Beardie won't eat veggies!!

[Rcl]

Hi guys
My beardie is a juvenile around 6.5 inches, I have the temps right, bathe him often and offer veggies every day. He absolutely refuses to eat any veggies or greens that I offer him. I have tried putting dubias in the salad and he manages to pick them out without touching anything else. He eats live prey with absolutely no problem and sheds regularly. Is this issue with his diet going to cause harm to his health? Any feeding suggestions are greatly appreciated, I love the little guy and am scared that he isn't getting the nutrients her needs! Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Augie]

My dragon is an insect junkie as well. I think it has to do with how they are reared as hatchlings, but I haven't seen any imperial evidence to support it.

I found a solution that works for me. I buy acorn squash, prep it, cut it into small french fry-shapes, and freeze it. As I need it I heat a few pieces in the microwave for a few seconds. I use tweezers to jiggle them and I think she thinks they are worms because she snatches them right up.

I wouldn't worry too much about whether your dragon is getting enough veggies, though. As long as you offer them, eventually they will come round and start eating. Even when I wasn't tricking my dragon, she would still eat her veggies 1-2 times per week. Mine is also older than yours.

 

[Rcl]

Thank you for the advice! I will try that and see how it works

 

[Augie]

I look forward to hearing how it turns out. Please let us know!

Edit: let me also say to be careful when you heat them up. Even 15 seconds will heat them to high temps. Touch them with your fingers before offering to make sure they aren't too hot. The acorn squash is so delicate you really only need to blow on it for a moment to get it to cool. It's a nice and cheap option. The ones I buy are usually less than $2 and last me for weeks, and she eats a few pieces every day.

 

[PatsyB]

It's normal for a juvi not to be interested in greens right away. At this age they need more live food. Still offer the greens every day. He will eat it when he is ready. If you leave the salad in the tank, it's possible he might eat a few pieces when you are not looking, some beardies don't like to be watched when they eat. Also, it helps to drop some greens in places in the tank he frequents. If it's in his way he might lick it to see what it is and "accidentally" eat it.

 

[sean8172]

Patsy put it very well. Some just don't take to greens right away. Mine are both well over a year and they will still go days without eating greens sometimes. If your little one flat refuses, you can supplement with various vitamins and powders. You can also go with the "you are what you eat" philosophy, and feed greens to your feeders. If you gut load your dubia with the greens you would normally feed your dragon, then your dragon will be eating said greens when it eats the dubia. See how that works? ;-)

Either way, I'm sure your baby will get what it needs. Just keep offering.

 

[PatsyB]

Patsy put it very well. Some just don't take to greens right away. Mine are both well over a year and they will still go days without eating greens sometimes. If your little one flat refuses, you can supplement with various vitamins and powders. You can also go with the "you are what you eat" philosophy, and feed greens to your feeders. If you gut load your dubia with the greens you would normally feed your dragon, then your dragon will be eating said greens when it eats the dubia. See how that works? ;-)

Either way, I'm sure your baby will get what it needs. Just keep offering.

So glad to hear someone else has a dragon over a year that doesn't eat greens everyday!

 

[sean8172]

Oh, my male eats like a hatchling most the time. He would much rather have dubia than greens. I'm convinced he would eat bugs, and only bugs. He eats about the same amount of greens in a week as my female does in a day.