Diet schedule for adult bearded dragon who is not fond of veggies

[mshaverly]

So, Vhagara is coming out quite often now and eating like a pig. She stays out most of the day. I took her stool sample in to be checked for parasites and she is infected with a moderate amount of entamoeba. She is currently taking 0.08 ml of metronidazole (Flagyl). It has been interesting administering the med but we are managing. Slowly, but surely, she is eating more and more greens. (mustard, turnip, collard) I dress her salad with a little bearded dragon dressing and bee pollen. She gets this salad daily. She has not taken to any other veggies. She gets her supplements sprinkled on insects because she doesn't like them sprinkled on her salad. I keep offering yellow squash with occasional carrots, broccoli, green beans but she turns up her nose. She likes to be hand-fed. So, everyday I feed her salad until she no longer wants it. Then every other day I give her a hornworm. After she has had her greens (a good amount), I offer some dubia roaches. Yesterday she ate 12 medium roaches and today she ate 15. She wasn't turning away and I believe would have eaten more had I offered. She is getting a pudgy tummy. So, when do I say she has had enough? I don't want her to get obese. I know as an adult she is not supposed to eat this many insects. But she just isn't totally switched over to veggies yet.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, I replied in your other thread to this question.

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

So, Vhagara is coming out quite often now and eating like a pig. She stays out most of the day. I took her stool sample in to be checked for parasites and she is infected with a moderate amount of entamoeba. She is currently taking 0.08 ml of metronidazole (Flagyl). It has been interesting administering the med but we are managing. Slowly, but surely, she is eating more and more greens. (mustard, turnip, collard) I dress her salad with a little bearded dragon dressing and bee pollen. She gets this salad daily. She has not taken to any other veggies. She gets her supplements sprinkled on insects because she doesn't like them sprinkled on her salad. I keep offering yellow squash with occasional carrots, broccoli, green beans but she turns up her nose. She likes to be hand-fed. So, everyday I feed her salad until she no longer wants it. Then every other day I give her a hornworm. After she has had her greens (a good amount), I offer some dubia roaches. Yesterday she ate 12 medium roaches and today she ate 15. She wasn't turning away and I believe would have eaten more had I offered. She is getting a pudgy tummy. So, when do I say she has had enough? I don't want her to get obese. I know as an adult she is not supposed to eat this many insects. But she just isn't totally switched over to veggies yet.

Don’t give broccoli. Cut down on your insects ASAP she will become obese like that, start slowly taking away bugs. If you already feed once a day feed bugs every other day, if you feed multiple times try to go to once a day and just keep lowering. Don’t give hornworms so often give them maybe 1 every 2 weeks- a month. Hand feed salads but leave the rest in her tank. Try to cut the squash and stuff into strips to look like worms, then put your finger under and wiggle it.

 

[mshaverly]

Don’t give broccoli. Cut down on your insects ASAP she will become obese like that, start slowly taking away bugs. If you already feed once a day feed bugs every other day, if you feed multiple times try to go to once a day and just keep lowering. Don’t give hornworms so often give them maybe 1 every 2 weeks- a month. Hand feed salads but leave the rest in her tank. Try to cut the squash and stuff into strips to look like worms, then put your finger under and wiggle it.

Thank you. She would not touch the broccoli so that is a good thing. Today she turned up her nose to her salad and I offered nothing else. Are the hornworms fattening? She loves them but if I feed more than every other day she has loose stools. Today she had her greens with yellow squash sliced thin with a potato peeler and a small piece of mango. She wouldn't touch it. Of course, it may be because I had just given her the metronidazole dose and it tastes horribly bitter.

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Thank you. She would not touch the broccoli so that is a good thing. Today she turned up her nose to her salad and I offered nothing else. Are the hornworms fattening? She loves them but if I feed more than every other day she has loose stools. Today she had her greens with yellow squash sliced thin with a potato peeler and a small piece of mango. She wouldn't touch it. Of course, it may be because I had just given her the metronidazole dose and it tastes horribly bitter.

Idk how fattening they are but they have very high water content (reason for loose stool). It may take her a while to get to eating the salads but she will eventually start to. Don’t feed fruits very often, once a month at most. Like I said leave the salad in the tank, did you try wiggling your finger?

 

[mshaverly]

Yes. I have tried all sorts of ways to get her to eat veggies. She likes her greens now. She did not eat yesterday and has not eaten today. She is staying in her hide until I get her out to give her a med for entamoeba. Just four more doses until she is done. Do you feed when they are trying to go into brumation?

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Yes. I have tried all sorts of ways to get her to eat veggies. She likes her greens now. She did not eat yesterday and has not eaten today. She is staying in her hide until I get her out to give her a med for entamoeba. Just four more doses until she is done. Do you feed when they are trying to go into brumation?

If they come out yes but otherwise I’d leave her be and then feed her when she comes out of brumation. Don’t bother her to much while in brumation, I wouldn’t move her any except for the medication.

 

[mshaverly]

Should I keep the lights on for 12 hours?

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Should I keep the lights on for 12 hours?

Yes, 12 hours on 12 hours off

 

[mshaverly]

Yes, 12 hours on 12 hours off

Even during the changing seasons?

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Even during the changing seasons?

I keep it the same but if you’d like to change it that’s fine

 

[AHBD]

If a dragon goes full on sleep for a week or more you can even cut the hours down a little more, 8-10 hrs. per day .

 

[mshaverly]

Thank you. She hasn't eaten any of her salad for two days and I have not offered anymore insects. Should I?

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Thank you. She hasn't eaten any of her salad for two days and I have not offered anymore insects. Should I?

Yes. Like I said stop offering slowly dont just take it away. Feed insects every other day for now. In a week take it to every 2 day.

 

[AHBD]

If she's still taking medication , I think you said she was.