FlapJack16
Hatchling Member
I have been doing a terrible job in providing my bd with a range of nutrition- right now, he gets the same old thing- collards, and bell peppers, that he does not touch-if he does, it is barely- and superworms, 6-10 every other night.
This means that he is not only eating 90% insect at age 18months- but the insect is superworms.
The reason this is, is because when I give him veggies, they go to waste, whether it be peppers, collards, mustards, squash, cucumbers, cactus or whatever- so buying/chopping up and serving a large range would just be wasteful. I can "share" the veggies I get with him to an extent- peppers, greens, lettuces, cucumbers ,etc- but for the things like squash, and cactus, two staples, they go to waste, because I am not a fan.
I get worried that he doesn't ever show interest, no matter what I offer- so I have defaulted to one green, collards or mustards, and one veggie, bell peppers. He is supposed to be eating a SALAD, DAILY, and I am lucky to see him take a single bite of collards.
Today, I did an "experiment"- I chopped up several different things, and put them on separate plates, and set them in his tank. When I went in there, he was bright, with his bright eyes, little orange beard, and no stress marks.
For lettuce/greens, I gave him iceberg and collards; for veggies, I gave him bell peppers and unpeeled (chopped) cucumbers; and for fruit, I gave him strawberries, banana, and blueberries. That was about an hour ago.
Usually, he doesn't do much when I give him vegetables- I am again, lucky if he even goes over, let alone eats a single bite. This time, he almost immediately took several bites of the iceberg, and shortly after, several bites of the cucumber (which is even rarer, because he doesn't eat the "chunks" of veggies, ever, just the greens).
Now, as he always is, he is with his 'hands' on the glass, dark, with stress marks, and 'squinty' eyes. I don't know why he does that- why nothing I do is ever enough to get him to stop that behavior- temp correct, favorite stick basking spot, bright walls- now, giving him veggies has triggered it? I am getting entirely overwhelmed with that behavior- he looks miserable- I feel terrible.
It is great that he showed in interest in veggies, but they were, of course, the "bad" ones- way too much water, a "treat" veggie.
Did he choose those because he is dehydrated?
Is he "addicted" to superworms/bugs?
Is he bored of his food?
And why will he not stop looking out the glass, completely stressed? He doesn't even wall surf, 90% of the time.
I have a zoo med t5 ho 10.0 uvb, 48"- I replaced the bulb last August. Doesn't it last a year? Or is it dead?
This means that he is not only eating 90% insect at age 18months- but the insect is superworms.
The reason this is, is because when I give him veggies, they go to waste, whether it be peppers, collards, mustards, squash, cucumbers, cactus or whatever- so buying/chopping up and serving a large range would just be wasteful. I can "share" the veggies I get with him to an extent- peppers, greens, lettuces, cucumbers ,etc- but for the things like squash, and cactus, two staples, they go to waste, because I am not a fan.
I get worried that he doesn't ever show interest, no matter what I offer- so I have defaulted to one green, collards or mustards, and one veggie, bell peppers. He is supposed to be eating a SALAD, DAILY, and I am lucky to see him take a single bite of collards.
Today, I did an "experiment"- I chopped up several different things, and put them on separate plates, and set them in his tank. When I went in there, he was bright, with his bright eyes, little orange beard, and no stress marks.
For lettuce/greens, I gave him iceberg and collards; for veggies, I gave him bell peppers and unpeeled (chopped) cucumbers; and for fruit, I gave him strawberries, banana, and blueberries. That was about an hour ago.
Usually, he doesn't do much when I give him vegetables- I am again, lucky if he even goes over, let alone eats a single bite. This time, he almost immediately took several bites of the iceberg, and shortly after, several bites of the cucumber (which is even rarer, because he doesn't eat the "chunks" of veggies, ever, just the greens).
Now, as he always is, he is with his 'hands' on the glass, dark, with stress marks, and 'squinty' eyes. I don't know why he does that- why nothing I do is ever enough to get him to stop that behavior- temp correct, favorite stick basking spot, bright walls- now, giving him veggies has triggered it? I am getting entirely overwhelmed with that behavior- he looks miserable- I feel terrible.
It is great that he showed in interest in veggies, but they were, of course, the "bad" ones- way too much water, a "treat" veggie.
Did he choose those because he is dehydrated?
Is he "addicted" to superworms/bugs?
Is he bored of his food?
And why will he not stop looking out the glass, completely stressed? He doesn't even wall surf, 90% of the time.
I have a zoo med t5 ho 10.0 uvb, 48"- I replaced the bulb last August. Doesn't it last a year? Or is it dead?