Question about feeding *please read*

they say dont feed your beardie items bigger than the space between its eyes
but does this mean the width of the prey or the length
please answer this question for me
thanks

I'd say it means both length and width.

Karen gave a good answer, but since you were uncertain as to what this rule referred I figured I'd add a bit more thinking it could have possibly confused you even more. You may have understood her answer, but since you seem new to this, let me just point out that it does mean: either length or width should not be longer than the distance between the eyes and, it does not mean the total of the length + width.

In pragmatic terms it usually refers to the length of the feeder insect if only because almost no prey item that you would normally feed to a Bearded Dragon baby would be wider than it is long. Bear in mind this is, in my opinion, for baby and young juvenile dragons and is not critical in adults. Of course, I am not even sure it is held up as critical in babies by any real evidence, except for the sort of so called evidence where someone says I heard this from someone else, but why take a chance.

All the best,
Glenn B

thanks for the replys
a lot of help

Glenn,

I believe it comes from the theory that the space between the eyes is about the same size as the first curve/exit in the intestines right as it exits the stomach, before it is digested much. I noticed that during a necropsy and since the crickets leave the stomach in a compact like capsule, anything larger could get stuck there.

Something else we noticed, when laying or basking flat, that curve is very noticeable and sharp..... but when straight up and down, it is almost non existent.....possibly another reason that very young dragons, given the choice, seem to prefer to bask and sleep being straight up and down. It may very well assist them in moving foods through their digestive tract.