Mint leaves? How many are OK?

[Sherri]

Hi

I realize mint is OK for our beardies, but I could not find specific info on whether or not they can have a lot of it :shock:

Turns out Razz loves mint. He has had it for three days now along with his other greens. I only put a little in the first day and he ate it so the second day I gave him 6-7 leaves and he ate them all. He ate greens as well, but it was strange, he was digging through his salad with his nose as if looking for something, so I put a stem with leaves on it in his viv and came back a bit later to see most of it gone LOL

So this morning I gave him a little bit in his salad and he went right for it first. They sure have a memory LOL I put the different things in certain *spots* in his dish so he new just which spot to go to :mrgreen: I was doing this to see which veggies/greens he prefered. Now I will start just mixing it all together LOL

So, as far as herbs go, any thoughts on amounts? I want to try basil next, but is there an herb that is really good for them that could be a staple?

~Sherri

 

[Claudiusx]

I am not sure on how much nutrients are in mint, there might be a lot or a little, but I would use it just to stimulate eating the salad. Like mix it in with the salad so Razzie eats all of the mint flavored salad

-Brandon

 

[EmilyRussom]

Tiki goes banana sandwich for basil!

As previously stated, just use basil, mint, etc., as a garnish to further entice them to a massive greens heavy salad.

 

[MissT]

Sherri I usually rip 4 or 5 larger leaves and mix it in with the salads. Seems to get them eating their greens but it's really only good as a salad topper from
what I remember. Kazi loves mint plus it helps relieve his gassy tummy so I try to hand feed him 1-2 leaves per day. My mint plant died tho so I have to get a new one

 

[EmilyRussom]

Wow - your mint plant DIED? My parents got a mint plant 20 years ago - it takes over large portions of the garden - nuclear winter wouldn't kill that thing!

 

[MissT]

I didn't even get it planted properly- it was still in it's baby pot. It never even made it to it's grown up
pot lol! I'm not good with plants at all!!! Our weather isn't great for them either so I can't keep it outside unless I get a greenhouse.

 

[Sherri]

I didn't even get it planted properly- it was still in it's baby pot. It never even made it to it's grown up
pot lol! I'm not good with plants at all!!! Our weather isn't great for them either so I can't keep it outside unless I get a greenhouse.

Ohhhh, I want a greenhouse soooo badly! Always have. If we move to the islands I will have a great garden, but for now I am planning on an indoor herb garden...I just don't think anything grows in TX! I know you have the same problem on *that side of the pond* :mrgreen:

I just put everything separate the first few days b/c I wanted to see if he went for some things more than others. Yep, he did, but he still comes back to his greens throughout the day, maybe 3 or 4 times during the day, and he grazes on his dubia as well. Took me forever to find just the right dish to hold the medium size nymphs so they could not get out and still be a size Razz could/would get into easily enough! LOL

The things we do~~~~~~~~~~~ :mrgreen:

He gets a very mixed salad from now on though! LOL
~Sherri

 

[Fuzzyviper]

I give my guy dandelion greens mixed with basil and he seems to enjoy both. Try to put a little more of the staple greens in but according to the nutrition site, basil has a decent calcium/phosphorus ratio and the only thing it's high in is vitamin A. I think beardies like the strong taste of the herbs. Dandelion has a bit of a strong taste too (I tried some before giving it to him before. It's a bit bitter but not as strong tasting as spinach.) The greens look the same after they're chopped and the basil smell will get on all the leaves so make sure he does like it before adding it to daily salads. I chop up greens for the whole week and keep them in a plastic container in the fridge so I just dole out what I need. I've tried oregano as well but he doesn't seem to like it as much.

 

[fez09]

I also use fresh mint and basil as a salad topper a few times per week, they don't have the nutrient content that the other greens have so I agree with the others, just use as a garnish!

 

[Sherri]

Thanks! I just wanted to be sure there were no odd happenings when fed it often LOL

I use 2 or 3 leaves of mint chopped fine throughout his salad, but his staple green is collard...usually with mustard greens as well. Turnip greens every once in a while and always squash diced up...summer yellow and zucchini squash, and the past 2 days he has had acorn squash.

Little piggy does not seem to *dis*like anything! Whoo-hoo to that! LOL :mrgreen:

~Sherri

 

[fez09]

Yep, those are my staples as well, have you tried butternut squash? That's the fave in my house, it's brighter orange and all of mine love it! It also holds up real well, doesn't dry out as fast or go bad in the fridge...Blueberries are a favorite treat too! Mojo and Fez will jump to grab them out of my fingers! Now that's excitement!!!

 

[Sherri]

Yummm...yep, butternut squash is in the top 3 of my fav winter squash! And yes, Razz likes it also lol

The first fruit Razz had was cantaloupe, which he loved. But I rarely give fruit. I gave him a blueberry just recently and he ate 3 pieces so he is aquiring a tase for them

Now that he just goes to his salad and eats *whatever* is in there I will be trying everything on the OK list :mrgreen: He took a couple bites of strawberry the other day as well. There were four pieces in there so he was not thrilled with it, but thrilled enough to take a second bite at least :mrgreen:

I would love to see a pic/vid of Mojo and Fez jumping for their fruit!LOL The only time Razz bit my finger is when I was getting ready to give him cantaloupe, he did not wait for me to get it to him LOL.

~Sherri