Feeding problems...

[Cocopops248]

I have been trying to sprice up my beardies fruit & veg side of life because she refuses to eat it. I literally have to force the food into her mouth for her to get some, she eats crickets and live food just fine, but not fruit & Veg.
My salad for her consists of:
strawberries
blueberries
tomatoe
carrot
bok-choy
apple
celery
squash
It is all chopped up really finely into an almost mush. I try to handfeed.
And she never eats it! she is a 7 month old female. Do you have any suggestions of what else to put in the mix? and how should I try and get her to eat? I have tried not feeding her live food for a few days, and only giving her fruit, but it never works t(-.-t)
Can you help me?
and one more thing. I heard putting colour in it attracts them to eat it. So i was wondering where I can get dandelions, do I buy them or pick them? and if I buy them how do i wash them or whatever you do to make it clean?
If you could help me I would be very grateful :3
Thankyou! Xx

 

[Cocopops248]

anybody?

 

[TheWerewolf]

What is her setup? Lights, substrate, those could cause problems. I can't help you otherwise.

 

[Kajolic]

Do you have greens in your salad? Mustard, collard and turnip greens should be a good base. Wal-mart, Meijer, Krogers in my area all carry them for roughly $0.86 a bundle/pound.
May I suggest reading through this website, Beautiful Dragons' - Nutrition Chart, to find some ideas of that to add.

Dandelion greens are a wonderful source of calcium, but Collard Greens are much higher. If you pick dandelion greens, assure no pesticides or insecticides have been sprayed on the lawn. I would advise to purchase them, when in season, from the grocery.

 

[sdunfee77]

I thought tomatoes were toxic

 

[Kajolic]

Raw, red tomatoes are okay when feeding as a rare treat, wouldn't use as a daily staple.

 

[Cocopops248]

okay guys! thankyou!
She has UVB lights, heating, a basking rock, driftwood, water dish and newspaper as current substrate.
I feed her grees, like bok-choy and celery.

 

[Kajolic]

how is bok-choy? I'm a at work so I can't get on a computer to do proper research.

Posted via DROID Razr Maxx

 

[Cocopops248]

what do you mean "how is bok-choy?" ??
do you mean as in, what is it? or if she eats it?

cause she won't eat it or the other stuff either

 

[Kajolic]

What is in it. Got my answer now home, totally forgot to look it up until I saw thread post in my e-mail. Vitamin A and C. That is a good substitute for Mustard Greens. Even fro Turnip, but Turnip his more of the vitamins.
I would love to hear that your little Beardie would accept Collard Greens, they're a great source of Calcium through salad, but if you can find Dandelion Greens they would be a good starting point.

They way I do my salads are a base of leaves torn up into bite sizes, but enough to require chewing. I'll hide little bits of squash, or raspberries one day. Another day just leaves. Then maybe blueberries. I keep it mixed up, never add it all at once. Could just be the taste her isn't liking, too sour, too sweet.

Lets see here... Few questions.
When do you offer the salad?
When do you offer live insect?
Are they staying misted through-out the day?
Do you add all the listed fruits at the same time?

I wouldn't focus the salad to her, could be a big connection forming with salad comes big human fingers to force feed me. Instead I would try adding some chilled superworms, medium in size. This may get her to eat some salad by accident and start getting a taste for it. Could try to play with your finger in the salad to try to catch her interest. Another tip to try, is to hand feed her a cricket, and when she if in mid-bit with her mouth open, try to slip a leaf in, or a bit of raspberry, and see if she becomes curious that was that was.

 

[Cocopops248]

I feed her salad every two days in the afternoon (after 3:30pm cause that is when I get home) and crickets everyday also after 3:30pm. I do feed her all those things I listed in one mixture.
I will try do that with the super worms, I also try to slip in a peice of carrot or something and when she is eating that, I try to slip some more food in as well.