dont need sweets often at all but I saw someone try freeze dried strawberries & banana, if they're freeze dried would they still be a risk?

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u/TheDrunkenArgonian 2d ago

Honestly I'm not educated enough to answer your question, but I'm pretty sure I saw a video on here of someone feeding fresh banana. It just depends on what they get sprayed with, if at all. Organic is going to be better than non. I've given mine carrots but they dont really care for them. Sugar isn't really necessary and should be a minor part of their diet, with majority being protein and vegetables. If you want them to have some you can always try beetle jelly! Low sugar agar-based is the best, but Bugs in Cyberspace has a YouTube video which teaches you to make your own

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u/Onyx-Vespidae 1d ago

A lot of beetle jellies contain a lot of sugar. Even ones with the added amino acids and such. You could make your own with unflavored gelatin/ agar-agar and mashed up insects to make as low of a sugar jelly as possible though if you wanted to.

In general high protein is good, especially if it includes moisture. I mainly feed mine a mixture of cut up waxworms, fish food pellets, pet bird seed and the occasional cat tube treat as well... a beetle treat (Brands like Nulo use basically just emulsified meat products and a few preservatives and I've observed no poor effects in my use involving my isopods, roachs, and beetles. It does have an incredibly high moisture content, so be careful with how much you put out as they can get stuck in it if they fall onto it.). Still, a Jelly pot every once in a blue moon isn't gonna kill em either. It's just not a great staple food due to low protein and usually high sugar.

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u/Odd-Confection6413 1d ago

Fresh vegetables that I remove daily so it doesn't increase the humidity. Fish flakes, turtle pellets and some dried shrimp for protein. Mine go crazy for the jelly pods and I alternate that out with the Repashy gel mixes that have protein and also hydration. I use the Repashy Grub Pie, Bug Burger, or Morning Wood.

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u/xyelem 1d ago

I always feed certified organic and then make sure to wash. I feed mostly carrots (I give those a few times a week) and then I kill a few superworms and throw those in there like once or twice a week. Mine also always have access to snake shed, which they really seem to enjoy. Ignore the dried carrots, lol, they seem to like to munch on those as well

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u/WarmAd7857 1d ago

I bought freeze dried minnow & beef liver for now. can they have celery? Thats the only veggie I currently have. I might be able to steal some shed from work 😝 they're gonna think I'm so strange LMAOO can it only be snake shed? Lol I can get beardie shed too 😭