Beardy will only eat Kale.

[stellar96]

Hello,

In September 2014 I got my first bearded dragon. I had done TONS of research and he is doing great! He eats his crickets daily and LOVES his kale. Unfortunately, he is pushing 8 months old and still refuses other veggies unless I hand feed them to him. Any ideas on how to get him to eat them without me hand feeding him everyday?

Thanks,
Stellar's Owner

 

[stellar96]

I just finished reading some other topics on Kale...is it true that is it bad for your beardy?

 

[Taterbug]

I just finished reading some other topics on Kale...is it true that is it bad for your beardy?

All my research says no. Any of the greens we offer are in the same family and have the similar draw backs - for example I wouldn't advise feeding only collard greens either. Kale is typicaly high in available calcium, I see a lot of claims that it is high in oxalate (binds calcium) but I can't find much research to back this up, and quite a bit to the contrary. Kale can have goitrogenic properties and impare thyroid metabolism - this is documented when animals or people eat nothing but things like pasture kale, bok choy etc.

How do you offer salads and what have you tried? If you mix in other greens or veggies like squash would he eat some or just pick around it? Sometimes you can work them up, start with a little bit of other things and add more each time, and less of the other things until it's more balanced. Sometimes putting the insects in the salad can encourage them to snag a bite, but in my experience they are deft at picking around the things they don't want.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Kale should not be fed as a staple as it binds calcium, but you can mix it with better greens. Turnip, mustard, collard, endive are all good greens. Here is a site most of us go by beautifuldragons.com.

 

[Taterbug]

Hi. Kale should not be fed as a staple as it binds calcium, but you can mix it with better greens. Turnip, mustard, collard, endive are all good greens. Here is a site most of us go by beautifuldragons.com.

Kale has similar levels of calcium and calcium binding oxalate to endive

 

[stellar96]

Thank you all for the replies! Very helpful!

 

[stellar96]

I just finished reading some other topics on Kale...is it true that is it bad for your beardy?

All my research says no. Any of the greens we offer are in the same family and have the similar draw backs - for example I wouldn't advise feeding only collard greens either. Kale is typicaly high in available calcium, I see a lot of claims that it is high in oxalate (binds calcium) but I can't find much research to back this up, and quite a bit to the contrary. Kale can have goitrogenic properties and impare thyroid metabolism - this is documented when animals or people eat nothing but things like pasture kale, bok choy etc.

How do you offer salads and what have you tried? If you mix in other greens or veggies like squash would he eat some or just pick around it? Sometimes you can work them up, start with a little bit of other things and add more each time, and less of the other things until it's more balanced. Sometimes putting the insects in the salad can encourage them to snag a bite, but in my experience they are deft at picking around the things they don't want.

Taterbug! Thank you for the reply. In response to your comment:

I often offer spaghetti squash, cucumbers, and red peppers with his kale. He will eat the individual vegetables if I hand feed it to him with calcium dusted on it. I have tried dusting the salad, but then he doesn't even eat his kale! If I mix all of the vegetables together, he will JUST each the kale. I have even tried substituting mustard greens. he takes one bite, realizes it is not kale, and wont eat anymore. Stellar is getting all the nutrients he needs, but it is such a hassle to hand feed him everyday!

 

[Taterbug]

Instead of replacing the whole salads maybe try mixing it slowly so he gets something he likes still and doesn't just go pout. This list destiny shared has lots of options you could try it may take some experimenting. Sometimes it's also about how it's offered. Some dragons like squash that's shredded or chunks or "worm" shaped.