Won't eat anthing but live food

[Cardiff]

We got a beardie on Sunday. He is doing well and quite spunky but he won't eat anything but live crickets and meal worms. I have tried to feed him some kale, carrots and mango but he refuses to eat it. He tastes it but that's about it. I want to make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs. Any suggestions? ???

[bigmitch]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

Welcome to the forum. I've seen in some cases were babies don't eat veggis much but, they will as they mature,A salad of dark greens, squash, and veggies should be offered daily, even if your dragon doesn't eat it. Fruits can be added on occasion for a treat . After awhile your beardy will eat them. If your feeding crickets its a good idea to gut load them. You can buy gut load at the local pet shop. Its a good food and water source for crix and its loaded with nutrients for your beardy. You can also dust your crix with calcium powder. Heres a little trick you could try it worked for my friend .

Put tiny crickets in a bowl with greens. The crickets can't get out, and as the beardie tries to catch them, he'll accidently eat the greens. After a couple of days, he should start eating the greens on his own...

Also, Be careful not to spoil your dragon with too many waxworms and mealworms. Your dragon may decide it doesn't like regular food any more. Dont't feed a baby or young dragon mealworms, they can't digest them well and it can cause health problems. I woulsd opt for wax worms there higher in fat and nutrients and easier to digest..I hope all this helps good luck

Jayson

[kahaj]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

I've found with our babies that it's usually easier to get them started on RepCal than greens. Once they get use to the RepCal, you can cut down on the critters some and try more greens.

[WeLsH]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

I wouldnt be worried. Like mitch said as long as you are gutloading your insects your beardie will be fine. He will start to eat greens in the future. But I dont see anything wrong with feeding a young beardie mealworms( sorry Mitch had to disagree, lol ) People always say they can eat threw there stomach, cant digest cause of hard shell, whatever. But As long as you have a hotspot at a hott enough temp the bearide will have no problem digesting them as long as they are the right size. Have fun with your beardie, they are way cool lizards!

[Cardiff]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

Thanks for the advice. He is a very sweet little guy. I am already completely in love with him.

Tambra

[Bry]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

The other guys have given good advice so far. In addition, I would suggest putting his veggies in the cage first thing in the morning before the lights come on, then feed the crickets a few hours later after he's had time to eat the veggies.

Bry

[sclark]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

I think BigMitch covered it well.. Alot of times the baby beardies won;t eat more then mealies and crix.. Just offer. As they mature they will have a more diverse appitie. Just make sure to gut load the crix, dust them with Calcium/vitamin powder every other day and make sure to run a UVB buld 12 hours a day for him.. Also if you can, add a UVA bulb to the mix as well, you will notice a bigger appitite...

Good luck with him, and post some pics when you can..

Steve

[WeLsH]

Re:Won't eat anthing but live food

Very well said BRY!!!!

Offering the veggies in the mourning is very good.