Babies SHOULD eat their salads

[Bearded dragon lover]

Alright I will try to follow your outline but just to be extra clear, i'm not supposed to feed ANY insects until he starts eating his bowl of greens. I'm just making sure because what if he goes a week and a half without insects, and I'm afraid that may hurt him because as a growing dragons he does need protein do grow so just making sure should I or should I not feed him any insects until he eats his bowl of veggies. Because at this current time I have not feed him any insects for six days.

 

[Claudiusx]

i'm not supposed to feed ANY insects until he starts eating his bowl of greens.

Correct.

I'm just making sure because what if he goes a week and a half without insects,

Not harmful. Going it's entire hatchling to adult stage without eating greens regularly is way more detrimental to their long term health then a week or two without insects.

as a growing dragons he does need protein do grow

Growth is a complex mechanism supported by much more than just protein. The nutrients and micronutrients in salad items are equally as important for growth.

Growth is not the main goal. Good health is the goal. Growth will follow good health. All these dragons that grow up only eating insects their whole lives, that become full grown at 8 months old, and then die at 3 years old. And everyone blames genetics or bad breeding practices instead of realizing that the whole goal all along should have been a healthy dragon, not a fast growing dragon.

-Brandon

 

[Connie-Riley]

Ha! She gave in! I gave some fresh dandelion greens this morning and she started eating! Thank you @Claudiusx
Can I start feeding insects now? Or would you wait another day?

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

Wow! That's amazing! I notice that your dragon is a lot bigger than mine. I thought he was still much younger. By the way, do you guys know where to get dandelion greens?

 

[Connie-Riley]

she is around 9 month old I think. Thats why I was behind it now with the greens since I know that the diet need to change soon. I cant tell you the size right now but will measure her later. Last time I checked the size and last time at the vet she was right in the scale.
I buy the dandelion greens here in Florida at fresh market. The mustard greens from Walmart and some other greens from Whole Foods.

 

[Sue E.]

Walmart also has a triple mix of collards, mustard and turnip greens..I think its called Greens Trio. Its bagged but organic and triple washed. I get dandelion greens at Wegmans..dont know if you have Wegmans where you are. Im in upstate NY.

 

[Sue E.]

Correct.

Not harmful. Going it's entire hatchling to adult stage without eating greens regularly is way more detrimental to their long term health then a week or two without insects.

Growth is a complex mechanism supported by much more than just protein. The nutrients and micronutrients in salad items are equally as important for growth.

Growth is not the main goal. Good health is the goal. Growth will follow good health. All these dragons that grow up only eating insects their whole lives, that become full grown at 8 months old, and then die at 3 years old. And everyone blames genetics or bad breeding practices instead of realizing that the whole goal all along should have been a healthy dragon, not a fast growing dragon.

-Brandon

Thank you! Kai ate a whole arugula leaf in front of me! Yay!

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

Day 8. Still has not eaten a single bite. I like to take him out and prepare his veggies right in front of him to see if he will pick up on the idea that this is food, but its not really working. He still refused to eat veggies what so ever

 

[Sue E.]

Day 8. Still has not eaten a single bite. I like to take him out and prepare his veggies right in front of him to see if he will pick up on the idea that this is food, but its not really working. He still refused to eat veggies what so ever

They know its food...they just dont like them. Its like when we resolve to eat a certain food because its healthy but then it just goes to waste because we dont like it and it rots in the fridge until we throw it out. If you were really in a survival situation youd eat it.

 

[Connie-Riley]

I'm staying tuned to see when your beardie starts eating @beardeddragonlover. Just today the new order of my BSFL arrived. I think she couldn't believe her eyes

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

my dragon hates BSFL they are way to small for him

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

I don't understand. Se refuses to eat fresh veggies but this morning he walks past my fresh veggies and eat a dried up piece of veggie from days ago. I have noticed he has done this before so I am wondering. Do dried up pieces of collard greens and turnip greens have the same nutritional value as fresh ones?

 

[Connie-Riley]

I don't understand. Se refuses to eat fresh veggies but this morning he walks past my fresh veggies and eat a dried up piece of veggie from days ago. I have noticed he has done this before so I am wondering. Do dried up pieces of collard greens and turnip greens have the same nutritional value as fresh ones?

That’s a very good question I would like the know the answer too

 

[Claudiusx]

Do dried up pieces of collard greens and turnip greens have the same nutritional value as fresh ones?

No, they will typically lose the majority of their water soluble vitamins like Vit C and Vit A. There still are nutrients in the salad, so it's not like it's now a nutrient devoid piece of leaf, but fresh is always best. Some dragons like the crunch though.

-Brandon

 

[Connie-Riley]

Hello @Bearded dragon lover just checking in. Did he start eating greens? I have to tell you, this method really worked out for us. I started feeding BSFL the day after she started eating salad. I was worried that she will now be back on insects and not eat her greens anymore. But it's not true, now she eats her greens and the insects as she should.
So there was only one week needed to change her diet.
I wanted to share this